As a symbol of Dunhuang, the Mogao Caves, also known as the "Eastern Louvre", is a must-visit place in Dunhuang. Here, there are well-preserved and exquisitely carved Buddhist statues, meticulously painted murals, and craftsmen from various dynasties in ancient times have left precious gifts to the world on this wind and sand-covered land.
Singing Sand Mountain & Crescent Spring
Mingsha Mountain is named after the sound produced by the sand. There is a turquoise pool surrounded by sand dunes, and the crescent-shaped Crescent Spring, when viewed from above, is the most famous scenery of Mingsha Mountain. When you come to Mingsha Mountain, sliding on sand and riding camels are essential experiences. The camel caravan winding along the yellow sand of the desert is unique.
The Dunhuang Ancient City is a film and television city built in the 1980s, imitating the construction of the ancient city of Sha Zhou in the Song Dynasty. To this day, many TV dramas and variety shows, such as "Detective Di Renjie", "New Dragon Inn", and "The Ghost Blows Out the Light" are still filmed here. Every table and chair inside can become a prop, and with various imaginative ideas, everyone can shoot a set of ancient costume movies here.
The Xiqian Buddha Cave, located west of Mogao Grottoes, is carved on a steep cliff and was excavated earlier than Mogao Grottoes. It contains many well-preserved exquisite murals. There are fewer tourists here compared to Mogao Grottoes, allowing for a clearer view of the skillful craftsmanship on the stone walls from thousands of years ago. Visitors can also take a walk in the Dangxiang Valley to see the towering stone walls and the tranquil river.
Sunset
"A toast to the setting sun, with no old friends at the western fortress." This ancient city, which has been sung by countless literati and scholars throughout history, now only has one remaining watchtower, standing tall for thousands of years, guarding the vast desert like it did in the past. Within the scenic area, a replica of the ancient Yangguan City has been rebuilt. Although it is newly constructed, it restores the appearance of the old Yangguan City. At the entrance, there are armored officers inspecting the travel documents of passing pedestrians. Coming here feels like going back in time a thousand years.
Yumenguan
The Yumen Pass and the Yangguan in the south shine in the distance. The Yumen Pass, commonly known as the Small Square Plate City, looks like a small square from afar. It was once the most important pass in the western part of the Han Dynasty. Despite being eroded by wind and sand, the magnificent appearance of the Great Wall of the Han Dynasty can still be faintly seen. With no willows growing and the difficulty of the spring breeze, stepping on the pass that was once traversed by merchant caravans and monks thousands of years ago, heading west from Yumen Pass, one would reach the desolate Devil's City.
Yadan Devil City
Under the night sky, the Yardang is howling with strong winds, sounding like a roar, giving people a chilling feeling. Therefore, it is named "Devil's City". It is rare to see vegetation here, and everywhere is filled with gray-black sandstones. The brown-yellow mounds are sculpted in various shapes by wind and sand, and the most spectacular is the "Western Fleet", with dozens of long earth platforms aligned in parallel, resembling a fleet sailing in the desert, grand and magnificent. The sunset in Devil's City is the most beautiful, and Devil's City illuminated by the evening glow is magnificent and spectacular.
