Dunhuang has a long history. As early as the New Stone Age there had been buman beings living on this land. Dunhuang County, which was built in the 6th year of Yuanding of Wu Enterer (111 BC), Han Dynasty, owns a history of over 2,000 years. At the beginning of Western Han, the Huns occupied this area. After his succeeding to the throne, Emperor Wu sent Zhang Qian, a senior official, as an envoy to the Western Regions for the first time in the 3rd year (138BC) of his reign. Then, in the spring of 121 BC, he sent troops led by Biaoji General Huo Qubing to recapture Dunhuang and set up the Yang Pass and the Yumen Pass. In the 2nd year of Yuanding (115BC), Han Dynasty, Zhang Qian visited the Western Regions as an envoy for the second time and opened up the Silk Road. So Dunhuang enter its thriving stage for the first time and developed stop by step into the northwestern military and political center, Besides, it was also an important place for trade and culture, becoming a large metropolis, which connected the people of Han Nationalities with the tribes in the Western China. From Western Han to Western Liang, Dunhuang suffered from chaos caused by wars, and rose and fell for over 400 years.
In 366 AD, Monk Yue Seng opened up the Mogao Grottoes for the first time. And in Northern Wei, they had become very prosperous, then China was unified in Sui Dynasty and as a result the Silk Road was ensured unblocked and the Buddhism in Dunhuang entered a period of great prosperity. A lot of caves, murals and sculptures which were made in Tang Dynasty had reached to a very high artistic level. In the 19 th year of Zhenguan (645 AD), after getting Buddhist scriptures from the Western Regions, Monk Xuan Zang got back to Chang'an via Dunhuang. Dunhuang was occupied by Tubo Dynasty in 781 AD. In 851 AD, Zhang Yi, arich person in Shazhou, convened a lot of people of Han, Hui and Longqiang Nationalities to revolt and then recaptured this land. But in 1036 AD, Li Yuanhao, the leader of Dangxiang Nationality captured Dunhuang. And in the same year, the world-famous "Dunhuang Surviving Works" were sealed up for safekeeping in Mogao Grottoes. In 1036 AD, Dunhuang became a part of Western Xia. And in 1227 AD, the Western Xia was conquered by Mongolian troops. From then on, Dunhuang was under control of them. In Yuan Dynasty, the culture in Dunhuang became unprecedentedly prosperous and the business transaction between this land and Western Regions became more and more frequent.
In 1403 AD, the leader of Dunhuang came over and pledged allegiance to Ming Dynasty. And in 1524 AD, it became a part of Tulufan Kingdom. In the 54th year of Kangxi, Qing Dynasty, the royal troops recaptured Dunhuang. And in the first year of his reign, Emperor YongZheng set up Shazhou Section in Dunhuang and promoted it to Shazhou Guard two years later. He also sent a lot of troops and forced people to go there to plough and sow seeds. Besides, he ordered to divert the water of Danghe River to Dunhuang and divide it into 10 ditches to irrigate the farmlands. As a result, Dunhuang became an oasis in the desert. In 1760 AD, the authorities of Qing Dynasty promoted Shazhou to Dunhuang County. On Sept 28th 1949, it was liberated in peace and on Oct. 7th, the People's Government of Dunhuang County was established. On Sept. 28th, 1987, it was changed from a county to a city and was designated by the State Council as one of the first cities open to foreigners. In 1986, it was named the Famous City of China for History and Culture. In 1992, the government of Gansu Province approved it to be Dunhuang Tourist and Economic Development Region.