Major city · China
Guazhou
Visit Guazhou for a day‑trip from Dunhuang; see Suoyang ruins and Yulin Caves, then return – 1 day total.
Guazhou County sits on the historic Silk Road in western Gansu. Its main attractions – Suoyang City Ruins (World Heritage) and Yulin Caves – are remote, so most travellers join an organized tour from Dunhuang and spend a single day exploring the sites before heading back.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CNY
- Best months
- Apr–Oct (check)
- Airport
- DNH
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Guazhou110 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Guazhou, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 (≈ US$30) carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones…China-wide
- SIM or eSIMA roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.China-wide
- Tap waterNot for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5 (≈ under US$1), and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms.China-wide
- TippingRestaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.China-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/I. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.China-wide
- SafetyGenerally safe; remote sites have limited services, bring water, sunscreen and a hat.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPublic toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls.China-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums and palaces close on Mondays; the Forbidden City too (outside holidays).China-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportDNH Dunhuang Airport (Nearest airport; connect by bus or tour to Guazhou).
- Getting aroundLocal bus line 1 runs through Yuanquan town and to Guazhou Bus Station.
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- DNH Dunhuang Airport (Nearest airport; connect by bus or tour to Guazhou)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
Feb
not flagged
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
Mar
not flagged
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Apr
Best
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
May
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Jun
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jul
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Aug
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Sep
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Oct
Best
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Nov
not flagged
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Dec
not flagged
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
Best: Apr–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)), coolest Jan (−14°C (7°F)7°F (−14°C) low), wettest Jul (7 rain days), driest Jan (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Guazhou: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
−14°C (7°F)7°F (−14°C)
0 rd
Feb
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
−12°C (10°F)10°F (−12°C)
0 rd
Mar
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
1 rd
Apr
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
2 rd
May
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
3 rd
Jun
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
5 rd
Jul
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
7 rd
Aug
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
6 rd
Sep
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
4 rd
Oct
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
3 rd
Nov
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
2 rd
Dec
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
−12°C (10°F)10°F (−12°C)
1 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Local bus line 1 runs through Yuanquan town and to Guazhou Bus Station. A tourist bus departs daily at 09:30 from the station to major sights (¥100). Taxis are available but limited.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Dunhuang
goDoor to door: ≈ 2 h total
Tour bus or shared minibus, about 2 h from Guazhou Bus Station
Most visitors join a Dunhuang‑based tour that includes Guazhou’s Suoyang ruins and Yulin Caves in a single day.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Guofeng Hotel
Four‑star, rooms from ¥200/night; bus stop outside
Yulin Hotel
Four‑star, rooms from ¥250/night; bus stop outside
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥150–¥250 (≈ US$25–35) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥300–¥500 (≈ US$45–70) excl. bed
- High
- ¥600 (≈ US$85)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
Prices of common things
| Suoyang City Ruins entryplus ¥20 for golf‑cart if needed | ¥50 (≈ US$7) |
| Yulin Caves entry (ordinary cave) | ¥55 (≈ US$8) |
| Tourist bus day ticket | ¥100 (≈ US$14) |
| Budget hotel room (per night) | ¥200–¥250 (≈ US$30–35) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Tourist bus schedule is fixed; arrive at the station before 09:15.Tourist bus schedule is fixed; arrive at the station before 9:15 AM.
- Entry to Suoyang City Ruins closes 30 min before closing time.
- Yulin Caves tickets sell out in summer; book ahead.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
Pocket card
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GuazhouGuazhou
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
请到这个地址To this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
Embassy
US consulate in Chengdu; nearest Chinese embassy in Beijing.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Dunhuang → Guazhou (tour bus): about ¥100 (≈ US$14), departs 09:30 daily (check)about ¥100 (≈ US$14), departs 9:30 AM daily (check)
- Local bus line 1: ≈ ¥2–¥5 per ride
Say or show
- 对不起 — Excuse me / Sorry (duìbuqǐ)
- 谢谢 — Thank you (xièxie)
- 多少钱？ — How much is it? (duōshǎo qián?)
- 公交站在哪里？ — Where is the bus stop? (gōngjiāo zhàn zài nǎlǐ?)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Guazhou. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Oct (check) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 1 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Guazhou
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