Jiuquan Railway Station

Station name and what to look for

Match the Chinese characters on your ticket to the characters above. English translations of Chinese station names vary between booking sites, but the Chinese name is the same everywhere.

About the station

Jiuquan is the station for the city that gives the nearby space launch centre its name, and it sits on the conventional corridor west of Zhangye. It is also the practical railhead for Jiayuguan, the Ming dynasty fortress pass about 20 km away.

Many travellers use Jiuquan and Jiayuguan interchangeably, and for good reason: the two cities have grown toward each other and the high-speed station serving the area is Jiayuguan South. If your goal is the fortress, check whether a Jiayuguan ticket is a better fit than a Jiuquan one.

The station is small, functional and quick to pass through.

Getting to and from Jiuquan

Buses and taxis connect the station to Jiuquan city centre. For the Jiayuguan fortress, a taxi from either city is the practical option and takes around half an hour.

If you are continuing west toward Dunhuang, note that Dunhuang is on a branch line and may require a change.

What catches travellers out here

• Jiuquan, Jiayuguan and Jiayuguan South are three different stations serving one urban area. Confirm which one your ticket names before setting out.
• The fortress is exposed and there is very little shade. This is a place where an early start matters more than it sounds.

Other station guides in Gansu

Before you travel

Tickets are issued against your passport and there is no paper ticket to collect for most domestic services. Read the booking guide if this is your first Chinese train, or the seat class guide if you are choosing between a hard sleeper and a soft sleeper. For the station itself, the general station guide explains how gates and boarding work at any Chinese station.