Yumen City Transportation

Yumen (玉门市) has an unusual transport geography that visitors should understand before planning a trip. The municipality effectively has two urban centres: the modern New Yumen City around Yumen Town, where the municipal government, Yumen Railway Station, hotels and most contemporary services are located, and the Old Yumen City, the historic petroleum-industry centre containing many of Yumen’s most important oilfield heritage sites.

The two urban areas are roughly 80 kilometres apart, so they should not be treated as neighbouring districts that can be crossed casually several times a day. Older official reporting placed the distance at 79 kilometres, while current accommodation and road information generally indicates about one to one and a half hours by car, depending on the starting point and road conditions.

For central Yumen, public transport, taxis and shared mobility are practical. For Magic Mountain, Changma, Chijinxia, Qingshan Populus Forest and other remote Gobi or mountain destinations, self-driving or a chartered vehicle is strongly recommended.

How to Get to Yumen

By Train

Yumen Railway Station (玉门站) is located in the New Yumen City area around Yumen Town. Contrary to the impression that it is mainly a conventional railway station, it currently handles both ordinary trains and D-series EMU services on the Lanzhou–Xinjiang railway corridor.

Current 2026 timetables include services connecting Yumen with Lanzhou, Urumqi, Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Zhangye and Xi’an, although not every train operates daily and schedules can change with the railway timetable.

Visitors heading directly to the Old Yumen Oilfield area should remember that Yumen Railway Station is in the new city. A road transfer of around an hour or more is still required after leaving the train.

By Air

Yumen does not have a scheduled commercial passenger airport. The most practical aviation gateway is Jiayuguan Jiuquan Airport (嘉峪关酒泉机场).

Its new T2 terminal began operation on March 31, 2026, and all domestic passenger flights now use T2. The airport has an expanding domestic network and is the most convenient air gateway for travellers combining Jiayuguan, Jiuquan and Yumen.

From the airport, travellers can continue to Yumen by private transfer, rental car, road coach or by connecting through Jiayuguan railway stations. For a group visiting the Old Yumen oilfield heritage first, a direct private vehicle from the airport can avoid travelling to New Yumen and then doubling back.

Dunhuang Mogao International Airport is another option for travellers combining Dunhuang, Guazhou and Yumen, but it is considerably farther away.

By Road

Yumen lies directly on the main Hexi Corridor transport axis. The G30 Lianyungang–Khorgos Expressway, G312 National Highway and Lanzhou–Xinjiang railway corridor cross the municipality from east to west.

Road access from Jiayuguan and Jiuquan is straightforward, while Guazhou and Dunhuang lie to the west. For travellers exploring several western Gansu destinations, Yumen fits naturally between Jiayuguan/Jiuquan and Guazhou/Dunhuang.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Yumen improved more than 237 kilometres of rural roads, and all 12 townships and 59 administrative villages achieved access by hardened roads and passenger transport. A 37-kilometre red-tourism road was also completed to improve connections between heritage sites.

New Yumen City Transportation

New Yumen is the easiest part of the municipality to navigate. The railway station, government district, commercial facilities, hotels, Yuze Lake Ecological Tourism Scenic Area and Yumen Museum are all located in or around this urban zone.

Urban bus services have improved significantly. By late 2025, reported bus waiting intervals on key routes had been reduced from around 20–30 minutes to about 10 minutes. Yumen also had 88 electric taxis and the nationwide 95128 taxi-dispatch platform.

For visitors, the simplest choices are buses for routine urban travel and taxis or ride-hailing for short sightseeing transfers. Shared bicycles or electric bicycles are useful around Yuze Lake and central neighbourhoods, provided weather conditions are suitable.

Old Yumen City Transportation

Old Yumen is the most important area for petroleum and industrial heritage, including the Yumen Oilfield Red Tourism Scenic Area, Oil City Park, Laojun Temple, Well No.1 and related historic industrial structures.

A passenger station still operates in the old city, and recent accommodation information confirms that several hotels are located within walking or short driving distance of the Old Yumen City Bus Station.

Regular road passenger services have historically connected New and Old Yumen, but exact departure times and final buses have changed over the years. The frequently quoted “last bus around 17:00” should therefore not be treated as a permanent timetable. Confirm the current schedule at Yumen Bus Station or the Old City Bus Station on the day of travel.

Within the old city, many oilfield landmarks are relatively close together. Walking can work for a few central sites, but taxis or locally hired vehicles are more practical when visiting several industrial relics spread through the petroleum district.

Transportation to Major Tourist Attractions

A weekend tourism bus connecting New Yumen – “Yumen Light” Industrial Experience Hall – Chijinxia operated in previous summer seasons, but it was a seasonal service rather than a permanent municipal route. The published 2023 service operated on Saturdays and Sundays, departing at 09:00 and returning at 17:00. Travellers should verify whether a similar service is operating in the current season rather than relying on that historical timetable.

Getting to Magic Mountain

Eron Magic Mountain National Geopark requires more preparation than an ordinary scenic area. Current visitor information describes it as a largely undeveloped or semi-wild geological destination with limited signage and rough internal roads.

The park covers more than 500 square kilometres, so sightseeing involves substantial driving between geological features. Visitor reports and current travel information strongly recommend an off-road vehicle or high-clearance SUV, and opening conditions can vary.

Do not attempt to enter remote tracks with an ordinary city sedan simply because a navigation app displays a road. Carry sufficient water, fuel, sun protection and offline navigation, and preferably travel with someone familiar with the area.

Getting to Changma

Changma Town lies toward the Qilian Mountains and has a completely different environment from the Gobi corridor. The wider Tianjing Changma area includes Changma Lake, Qianyan Spring, natural bridges, rural landscapes and Changma Grottoes.

There is no convenient tourist public-transport network connecting all these individual sites. A private car is therefore the most practical option. Fuel up before travelling deeper into the mountain area, and avoid remote roads after dark.

Self-Driving in Yumen

Self-driving is arguably the best overall transport mode for Yumen, especially for travellers interested in more than the new and old urban centres.

The G30 and G312 provide straightforward east–west access, while improved county and rural roads connect Chijin, Changma, Qingquan, Huanghua and other townships. Road quality on established routes is generally good, but conditions change rapidly once leaving paved roads for Gobi, canyon or mountain tracks.

Strong crosswinds, blowing sand and sudden reductions in visibility are more significant driving hazards here than congestion. Keep sufficient fuel, water and emergency supplies in the vehicle and avoid unnecessary shortcuts across unmarked Gobi roads.

Cycling in Yumen

New Yumen’s broad streets and relatively flat terrain make urban cycling straightforward. Yuze Lake and surrounding urban greenways are the most suitable areas for casual riders.

Long-distance cycling is a very different proposition. The Hexi Corridor has long, exposed sections with strong winds, limited shade and substantial distances between services. Experienced touring cyclists can follow national and provincial roads toward Jiayuguan, Guazhou and Dunhuang, but sufficient water, food, repair equipment and sun protection are essential.

Cycling to Old Yumen, Magic Mountain or Changma should be considered an endurance journey rather than ordinary sightseeing.

Motorcycle Travel

The open roads around Yumen can be attractive to experienced motorcycle travellers, particularly along the Hexi Corridor and toward the Qilian foothills.

However, riders should check current rules before attempting to use expressways. For scenic touring, national, provincial and county roads are generally more appropriate. Wind is the most important local hazard: powerful crosswinds can become dangerous for motorcycles on exposed Gobi roads.

Remote journeys toward Magic Mountain should not be attempted alone without reliable navigation, fuel reserves and knowledge of current road conditions.