Vacation in Dunhuang China with Asian Vacations, Inc.

Crescent Lake

Crescent Lake or Crescent Moon Spring is 6km (3.73 miles) south of the center of Dunhuang, near the Echoing-Sand Mountain, and is said to be where the oasis meets the desert. Crescent Lake was formed by spring water trickling up into a depression between huge sand dunes, forming a crescent-shaped pond. The climb to the top of the dunes is sweaty work, but the dramatic view back across the rolling desert sands towards the oasis makes the effort worthwhile. Recreational activities include pursuits such as riding camels across the sand dune, or the more adventurous "dune surfing" (sand sliding) and paragliding (jumping off the top of high dunes with a chute on your back). There is also a tow-gliding operation closer to the entry gate: continue past it if you want to jump off a dune!

Echoing-Sand Mountain

Located 6km (3.73 miles) south of Dunhuang City, Echoing-Sand Mountain also known as the sand dunes of Mingsha, offers superb picture-book desert scenery. The dune, surrounded by rolling ridges and precipitous cliffs, reaches a relative height of 250m (820 ft). The climb to the top of the dunes is sweaty work, but the dramatic view back across the rolling desert sands towards the oasis makes the effort worthwhile. To get to the top, visitors can ride bicycles or hire a taxi. Camel rides can also be arranged by local travel services. Descending the dunes is quite simple - slide down the dune to the sound of "rumbling sands" or the sound of thunder or a drum-roll as the wind sweeps across the sands. The thunder-like sound produced when sliding down along the sands is tremendous! Legend has it that in ancient times a Chinese general had his army camped in the dunes beside the Crescent Lake. Noise from the encampment attracted the enemy, who attacked in the dead of night. The Han army beat their war drums to call the troops to arms. Suddenly, in the middle of the battle, a fierce wind blew up, filling the sky with sand and burying both armies. This is why, to this day, the wind blows across the sand's surface to the roll of war drums. Activities in the dunes include camel riding (�30-50, but bargain!), dune paragliding (�20). Foreigners are asked to pay �50, don't!), sand sledding (�10). Climbing the dunes is tiring and especially sweaty in the summer. There are wooden stairs to the top of the dunes for a small fee. Most people visit the dunes in the evening so as to avoid the hot sun! How to get there: Minibuses from Dunhuang will cost only �3 and a taxi will only set you back �15 one way. Opening hours: The evening is the most popular time to visit.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Mogao Grottoes

The Mogao Caves, also known as the "Mogao Grottoes" or the "Caves of A Thousand Buddhas", are set into a cliff wall of Echoing Sand Mountain about 25km southeast of Dunhuang, the oasis city in the Gobi desert. This honeycomb of caves was constructed over a millennium, from the 4th to the 14th centuries, and represents the height of Buddhist art and the world's richest treasure house of Buddhist sutras, murals and sculptures. During its heyday, the cave complex had thousands of caves, and today, a total of 492 grottoes, 45,000 sq. m of murals, 2,400 painted statues and over 250 residential caves remain. Almost every grotto contains a group of colorful paintings of Buddha and Bodhisattvas and other religious paintings, or social activities of different dynasties. The caves carved on the cliff wall provide voluminous research material for the study of all aspects of Chinese medieval society, in areas such as religion, art, politics, economics, military affairs, culture, literature, language, music, dance, architecture and medical science. The rich culture and art unearthed in the caves has even given birth to a new field of study, called "Dunhuangology"! The mural paintings in existence today can be divided into seven categories, including the jataka stories depicting beneficence of Sakyamuni in his previous incarnations, sutra stories depicting suffering and transmigration, traditional Chinese mythology and so on. Although the religious scriptures are primarily Buddhist, written in Chinese, Uygur, Tibetan, Turkic and other languages, Taoist, Manichean and Confucian scrolls are also part of the collection. (Unfortunately, due to the corrupt and impotent governments after the later Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD), many of the treasures of the Mogao Caves were plundered by heinous thieves like Aurel Stein, Paul Pelliot, Langdon Warner and Albert von Le Coq, mainly by theft but also through unfair transactions. These treasures can now be found in places like Britain and Germany). According to historical records, in the year 336, a monk called Le Zun came near the Echoing Sand Mountain and suddenly had a vision of golden rays of light shining upon him like thousands of Buddhas. He started to carve the first grotto to memorize the accident and show his respect to the Buddha. Other pilgrims and travelers followed for the next thousand years. During the Northern Wei Dynasty founded by the Turkic-speaking Toba tribe, pilgrims restarted to hewing grottoes after the preceding years of turmoil, to depict their ideal heavenly world which contrasted with their painful material world. Forty of the Northern Wei caves remain today. Shades of Indian Buddhism still can be seen from the clothing, hair and facial features of Buddhas. The finely chiseled sculptures in the Wei caves show large heads, wide faces, large noses, thin lips, high cheekbones and curly hair, with slim and ethereal figures. The females are high breasted. The Buddhas, bodhisattvas and disciples are quite and serene, in strong contrast with the aggressive and fierce devils. The Wei paintings often depict the patrons who paid for cutting caves, as servants of the Buddhas or as supplicants, usually small in size. During the short Sui Dynasty (581-618 AD), the Mogao Caves continued to boom and mark the end of the foreign influence, slowly transitioning to the more indigenous styles of central China. There are now 78 Sui caves left. The statues produced during the Sui Dynasty are mostly in good condition and more formal than the Wei statues. The Sui style shows statues with fuller faces, longer earlobes, loosely draped clothing and disproportionate upper bodies. Jataka stories are still the main theme while more varied subjects appear. The feitian, or asparas, become more pretty and elegant. Lotus flowers and other symmetrical patterns are frequently used as decorations on the ceilings. The grottoes of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) represent the most splendid period of the caves, reflecting the highest level of artistic achievement. Today, 220 of the Tang caves remain. Most of the caves are square and have three levels to lodge bigger sculptures which were artistically brilliant, gentle and realistic. The Buddhas became more like men, wearing ornaments and jewels and dressed like Tang nobles. The images of patrons became bigger and tended to occupy important places in the murals. The themes of the murals focused more on Buddhist scripture stories instead of jataka stories. This Dynasty introduced scenes of cruising aristocrats. During the Five Dynasties, there was no space left on the cliff, so some caves were enlarged or repainted. As a result, old paintings are now being discovered lying under new ones. Discovering the hidden caves has been the main legacy left by this Dynasty. Many caves were restored during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD). The murals depict various Indian mandalas and bodhisattvas. Some caves were decorated in Tibetan style. After the Mongol reign, there was no artistic development. In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), Dunhuang was once abandoned, and the caves gradually faded into the sand of the Gobi desert until a Taoist priest discovered the treasure house in beginning of the 19th Century. How to get there: The caves are 30 minutes by bus from Dunhuang (about 25km away). Minibuses leave from various hotels in Dunhuang (the Dunhuang Hotel or the Feitian Hotel at 8am) for a one way fare of �10. Hiring a minibus yourself for the trip about �80-100 for the roundtrip, depending on your bargaining skills. If you'd like to head out in the afternoon, plan on getting there around 14:00 to 14:30. Before there aren't any guides available. Opening hours: The caves are open from 08:30 to 17:00, but as your ticket requires a guide, it is best not to get to the caves between 10:00 to 14:00 when guides are scarce. Costs: Foreigners can only buy a �58 ticket that includes 58 of the best caves and this prices includes a English speaking guide whether you want one or not. This is for the best as they have the keys to the caves you'll be seeing. The tour is a full day activity with a long lunch break. If you arrive in the afternoon after 14:30, then you won't get the "full tour". Note: It is best to bring a strong flashlight to enjoy the caves and frescoes. There are some low-powered flashlights available for rent outside the main gate, but you may be disappointed. Also, cameras are not allowed into the Grottoes and you will be asked to store your cameras and bags at the front gate for a small fee (�2).

Western Thousand-Buddha Cave

Western Thousand-Buddha Cave is located 35km southwest of Dunhuang City. It is west to Mogao Caves. Only a mountain named Echoing Sand Mountain is between these two caves. This cave was excavated in the cliff wall at north bank of Danghe River. On the way from Dunhuang City southwest ward to Yangguan, the left side is Danghe River, north bank of which is Gobi Desert with no grass; the south bank of which is curving Sand Hill. And the Western Thousand-Buddha Cave is in the steep cliff at the north bank of the riverbed of Danghe River at the end of the Sand Hill. Although the scale of the Western Thousand-Buddha is small, its scene is beautiful; its environment is quiet and exquisite. When you come from extremely hot Gobi Desert to the foot of the caverns, a 100 year old deep willow will hide above your head like a huge umbrella; it will make you feel cool wind blow your face thus make you cool and comfortable. Here, the aspen is extremely tall; the pine and cypress are green; peach flower is red and the willow is green; birds sing and flowers are fragrant. All of the views make the cave to be like a Xanadu. Although the Danghe River in front of the caverns dried out, a glittering and winding brook flows forward like playing a great music for the old caverns. Tourists will feel relaxed and happy in front of these beautiful views. In the caverns, colorful frescos, humorous stories and lifelike figures of Buddha further cover a mysterious veil to the Xanadu, which make this Holy Land of Buddhism very attractive. The Western Thousand-Buddha Cave is one part of the system of Dunhuang Buddhism art. The remained are 17 caverns made from Northern Wei Dynasty to Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD). Among them, #1 to #3 caverns were made in Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD); #4 to #8 caverns were made in Wei Dynasty; #16 cavern was made in late Tang Dynasty. Being weathered, other caverns became faint and the construction periods cannot be distinguished. The caverns' appearance and the fresco artistic style of the Western Thousand-Buddha Cave are the same with the works of Mogao Caves from the same period. As there is no record of excavation period, so it is not able to be checked and known. But it is deduced that the setting up period of the Western Thousand-Buddha Cave is at least the same with that of the Mogao Caves. The Western Thousand-Buddha Cave has experienced similar rise and fall course with the Mogao Caves. Being destroyed by both the nature and human beings, this artistic treasury suffered great lost. In recent years, the government has reinforced and rebuilt the caverns so as to recover the whole stability of the cliffs and caverns, which faced falling. The cloister of the cliffs guaranteed the safety of the tourists. Today, the Western Thousand-Buddha Cave has got effective protection, and ten caverns have been opened. It is a very important visiting place for the tourists in the tour line from Dunhuang to Yangguan. Being included within the Mogao Caves, the Western Thousand-Buddha Cave was put at the list of national emphases of cultural relics protection units in 1961.

White Horse Pagoda (Bai Ma Ta)

White Horse Pagoda, located southwest of the ancient city of Dunhuang, was built in 386 in memory of the gallant white horse that carried Kumarajiva, the Kuchean monk, east along the Silk Road. Legend goes that upon his arrival at Dunhuang in 384 AD, the horse became ill. One night, Kumarajiva dreamt that the horse spoke to him: "Teacher, I am actually the White Dragon in the Western Sea. I came here in the shape of a horse to help you to confront the difficulties in your journey east. Now you have already entered the pass and the road ahead become smooth and easy, I think it's time for us to part." A loud neigh woke up the monk suddenly, and he found his favorite horse was dead. Heartrendingly and desperately, Kumarajiva buried his horse and built the elegant White Horse Dagoba on its grave. The Pagoda later was restored for many times and the extant pagoda is 9-storied with 12m in height and 7m in diameter. The whole pagoda is made of adobe and its structure is similar to the Lama pagoda of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD).

Dunhuang Museum

Located at Yangguan East Road in Dunhuang City, Dunhuang Museum was established in 1979. It was previously the location of an archaeological group of the county culture center (Dunhuang City was a county as that time). The Museum focuses on historic cultural relics. Its construction area is 2,400 sqm. The present cultural relics housed in the museum are more than 4,000 pieces. They are divided into three parts: The first part mainly shows the documents in the scripture hidden hole (the seventeenth hole) in Mogao Caves, Dunhuang. The second part mainly shows: unearthed cultural relics in the tombs mostly from Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD), Three Kingdom Period (220-581 AD), Jin Dynasty, Sui Dynasty (581-618 AD) and Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). For example, stone tablets, stone towers, pottery boxes, ancient pottery cooking vessels, beasts guarding the tombs, lotus flower bricks and kylin bricks (A kylin is embossed on the brick). The rarest is the kylin bricks. The third part shows material objects such as silk, brocade, thin silk and gauze which provides ample material objects, references and evidences to " Silk Road". Besides, Hanjian, iron and copper tools, and weapons are shown which offer precious materials to study the communications of politics, economics and cultures between China and other countries. In the Museum, there are two show rooms of historic cultural relics. The exhibit consists of more than 2,000 objects of precious cultural relics unearthed in the local area. The exhibit covers the period from primitive society to the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD). It shows all kinds of potteries, currencies, grind stones, tiles, bronze ware, silk, pearl and jade, etc; the exhibition of the Great Wall in the Han Dynasty mainly introduces the site of the Great Wall within Dunhuang. It displays unearthed material objects such as Hanjian, rough papers, barley, millet, big torches and small torches used in the signal fire platform, and the model of the Great Wall; the exhibition hall of celebrity's writings and pictures mainly shows the writings and paintings of the celebrities, calligraphers and painters from Dunhuang. There are famous "Dunhuang Posthumous writings" unearthed from the scripture hidden hole in Mogao Caves, Dunhuang, rare scriptures by Zang characters, and precious ancient writings about the geography, weather and military affaires. These are all the treasures that keep the museum attractive. In the courtyard in front of the main building, there is a group of large-scaled sculptures symbolizing people walking while leading the camels in the ancient Silk Road.

Yang Pass (Yangguan)

Also known as the "Southern Pass", it sits 75km southwest of Dunhuang, and was originally built by Emperor Wu in Hang Dynasty as one of the two most important passes protecting Dunhuang from invasion from the west (the other pass is Yumen Pass (Yumen Guan)). In modern times, Yangguan is quite ruined with great sections buried in the shifting sands. However, at its heyday, this system of beacon towers and walls marked the western border of the Chinese Empire. Again, today, there are hardly any walls in sight, the only visible sections being the foundations of some of the walls. To the south of the mound is an expanse where one may find millions of pieces of broken tile over an area of 20 sq. km, some of the last evidence of civilization here. How to get there: The trip to Yangguan takes about 2 to 3 hours and hiring a minibus may cost around �180.

The Ancient City of Dunhuang (Dunhuang Gucheng)

This is actually a huge movie set made to resemble the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD) city of Dunhuang. The set was created to film the movie "Dunhuang" in 1987 through a cooperation between Chinese and Japanese filmmakers. Located right smack in the middle of the Gobi Desert about 25km southwest of Dunhuang, the surrounding landscape gives the city an impressive feel. Scattered throughout the streets of the small city are various temples, pawnshops, warehouses, silk shops, bars, restaurants and residences all of which are used as props and backgrounds. Dunhuang Gucheng has become the largest film and television filming set in Western China. Besides the film "Dunhuang", more than 20 films and television programs have been filmed here and the set has become a major sight on the Dunhuang tour circuit. How to get there: Either take a taxi from Dunhuang city center for �30 or take a minibus from Dingzi Lu for �10 each way. Of course, another option is to join a tour for a day that includes the Ancient City of Dunhuang and possibly other sites like the White Horse Pagoda. Cost: There is no entry fee, but you may like to do some souvenir shopping.

Yumen Pass
Yumen Pass, 101km northwest of Dunhuang, used to be one of the two critical defensive passes protecting Dunhuang from invasion from the West about 2,000 years ago. At that time, anyone in China wishing to take the Silk Road west (or east into China through Dunhuang) would go through this pass. If you are familiar with ancient Chinese poetry, then you may recall a poem written by the renowned Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) poet, Wang Zhihuan, describing the unique scenery and atmosphere here. The pass was also known as "Little Square City", named after a rare square piece of jade that was sent from the west to the Han emperor. In modern times, there are two gates in each of the western and northern sides of the pass built of yellow clay. Owing to severe erosion, some parts of the walls have collapsed, forming huge holes. On the northern side, there is a road leading west towards the ancient village of Hechang (15km away), which used to be the granary for the pass garrison. How to get there: The journey to Yumen Pass will require an entire day as the route is not very well marked. To hire a minibus or other vehicle should cost around �500. Considering how difficult it is to get there, you may not be very interested, but some may consider the journey itself might be worth the trip.