Guazhou is on the Lanzhou–Xinjiang railway, with a station on the main line. Trains run east to Jiayuguan (about 1.5 hours) and Lanzhou (about 7 hours), and west to Hami and Ürümqi. High-speed services on this corridor have expanded, though Guazhou itself sees fewer fast trains than the larger cities; check current schedules.
By road, Guazhou sits on the G30 Lianhuo expressway. Driving from Dunhuang takes about two hours; from Jiayuguan about two and a half hours. There are local bus services to Dunhuang and Jiayuguan, but neither runs frequently — checking departure times before you arrive is essential. For reaching the archaeological sites around Guazhou, a private vehicle hired in town is the most practical option; the daily tourist bus to the Yulin Caves departs at 9:30 from the town centre.