Must-visit attractions in Dunhuang travel guide

Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring is a national 5A-level tourist attraction. It is located 5 kilometers south of Dunhuang City, Gansu Province, with Shaquan as the last resort. The desert wonders are famous all over the world. The clear sound of the sand ridge and the clear moon spring are one of the eight scenic spots in Dunhuang. Mingsha Mountain is named after the sound of the sand. It is 40 kilometers long from east to west and 20 kilometers wide from north to south. The main peak is 1,715 meters above sea level. Crescent Moon Spring, surrounded by Mingsha Mountain, is named after its shape resembling a crescent moon. Surrounded by sand mountains, it never dries up and is known as the best desert spring in the world. Leaving Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, we came to Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Scenic Area.

Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Landmark

We purchased tickets in front of the visitor center

The spectacular Mingsha Mountain landscape can be seen in front of the square. If you don’t want sand to get into your shoes when climbing Mingsha Mountain, you can rent sand-proof shoe covers for 15 yuan per pair.

Those who want to experience the fun of riding a camel in the desert can purchase tickets here.

The camel-shaped guide map is hard not to look at.

Mingyue Square

Camel Team Desert Boating

Mingsha Mountain is made of quicksand, with five colors: red, yellow, green, white and black.

Mingsha Mountain has a beautiful shape

In ancient times, camels carried business travelers along the Silk Road, but now they carry tourists purely for sightseeing.

A few years ago, I rode a camel in Xiangshawan, Inner Mongolia. This time I didn’t want to ride a camel anymore and took the tram directly to Crescent Moon Spring. It took a few minutes to drive to the station. I saw tourists climbing Mingsha Mountain, but I forgot to visit Crescent Moon Spring first (regret).

Those who don’t climb mountains can walk along the trail to Crescent Moon Spring

Seeing the towering Mingsha Mountain, I was struggling whether to climb up or not? The local companion said that there is a wooden ladder to walk on, but it still depends on your foot strength.

In the end I decided to climb up. The mountain on the left looked like a pyramid.

In the flat area on the first floor, there are people sitting on the sand to rest. On the far left is the sandboarding area, where business owners sit on chairs and wait for customers. The desert is very hot, it was the hottest day on the Silk Road.

Looking back, the small lake that looks like a crescent moon is Crescent Moon Spring, surrounded by Mingsha Mountain. Some people don't want to use a walking machine or spend money on tools, so they simply sit on the sand and use a sliding machine. (Of course, pay attention to safety)

Ahead is the second flat area, and I am out of breath when I get here! The pair in front are sandproof shoe covers.

Looking further down, Crescent Moon Spring is like a sapphire dropped in the desert, shining brightly! So beautiful!

There is no wooden ladder on the third floor, and the shoes keep sinking into the sand, and the sand also runs into the shoes. It is really difficult to walk! I saw a boy passing by saying that it would be easier to walk barefoot, so I took off one shoe first and tried walking! The surface of the sand turned out to be a bit hot, but I had to endure it! When I reached the flat area on the third floor with just a few steps left, I stood there to rest for a long time. A young man kindly gave me a hand, and I finally stood on the flat area. Looking at the higher sand dunes ahead, there are still people standing on them, I really admire myself!

A pair of lovers said they wanted to watch the sunset and stars here, and they would watch the sunrise tomorrow, which makes me so envious! Netizens mentioned in the guide that you can enter multiple times within three days from the date of purchase. You only need to go to the ticket gate to apply for tickets and instructions before leaving.

What are the must-see attractions when traveling to Dunhuang?

There are 3 to 5 must-see attractions in Dunhuang, and there are several other attractions. As for whether to go, it depends on your own time schedule.

1. A must-visit to Crescent Spring

Crescent Spring is far away from Dunhuang city. It takes about an hour and a half by car, and the ticket price is 55 yuan. The entire scenic area is not very large. There is a crescent moon-like spring in the center of the desert. The tour lasts about two days, and you can stay in a nearby hotel at night. In addition, there is a snack street near Crescent Spring Scenic Area, where you can taste local food specialties and national costumes.

2. Check-in at the Yumenguan ruins

The tour time of Yumenguan is quite short and can be completed in half an hour, because there is only a large piece of earth and stone in the scenic area. The reason why it is a scenic spot. This is because there is an ancient poem that says there is no need to complain about the Qiang flute, as the willow spring breeze does not pass through Yumen Pass.

Therefore, when many primary school students see this ancient poem, they will ask their parents to take them to visit Yumen Pass. The ticket price of Yumen Pass is relatively expensive, about 90 yuan. If you don’t really like historical sites, the value of the visit is It doesn't make much sense.

3. Check-in at Dunhuang Yangguan Scenic Area

Dunhuang Yangguan Scenic Area is located on Yangguan Road, Longle Village, Yangguan Town, Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province. The price of an adult ticket is about 50 yuan. , this is a national 4a-level scenic spot, and the travel time is about half a day to a day, but for the current opening hours, you still need to consult the scenic spot staff.

The Yangguan Scenic Area is basically desolate. There are many pavilions for people to visit, mainly historical sites.

4. Check in at Dunhuang Night Market

Fenghuang Night Market is a food street. It is located on Qinzhouhu Street, Shazhou Town, Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province. The length of the food street is several hundred meters. There are many local snacks inside. Various specialties from the Northwest are gathered here, the more famous ones include naan-roasted pork buns and Dunhuang old yogurt.

Generally speaking, Dunhuang tourism is mostly carried out in the desert, because Dunhuang in the northwest is relatively desolate and the tourist attractions are relatively concentrated. The tourism time takes about 3 to 5 days. If you want to extend 5 to 7 days is also a good choice.

What places are worth visiting in Dunhuang? How many days will it take?

It takes about 3 to 5 days to visit Dunhuang. The following places are worth visiting.

1. Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Scenic Area

Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Scenic Area is located on Mingshan Road, Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province. It is a national 5a-level tourist attraction with adult tickets. The price is about 55 yuan, and tickets are free for those over 70 years old. It takes about two days to visit here, and you can stay in a hotel outside the scenic spot at night. The price of the hotel will differ according to the off-season and peak season. The price in the peak season is about 300 yuan, and the price in the off-season is about 100~150 yuan. In addition to the option of staying in a hotel, you can also stay at the Dunhuang Yunzhongge Desert Camping Base, where you can lie in the desert and watch the stars at night.

2. Dunhuang Ancient City

Dunhuang Ancient City is located in Jiuquan City, Gansu Province, 18 kilometers southwest of Dunhuang City, on the Gobi Desert. It is a film and television base where many domestic movies and TV series are produced. Everyone will take pictures here, and the price of an adult ticket is about 35 yuan. The play time is relatively short, about 3 to 5 hours.

3. Yumen Pass

Yumen Pass is located at the Yumen Pass site in Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province. It is a scenic spot. There is an ancient poem that says there is no need to complain about the Qiang flute. The spring breeze of willows will not pass through Yumen Pass. The Yumen Pass here refers to the Yumen Pass in Jiuquan City, Gansu Province. The price of an adult ticket is about 90 yuan, and the tour time is relatively short, about an hour.

Generally speaking, this is a relatively classic tourist route. The journey takes about 3 to 5 days. If the transportation distance is long, it may take about 5 to 7 days. In addition, there are many other scenic spots in Dunhuang, such as Dunhuang Museum, Dunhuang Night Market, Dunhuang Yangguan Scenic Area, Yadan Devil City, etc. The distance between these scenic spots is relatively scattered, so self-driving travel is more suitable. If you don’t have a private car, it is more convenient to rent a car at a local car dealer. The cost for a day is about 100 to 300 yuan, mainly depending on the brand and price of the car. different.

What are the tourist attractions in Dunhuang?

1. Mogao Grottoes

Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes are the Mogao Grottoes and Xiqian Grottoes in Dunhuang City, Gansu Province. The general name of Buddha Cave is one of the four famous grottoes in my country. It is also the largest and best-preserved Buddhist art treasure house in the world. The Mogao Grottoes are located 25 kilometers southeast of Dunhuang City and are excavated on the cliff at the eastern foot of Mingsha Mountain. In the second year of Jianyuan of the former Qin Dynasty (AD 366), the Venerable Samana Le came to this place and saw thousands of golden paths on the Mingsha Mountain, which looked like thousands of Buddhas. He then had the idea of ????excavating. After that, construction continued, and it became a holy place for Buddhism. , named Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, commonly known as Thousand Buddhas Cave. Chinese grotto art originated from India. Traditional Indian grotto statues are mainly stone sculptures. However, the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang are not suitable for carving because of the rock quality, so the statues are mainly clay sculptures and murals. The entire cave generally has round sculptures in the front, and then gradually fades into tall sculptures, shadow sculptures, and wall sculptures. Finally, with murals as the background, the two arts of sculpture and painting are integrated. There were more than a thousand caves in the Mogao Grottoes during the Tang Dynasty, and there are 492 existing caves, including 32 Wei Grottoes, 110 Sui Grottoes, 247 Tang Grottoes, 36 Five Dynasties Grottoes, 45 Song Grottoes, and 8 Yuan Grottoes.

During the Northern Dynasties, the main statue in caves was usually Sakyamuni or Maitreya. On either side of the main statue were two attendant Bodhisattvas, or one Buddha, two disciples, and two Bodhisattvas. The back of the statue is often connected to the mural. The top and four walls of the cave are covered with murals.

2. Mingsha Mountain-Crescent Spring Scenic Area

Mingsha Mountain was called Shensha Mountain and Shajiao Mountain in ancient times. It is about 40 kilometers long from east to west, 20 kilometers wide from north to south, and tens of meters high. It starts from the cliff top of Mogao Grottoes in the east and connects to Danghe Reservoir in the west. The peaks are steep and as powerful as a knife blade. The entire mountain is made of oily, fine rice-like yellow sand. . As I climbed up the mountain, I could feel the sand under my feet ringing. Although one foot was deeper and the other was shallower, I took one step forward and half a step back. It was extremely difficult to climb the mountain, but I still felt endless fun. I gathered my strength and climbed to the top. At this time, I suddenly felt a strong wind carrying fine sand, blowing towards me, and the sound was endless, and the footprints left behind quickly disappeared. It is said that when a strong wind blows, the sand and gravel sliding down from the top of the mountain will fall with the human body, and the sand mountain will make a huge noise. When the breeze blows on weekdays, it will resemble orchestra strings and bamboos, hence the name Mingsha Mountain. The sunset landscape of Mingsha Mountain is even more intoxicating. It is a must-see and is breathtaking. Crescent Moon Spring is about 300 meters long and 50 meters wide. It is surrounded by Mingsha Mountain. The poplars stand tall beside the spring. Fish swim leisurely in the spring. The spring water is light blue, clear and soft, and tastes sweet. Because the water surface resembles a bend Named after the new moon. Crescent Moon Spring, a dreamlike mystery. For thousands of years, it has not been submerged by the surrounding quicksand and has not dried up due to drought. It is called the best spring in the desert in the world, which is amazing.

What tourist attractions are there in Dunhuang?

Hello! Welcome to travel to Dunhuang!

The main tourist attractions in Dunhuang include: Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Mingsha Mountain

Crescent Moon Spring, Yumen Pass, Yadan, Yangguan, etc. The surrounding areas include: Jiayuguan Tower, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Base and other attractions.

Mogao Grottoes: The current ticket price is 160 yuan/person, 25 kilometers away from Dunhuang city.

Mingsha Mountain

Crescent Spring, the current ticket price is 120 yuan/person, 5 kilometers away from Dunhuang City

Yumen Pass, the ticket price is 40 yuan/person, 80 kilometers away from Dunhuang City

Yadang Landform, admission fee is 80 yuan/person (including shuttle bus)

If you have any questions, please hi me~~You can check my space~Best wishes You had a great time!

What are the attractions in Dunhuang?

The Mogao Grottoes, also known as the "Thousand Buddha Cave", are located at the foot of Mingsha Mountain 25 kilometers southeast of Dunhuang County. They are named after Mogao Town. It is the largest and most famous Buddhist art grotto in my country. It is distributed on three or four levels on the cliff of Mingsha Mountain, with a total length of 1,600 meters. There are 492 existing grottoes, with a total mural area of ??about 45,000 square meters, and more than 2,100 painted Buddha statues and other figures. The grottoes vary in size, and the statues vary in height. The large ones are majestic and thick, while the small ones are exquisite and exquisite. Their profound attainments and rich imagination are very amazing.

Mingsha Mountain is located seven kilometers away from the southern suburbs of Dunhuang City. In ancient times, it was called Shensha Mountain and Shajiao Mountain. The whole mountain is made of accumulated sand, about 40 kilometers long from east to west, 20 kilometers wide from north to south, and tens of meters high. The peaks are as steep as a knife blade. There is a moist sand layer under the sand dune. The wind blows the sand grains and vibrates. The sound can cause the sand layer to buzz, hence the name. According to historical records, when the weather is fine, even if the wind stops and the sand is quiet, the sound of silk and bamboo strings will be emitted, just like playing music, so "the clear sound of the sand ridge" is a scene in Dunhuang. This is a wonder in nature. It has been known as a "desert wonder" throughout the ages and is known as "one of the most beautiful scenery outside the Great Wall".

Crescent Moon Spring is located at the foot of Mingsha Mountain. It was called Shajing in ancient times and medicinal spring in common people. There are many medicinal materials such as apocynum and wolfberry in the scenic area. It has been one of the "Eight Scenic Spots of Dunhuang" since the Han Dynasty, hence its name. Moon Spring Xiaoche". Crescent Moon Spring is nearly 100 meters long from north to south and about 25 meters wide from east to west. The spring water is deep in the east and shallow in the west. The deepest point is about 5 meters. It is curved like a crescent moon, hence its name. It is also known as "the first spring in the desert".

Crescent Moon Spring has four wonders: the shape of the crescent moon remains unchanged through the ages, the clear water becomes a spring in a bad place, the sand mountain is not submerged in sand, and the old fish in the ancient pool do not grow old after eating it. The best time to visit Crescent Moon Spring in Mingsha Mountain is in the evening or dusk.

There are three treasures in Crescent Moon Spring: iron-backed fish, five-color sand, and seven-star grass. It is said that eating iron-backed fish and seven-star grass together can lead to immortality! The small-flowered kenaf on the south bank of Crescent Moon Spring is a unique and only health-care Chinese herbal medicine beside the spring. It also has the effect of delaying aging. The small flowers bloom in June, July and August every year, just like the stars in the night. According to the elders: Dunhuang's unique The pike may be the iron-backed fish, and the apocynum on the south bank of Crescent Moon Spring is the legendary seven-star grass!

Yadan Landform Dunhuang Yadan Landform is located 200 kilometers west of Dunhuang. The distribution area is 10 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide. The mounds are tall, mostly 10 to 20 meters long and 200 to 300 meters long. The place name also known as Sanlongsha first appeared in the Han Dynasty. It is located outside the ancient Yumen Pass, and the northern line of the Silk Road passes through it. The Shayadan landform of Sanlong is perpendicular to the prevailing northwest wind direction and consistent with the direction of mountain flood flow. Together with Yumen Pass, it forms the second largest scenic spot in Dunhuang. Because of its unique characteristics, it has the Devil City.

Dunhuang Ancient City

It is located in the Gobi Desert on the south side of the highway from Dunhuang City to Yangguan City, 25 kilometers away from the city center. It was designed and built for the large-scale historical feature film "Dunhuang" co-produced by China and Japan in 1987. It was modeled on "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" of the Song Dynasty and imitated the ancient city of Shazhou, with a construction area of ??10,000 square meters. The architectural style of the ancient city of Dunhuang has a strong Western style. The city has three east, west and south gates with towering towers. The city is composed of five main streets: Gaochang, Dunhuang, Ganzhou, Xingqing and Bianliang. Both sides of the streets are equipped with Buddhist temples, With pawnshops, warehouses, wine shops, residences, etc., the ancient city of Dunhuang recreates the majesty of Dunhuang, an important town in the northwest during the Tang and Song Dynasties. It is known as the museum of architectural art in western China. It has the unique advantage of filming military films on the frontier fortresses of ancient western countries. It has now become the largest in western China. It is a film and television shooting base where more than 20 film and television dramas including "The Romance of the Gods" and "New Dragon Gate Inn" have been filmed here.

Yangguan is located in Nanhu Township, 70 kilometers southwest of Dunhuang City. It was one of the two passes that opened up Hexi for Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. , the only pass through the South Road of the Western Region and the gateway to the western border.

Sanwei Mountain Dunhuang Sanwei Mountain Tourist Area is located 25 kilometers southeast of Dunhuang City. It is related to Mogao Grottoes and Buddha, and reflects each other, forming a tourism featuring Buddhist culture on the Silk Road. Landscape.

In addition, Sanwei Mountain also has the "Dacheng Hall" that commemorates the Chinese cultural saint Confucius, the "Dragon King Temple" that worships the Dragon King Mountain God, the "Mountain Temple" and other temples. These buildings correspond to Sanwei Mountain. It is a place for tourists to cultivate their mind and nature. The Cisi Pagoda near Laojun Hall was built in the early Northern Song Dynasty according to research. It is the oldest existing wooden pagoda in China because of its special value in the history of Chinese architecture, 1981.

Sanwei Mountain is the most holy place in Dunhuang. It is listed as the first of the eight scenic spots in Dunhuang in local chronicles, and is said to be: "Dangerous Peaks Stand in the East". The development and construction of the Sanwei Holy Land, especially the completion and consecration of the Sanwei Big Bronze Buddha, allows tourists to come and burn incense and worship in front of the Big Bronze Buddha Guanyin Hall after visiting the Mogao Grottoes, a thousand-year Buddhist site, to fulfill their wishes. To satisfy the wishes of monks and laymen.