Why did Dunhuang decline as a trading center in the 20th century?

By the early 1970s, Dunhuang’s historical status as a major trading center had largely declined because modern infrastructure projects bypassed the city. Specifically, the construction of a highway and a railway across the Uygur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang diverted traffic to the north at Anxi, effectively marginalizing Dunhuang from the primary trade routes.1

While its role as a commercial hub diminished in the 20th century, the city has since transitioned into a significant destination for tourism, driven by the preservation of the Mogao Caves and other historical landmarks.1