When to go · Dunhuang
Dunhuang in October
Great month. Inside Dunhuang's best window: May–Jun, Sep–Oct.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Temperature
- 18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C) / 3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 1
- Crowds
- High
- China overall
- Prices
- High
- China overall
Verdict
Inside Dunhuang's best window: May–Jun, Sep–Oct.
Is another month better than October?
No other month rates higher than October for Dunhuang in this guide.
Weather in October
- DunhuangHighs around 18 °C (64 °F), lows around 3 °C (37 °F), rain on about 1 dayHighs around 64 °F (18 °C), lows around 37 °F (3 °C), rain on about 1 day
- Northwest and Silk Road, China · Xinjiang, Gansu (Dunhuang, Zhangye), Inner Mongoliabest weather
Desert and steppe: very hot summer days in Turpan, bitter winters; May–June and September–October work best.
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
National Day big impact
1–7 Oct (Golden Week) · China
The biggest travel week of the year: sights at capacity, Tiananmen Square decorated with tight security, prices doubled.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · China overall
- High
- Prices · China overall
- High
China overall: Clear skies and colour, but avoid 1–7 October; the rest of the month is ideal.
High-price month: see what to book ahead.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Dunhuang, side by side.
Verdict
Oct: Great
May: Great
Daytime high
Oct: 18 °C (64 °F)64 °F (18 °C)
May: 26 °C (79 °F)79 °F (26 °C)
Night low
Oct: 3 °C (37 °F)37 °F (3 °C)
May: 10 °C (50 °F)50 °F (10 °C)
Rain days
Oct: 1 (better)
May: 2
Crowds
Oct: High
May: High
Prices
Oct: High
May: High
Festivals listed
Oct: 1
May: 1
October: Inside Dunhuang's best window: May–Jun, Sep–Oct.
May: Inside Dunhuang's best window: May–Jun, Sep–Oct.
Dunhuang: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat and gloves for mornings and evenings