An oasis of wonder: Lantern Festival at the Dunhuang Night Market

As the Chinese New Year approaches, Dunhuang is celebrating in spectacular style with a dazzling Lantern Festival, offering an immersive journey into the heart of its ancient glory.

Originally a small, spontaneous street market in the city, the Dunhuang Night Market has blossomed into a sprawling 130,000-square-meter nightlife hub, attracting tourists from around the world, particularly due to the fame of the nearby Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Food is the main draw of the night market. From pancakes packed with tender beef and seasoned with the unique flavor of shacong, a wild herb native to the region, to Hu-style lamb stew with flatbread, a dish with deep historical roots dating back to when Central Asian influences first settled in the area, the night fair offers a diverse array of flavors. All that can be washed down with a refreshing glass of apricot peel water, a libation rich in local flavor.

The night market is also a living museum, bringing the rich heritage of the city and the ancient Silk Road to life through a mixture of art, performances and craftsmanship, such as young artisans demonstrating ancient local clay sculpting. Its new additions have also generated a fair amount of buzz on social media. Posts on Xiaohongshu, or RedNote, about the Dunhuang Night Market have received over 18.8 million views.

Making it easy for more overseas visitors to enjoy the delights of the night market and other attractions in and around the city, the newly launched China Bound mini program offers a dedicated Dunhuang city page. Currently, users can win tickets to some of the timeless dramatic productions showcasing the region's rich cultural heritage. The Dunhuang Cultural Tourism Group is offering 100 tickets to users leaving comments and reviews about their experiences in Dunhuang.

Time: Jan 1 - Mar 31, 2026丨19:00 - 24:00

Location: No 447, Yangguan Zhonglu, Shazhou district, Dunhuang, Gansu province