Dunhuang Mogao Caves
The Mogao Grottoes is famous for its exquisite murals and sculptures. It was carved during the period of the Former Qin in the Sixteen Kingdoms (366 AD) and expanded over a period of nearly 1500 years under the administrations of the Sixteen Kingdoms, Northern Dynasties, Sui Dynasty, Tang Dynasty, Five Dynasties, Western Xia, Yuan Dynasty, Ming Dynasty, and Qing Dynasty. Currently, there are over 700 caves of various sizes inside.
Crescent Spring of the Singing Sand Mountain
Mingsha Mountain is located 6 kilometers south of Dunhuang city. After driving on Dunyue Road, the end of the road leads to the desert. Upon entering the Mingsha Mountain Scenic Area, it takes about 15 minutes to reach Crescent Moon Spring if you don't ride a camel. The spring, shaped like a crescent moon, is surrounded by Mingsha Mountain on all sides and has clear and mirror-like water, which is quite impressive. Climbing the wooden ladder on one side of Crescent Moon Spring allows you to overlook the sand dunes from above, making the view even more enjoyable.
Yumen Pass
Wang Zhihuan's "Liángzhōu Cí" poem "Why resent the willows with the Qiang flute? The spring breeze won't pass through the Jade Gate Pass" has sparked countless people's longing for this ancient pass. The Jade Gate Pass was once a key point on the Silk Road leading to the Northern Road of the Western Regions. It was gradually abandoned during the Song Dynasty due to war and dried up water sources. Today, only a square and incomplete earthen wall remains, desolate and solemn.
Hecangcheng
Hecangcheng, also known as "Dafangpan City", was built in the Western Han Dynasty. It was an important military supply warehouse for the Great Wall's border defense reserve food until the Wei and Jin Dynasties. Here, you can enjoy the desolate and vast Gobi scenery and the historical remains full of vicissitudes.
Sunset
"Wang Wei's poem 'Encourage you to drink another cup of wine, Heading west from Yang Pass with no old friends' depicts the sorrow of separation at Yang Pass. The ancient pass now only has weathered watchtowers by the side of the antique beach. Upon entering the scenic area, visitors will first be guided by a tour guide to visit the Yang Pass Museum, where weapons and farm tools showcase the scenes of soldiers stationed on the frontier at that time. After that, visitors can take a battery car to visit the watchtowers at Yang Pass, to have a panoramic view of the vast ancient beach. In addition to reminiscing about the past, Yang Pass is also a good place for photography and watching the sunset."
Cold Lake, Ekpo Liang Yadan
In the Oboling, Yiliping, and Nanbaxian areas in the Qaidam Basin, there is a yardang landform formed 75 million
Water Yadan
There are many land-based yardang landforms, but there are very few water-based yardang landforms. The only water-based yardang landform in the world is located by the Laka Janaaer Lake next to G315. It was formed because the lake surface of Laka Janaaer rose and gradually submerged the yardang group on the northern edge, creating a unique water-based yardang that resembles an endless desert. The Devil City of Yardang stands in the midst of this vast expanse like a magical and mysterious place.
Lake Xiaochaidan
The Xiaochaidan Lake is located in the northeast corner where G315 and G3011 intersect. It is close to the roads, with the nearest distance being less than 200 meters. Xiaochaidan Lake has not been developed. On the opposite side are continuous snow-capped mountains. On the lakeshore, clusters of reeds guard the azure lake water, attracting various species of wild birds during the migration season.
Chagan Lake
Chaka Salt Lake is located in the southern part of the Qaidam Basin, only 52 kilometers away from Golmud. Due to continuous evaporation of water, a hard salt crust has formed on the lake, and the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and Qinghai-Tibet Highway are built directly on the salt crust. Chaka Salt Lake is rich in inorganic salts and is one of China's mining bases.
Kunlun Pass
On the way from Golmud to Kunlun Mountain Pass, you will pass the Wujilongfeng Temple and Yuzhufen Glacier Scenic Spot. Along the way, there are majestic mountains and the scenery is full of masculinity. Kunlun Mountain Pass is an important pass on the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. Now, prayer flags flutter at the pass, and there stands a Kunlun Mountain Pass monument and a memorial monument for Jiesang Sonam Dargye, a Tibetan hero who dedicated his life to protecting the wildlife in Hoh Xil. After passing Kunlun Mountain Pass, you will enter the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve.
Sonam Dargye Nature Reserve
Continue southwest along the Qinghai-Tibet highway from the Kunlun Mountain Pass. Passing through the unfreezing springs and Kekexili observation deck, you will reach the Sonam Dargye Nature Reserve station. The exhibition hall of the station displays precious animal specimens, as well as pictures and information about soldiers fighting to protect Tibetan antelopes and poachers.
Kekexili Nature Reserve
Kekexili in Mongolian means "green mountain ridge" and is also known as the "beautiful maiden". It is located in the northwest of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, sandwiched between the Tanggula Mountains and the Kunlun Mountains. It is the third largest uninhabited area in the world and one of the four uninhabited areas in China. Kekexili has harsh climate and harsh natural conditions, making it impossible for humans to live there for a long time. It is regarded as a "forbidden zone of life". However, because of this, it creates unique conditions for high-altitude wildlife, becoming a "wildlife paradise".
