2-Star Hotels in Dunhuang

The owner was super nice and enthusiastic, recommending so many great places to eat. The dogs at the hostel are also incredibly adorable, truly the sweetest babies. Honestly, no youth hostel I've stayed at in any first-tier city across China, whether it's for hygiene, decor, service, location, or facilities, can compare to this place. And the butter lamps on the wall in the front hall – you can tell the owners have put so much care into perfecting this place. It genuinely exceeded all my expectations. Looking at that wall of books, I really regret only staying here for two nights.

This guesthouse is a hidden gem! 1. The location is super convenient, right at the west gate of Mingsha Mountain, just a 1-minute walk away. It was perfect for playing in the sand and attending the concert. 2. The desert-themed decor and furnishings are incredibly photogenic, and the hotel facilities are brand new, including smart toilets. They even have cute little kittens around! ☺ 3. It has a starry sky theme, and the owner gives amazing stargazing classes. The rooftop terrace is perfect for stargazing, and the owner even has a professional telescope. It's fantastic! 4. The breakfast is homemade by the owner. While simple, it's clean, hygienic, and tastes great. 5. The best part is the owner's service. The whole family is incredibly nice and hospitable. They helped us with our luggage, answered all of my child's astronomy questions, provided airport transfers, and even recommended local itineraries. It's just wonderful!

The Donhuang Island Guesthouse is located in a rather nondescript building but in an excellent location just a few minutes walk from the middle entrance of the Mingsha mountain on a fairly quiet side street. The Guesthouse is surrounded by eateries.and has camels walking past the front of the property in mornings and evenings on their way from and to work.The Guesthouse has an easy location to catch a taxi as it's nearby an intersection with lots of taxis available. It's important to understand that this property is not located in downtown which is probably part of it's charm. A taxi will cost 35 yuan from the train station or Mongua Caves. Going to the night market which is 5 kilometres away will cost you 11 yuan by regular taxi. The Donhuang Island gueshouse offers simple but smartly furnished rooms. The beds are good, the shower is hot and the air-conditioning is cold. But what makes this guesthouse truly stand out is the remarkable hospitality from the owner and his whole team. Hahan the golden retriever from the property across the road comes by on a frequent visit and is the centre of attention. It was a pleasure to stay here. The only minus is; how much I hate the disposable towels but that is just a minor thing amid all the positivity.

I've always wanted to experience desert tenting, and after careful consideration, I chose Windy. The location is perfect, with sand dunes just outside. The tents are in excellent condition, and the ensuite bathrooms have plenty of hot and cold water. The service was excellent, with prompt responses from the housekeepers, and the staff in the restaurant and activities were also very helpful and welcoming. Camel rides and ATV pickups are available right outside the room, which was a big plus. We were finally taken back to the city in a Mercedes-Benz van!

The B&B has a large yard, a good environment, and is surrounded by green trees. It is very close to the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake scenic area. The owner will take you to a small path, which takes less than ten minutes to reach the scenic area, which is especially convenient for watching the sunrise and sunset. The room is spacious, clean and tidy, and there is no odor. The bathroom is separated into dry and wet areas, and the spray hot water is large, so it is very comfortable to take a bath. Recommended! ! !

The room is very clean, with 24-hour hot water. The owner and his family are very nice and welcoming. There are welcome fruits grown by themselves, and the food is also delicious. It is a very good inn👍👍

The location is ideal for access to markets, shopping, eateries, and the adjacent bookstore which has a coffee shop and was one of the real treats of the city (we took pictures; it is a top-ten experience in its own right!). We took taxis to the grottos and the dunes, and it was easy to make arrangements. This is a terrific spot for runners/exercise fans, since the walkway along the river —immediately next door — is well suited for both activities. The room was very comfortable and had a mix of disposable towels and regular. The linen was pristine. There was coffee/tea and a hot pot in the room. Our view was of the traffic circle but we didn’t hear traffic except on a couple of occasions. There is a place to leave luggage if you arrive early / leave late. I’m not sure how much English was spoken at the desk but the clerks were very patient with intermediate-to-advanced Mandarin conversations. Would recommend this more than some of the other tourist hotels just for ease of eating!

The boss was very enthusiastic. I contacted him one day in advance and waited for us at the station early the next morning. The accommodation was close to the East Gate. We said we were going to Crescent Lake and Mingsha Mountain. The boss took the initiative to drive us to the Middle Gate, saying that we could save 20 yuan on the shuttle bus fare. The next day, we signed up for a tour group to go out and play. The boss also sent us to the boarding point early in the morning. The boss was afraid that it would be inconvenient to go back after the Crescent Lake Music Festival, so he also came to pick us up, making our travel very convenient. The accommodation environment is also very good, and the steamed bun for breakfast is particularly large.

Check-in was available from 12:00 PM, and I arrived right around that time, but there was no one at the front desk. I called out, ”Is anyone there?”, but received no response, and I couldn't see anyone nearby, so I waited for a while on a chair in the lobby. After about 25 minutes, I lost patience and used the Trip.com app's calling function to make a call, and someone immediately came out from the room closest to the front desk. It seemed that room was being used as an office or break room. I had booked the non-smoking quadruple room, but I was shown to a smoking twin room. There was no explanation as to whether the room type was a kind upgrade or because the booked room type wasn't ready yet. Only one bed was made, the duvet cover was slightly dirty, and the room had a slight cigarette smell, which was unpleasant. There was no toilet paper or tissues. I had booked this hotel hoping to take a nap before my 11:30 PM flight, but because I was shown to the second-closest room, I couldn't sleep well due to the sounds of children playing and running coming from the adjacent room used by the staff. While I acknowledge my own fault for not directly communicating these issues during my stay, I was extremely bothered by being assigned a smoking room despite having stated at check-in that I was using the room to sleep before a night flight, and by the loud noises of children shouting and running around. I was very disappointed in many ways. (Looking back, I passed by the front desk every time I went out, but it was always unattended.)

If life is a never-ending journey, then the camping trip at the Desert Star Hotel is undoubtedly a highlight of my journey. When I arrived at the campsite, the first thing that attracted me was the unique tent house. Unlike regular tents, the top of the tent is made of special transparent materials, like a huge viewing platform, which builds a bridge of communication between me and the vast galaxy. As night fell, I couldn't wait to lie on the soft bed, and when I looked up, the bright starry sky was presented to me without reservation. The stars twinkled, like gems inlaid on the black sky, beautiful as a dream. At that moment, the world seemed to press the mute button, and the impetuousness and noise in my heart were instantly soothed. The unique beauty of this quietness made me intoxicated. It is worth mentioning that the hotel staff is very considerate. After placing the order, the customer service guy at the front desk added our contact information and gave us some local travel tips, which saved us a lot of time. From the warm reception at check-in, to the careful guidance during the activities, to the warm greetings at night, every detail made people feel cared for. They not only provided me with thoughtful service, but also made me feel the simplicity and enthusiasm of the desert people. This desert camping trip not only allowed me to appreciate the magnificent scenery of the desert, but also experienced exciting and interesting activities, which became an eternal and beautiful memory in my heart.