journey through the silk road
Dunhuang: gansu
Dunhuang (敦煌)
I can said that Dunhuang has the place which I looking for visiting and the place that I told myself that I cannot miss, called the Crescent Lake which is the little oasis in Gobi desert.
I chose to stay out of town, next to the Crescent Lake for take a sunrise and sunset in the Crescent Lake. The ticket can be used for 3 days.
We can see the sand dunes at the end of the road.
The Crescent Lake (月牙泉) and Mingsha Shan (鸣沙山)
Ticket fee 110 RMB. and 55 RMB. for low-season
The ticket can be used for 3 days. If you want to enter to Crescent Lake more than one times, you must take a picture at the machine next to the exit before exit the Crescent Lake. After finished taking a photo, next times when you entering no need to hold the ticket or show it to the staff, just do the face scan at the entrance and get in.
Crescent Lake is the oasis in the desert which is surrounded by the sand dunes called Mingsha Shan
If you chose to stay out of town for easier access to the Crescent Lake like me, you do not need to worry about the food and transportation. At the main road to the Crescent Lake, there are many restaurants with English menu.
The bus terminal, bus stop and taxi stand are also in the same area.
Dunhuang Museum (敦煌博物馆)
No admission fee
I didn't take the photo of the museum, then the picture above was from www. mafengwo.cn
inside the museum
Mogao Cave (莫高窟)
Mogao cave have many Buddhist illustration painted in the cave.
Admission fee - 220 RMB. and 120 RMB. during low-season.
Taking a photo inside the cave is prohibit.
The picture below is from www.mafengwo.cn
Dance show at Dunhuang Theater
At first, I was not interested in the dance show at all but the Chinese tourist I met at the hostel in Jiayuguan said "Oh! you should watch it! This is the highlight of Dunhuang night life.". Moreover after I checked the price of dance show ticket, I found that I should save my 300RMB. for eating something nice instead. However, the hostel in Dunhuang offered me the package tour which included ticket of the show and round-trips transport from hostel to the theater at 100 RMB.!!!
So I took it. The show was great. It was really interesting show for me. There was 4 scenes and only one scene had seat for watching the show. The another 3 scenes you need to walk!
I didn't take any picture of the show then the below picture is from www.mafengwo.cn
Traveling to the ruins of fortresses and Great Wall which need to charter a car is also famous activities of Dunhuang. However, I'm not interested in visiting ruins in the desert.
Dunhuang also has Yardang National Geopark (雅丹国家地质公园) or Devil City which is just the rock formation sculpted by wind erosion. Both pictures below also from www.mafengwo.cn
This article wrote at 2019
the admission fee and transportation cost are based on 2019 price.