Dunhuang

雅丹地质公园

Dunhuang Yadan is a huge landform area formed by long-term wind erosion of arid sedimentary layers. Ridges, towers and wind erosion corridors are scattered deep in the Gobi. Only by walking along the management route can you understand its scale, and the low-angle light will enhance the sense of ups and downs and loneliness. These forms are geological records of long-term erosion, not ancient castles; the remote environment is both part of the experience and a major transportation challenge.

莫高窟

The Mogao Grottoes preserve Buddhist murals, painted sculptures and cave architecture that have lasted for thousands of years since the 4th century AD. They are important archives of cultural exchanges in the Silk Road oasis. Subject to the protection of cultural relics, the tour starts from the Digital Exhibition Center, and then takes the official shuttle bus into the cave area, where the guide will lead you to view some of the caves that are open on a rotating basis. This is not a gallery that you can walk through freely, but an extremely fragile religious art heritage.

玉门关

Yumen Pass was an important border pass from the Hexi Corridor to the further west in the Han Dynasty. The rammed-earth small square city, the beacon towers and the remains of the Han Great Wall must be understood as a whole in the open desert. As an integral part of the Silk Road World Heritage route, it records the transportation, fortification and communication system, rather than an isolated magnificent building.

鸣沙山月牙泉

Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring is located about 5 kilometers south of Dunhuang City. The sand mountains surround the crescent spring. The sand and springs have coexisted for thousands of years and are known as "the most beautiful scenery outside the Great Wall". The highlights are: Crescent Moon Spring: a crescent-shaped spring in the desert. The Yuequan Pavilion beside the spring stands next to the water, which is the soul of the scenic spot. Mingsha Mountain: Climb the sand mountain to the top for a panoramic view of the Crescent Spring, and watch the sunset in the desert in the evening. This is the best filming location.

敦煌市博物馆

The Dunhuang City Museum is suitable for establishing a historical framework of the oasis before heading to the scattered ruins. The exhibition connects prehistoric settlements, border counties of the Han Dynasty, Silk Road trade, Buddhist culture and local life in later generations through unearthed artifacts, documents and models, making grottoes, passes and desert routes no longer just unrelated attractions.

沙州夜市

Dunhuang was called Shazhou in ancient times. Shazhou Night Market (Dunhuang Night Market) is a night market integrating northwest cuisine, cultural creativity and specialties. The core area is the "Shazhou Shiyi" intangible cultural heritage snack area. Highlights include: Mobei Grilled Fish: Top-rated in the night market, with crispy skin, fresh and tender fish, sweet and sour, and slightly spicy. Beef patties with scallions and scallions: The king of the queue, with crispy skin and sautéed beef with scallions.

榆林窟

Yulin Grottoes is located on the cliffs on both sides of the Yulin River Gorge in Guazhou. It is also known as Wanfo Gorge. It is the "sister cave" of Mogao Grottoes and a national key cultural relics protection unit. It was excavated in the Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Five Dynasties, Song and Xixia Yuan Dynasties. It is the main Buddhist worship place for the Xixia royal family and the most complete group of Xixia Grottoes. Highlights are concentrated in: Cave 25: "Viewing the Infinite Life Sutra Changes" and "Maitreya Sutra Changes" in the Mid-Tang Dynasty. The color composition can be called the Dunhuang mural ceiling, and the preservation state is excellent. Xixia murals in Cave 2 and 3: Water Moon Avalokitesvara, Samantabhadra, Thousand-Hand Avalokitesvara, and the earliest picture of Xuanzang's Buddhist scriptures (earlier than "Journey to the West").