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Dunhuang Half Marathon race photo

Dunhuang Half Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

CNSeptember 202721.1km
Laika ac from UK · CC BY-SA 2.0
Race date Sep expected
September 2027
City · Distance
Dunhuang · 21.1km
Entry fee
CN¥120From the 2026 edition
2027Date September 2027 · expected · Soon
2026Date Sep 13, 2026 · Entry fee CN¥120 · Start 07:30
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 10, 2026
Dunhuang Half Marathon race photo
Laika ac from UK · CC BY-SA 2.0
About the raceHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Dunhuang Half Marathon — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

This half marathon is held in cut-off point Dunhuang, an important city on the Silk Road.

The event venue is reported to be at the foot of Mingsha Mountain, with a single race and a capacity of 4,000 runners.

It is an exceptionally exotic course, even by northwestern China standards, running through the desert city in the early morning.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Dunhuang Half Marathon runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

No runner reports yet. We'll add them here as they come in.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

2026敦煌半程马拉松先导片

yang liu (run to travel)

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Dunhuang Half Marathon — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

From the 2026 edition

Half

Entry cost CN¥120

half way · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page
Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Dunhuang Half Marathon course map and elevation

Your 21.1km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2026 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 07:30
START

鸣沙山, 敦煌

Start · Google Maps
Show more

The event is held as a single half marathon race.

The start time is 7:30am local time, and the field is capped at 4,000 runners.

The official website does not publish a specific start line address, and several promotional articles place the venue at the foot of Mingsha Mountain.

The race is classified as a C-level event by the Chinese Athletics Association (CAA).

Field size
4000 runners
Grade
CAA Grade C

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

From the most recent edition

Bag drop 2026

Finisher certificate 2026

Event T-shirt 2026

Finisher medal 2026

Timing chip 2026

This may change for the next edition.

Where and when to collect your Dunhuang Half Marathon race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

You must collect your materials in person at the location designated by the organizers, bringing valid ID; proxy pickup is not allowed.
Materials cannot be collected on race day, so be sure to check the advance pickup schedule.
The package includes a participant shirt, gear-check bag, bib, timing chip, and runner guidebook.
The specific date, time, and location will be announced before the race.

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the start官方网站未列出具体起点地址；多篇公众号文章提到赛事在鸣沙山脚下举办，参赛号码布可享鸣沙山月牙泉、莫高窟等景区权益，但未给出街道级起终点地址…
  • Transit cardDunhuang has no metro or dedicated transit card system; it is a small tourist city where local buses and…

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

官方网站未列出具体起点地址；多篇公众号文章提到赛事在鸣沙山脚下举办，参赛号码布可享鸣沙山月牙泉、莫高窟等景区权益，但未给出街道级起终点地址 (per web search, not from official site) 日期确认为2026-09-13，与库内日期一致，无冲突。敦煌为县级市，市内无地铁，公共交通有限；建议以官方微信公众号发布的参赛指南为准获取起终点精确地址

Start shuttle

未查到2026年接驳车具体安排。官方页面提及敦煌莫高国际机场（有往返北京、西安、兰州航班）及敦煌站（高铁接兰州、嘉峪关）作为主要外部交通方式

Transit card

Dunhuang has no metro or dedicated transit card system; it is a small tourist city where local buses and site shuttles (to the Mogao Caves, Mingsha Dunes) are typically paid by cash or mobile QR pay. Taxis and ride-hailing are the practical way to get around for visitors without a Chinese mobile payment app set up.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

The field is limited to 4,000 participants.

Registration opens at 10:00 AM on August 3 via the official WeChat mini program “Guodong Sports” on a first-come, first-served basis.

The race starts at 7:30 AM on September 13 and is classified as a China Athletics Association Category C-certified event.

Times are local to Dunhuang. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels near the Dunhuang Half Marathon start line in

Hotels that make race morning easy

View all →

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

Trip.comClosest to the start lineView on Trip.com
Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Dunhuang with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in Dunhuang.

Total cost and budget for Dunhuang Half Marathon

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · Trip.comFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Dunhuang Half Marathon

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Dunhuang runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Dunhuang Half Marathon

FAQ
When does Dunhuang Half Marathon 2027 take place?

Not officially announced yet.

It's expected in September 2027;

the 2026 race was held on Sun, September 13, 2026.

How much is the Dunhuang Half Marathon 2027 entry fee?

Not announced yet. The 2026 race entry fee was about CN¥120.

What distances does Dunhuang Half Marathon 2027 offer?

Half. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does Dunhuang Half Marathon 2027 start?

The race starts at 07:30. (From the 2026 edition)

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