Dunhuang (敦煌, Dūnhuáng) is a city positioned within the western province of Gansu and is especially well-known for the Mogao Caves, for the Singing Mountain and for the Lake of the Crescent Moon, an oasis in the course of the desert.
When to go to Dunhuang
It might sound paradoxical to suggest visiting the desert in the summertime, however the very best time to go to Dunhuang is definitely between Might and October. The adjustments in temperature between night time and day should not inconsiderable.
Although the times are scorching, at night time you possibly can sleep because of cooler temperatures. Precipitation right now is reasonably scarce and uncommon.
It’s a dry, continental local weather, and whereas the summers are reasonably scorching with out being sultry, winters are chilly with the prospect of rain or snow. The temperatures start to rise round April, then get chilly once more in October.
In winter the temperatures can attain even 15 levels beneath, whereas in August the thermometer swings between about 15 and 35 levels.
How you can get to Dunhuang
By air
Dunhuang’s airport is positioned within the metropolis and a number of other home flights arrive right here. in actual fact the town will be reached from Beijing, Xi’an, Lanzhou, Hangzhou and different Chinese language cities. A flight from Beijing to Dunhuang lasts about three hours.
Contemplating the dimensions of the nation, touring by air is no doubt the most suitable choice if you happen to don’t have a lot time. Journey instances are very quick, even when the typical prices are greater in comparison with different routes.
Listen although: flights should not out there on all dates, and it is advisable search considerably prematurely, each for costs and itinerary.
Prepare
The benefit of touring by practice is the prospect to adapt your itinerary to your personal wants, even stopping somewhere else and planning your personal stops.
If gradual trains are nonetheless dilapidated and uncomfortable, quick trains are comfy and punctual. Sadly, not all stations are linked to the speedy practice system.
If you wish to use them you need to plan for extra stops to mix quick and gradual trains. Checking the assorted routes is straightforward each on the official website and on others, as you possibly can learn in our article about trains in China.
Among the many numerous choices out there you possibly can think about a visit to Lanzhou after which journey by practice to different cities that curiosity you after which on to Dunhuang. The quick practice from Beijing takes about 7 hours to get to Lanzhou.
The place to remain in Dunhuang
Reserving a lodge in China might current a number of pitfalls, the primary being that not all resorts are licensed to host foreigners.
In our article devoted to resorts in China you could find a number of recommendation on methods to e book a lodge in China.
I’ve personally all the time used the App Meituan to e book my stays as a result of the costs are undoubtedly aggressive. This app is nevertheless meant for Chinese language customers so the navigation is fully in Chinese language.
One other appreciable impediment is that even in native apps, they don’t point out if numerous resorts do or don’t settle for foreigners. After selecting your lodge you’ll have to be affected person and phone the proprietor to verify.
One other sensible possibility for us vacationers is to make use of Reserving.com or Agoda. Typically, you’ll discover resorts outfitted to welcome us waiguoren. Within the reverse case, it’s often famous.
I do should admit that only one time, I confirmed my reservation for a room booked on Reserving.com and as soon as I arrived, I used to be welcomed with a query mark that Reserving didn’t even know what it was.
Throughout my journey to Dunhuang, I booked my reservations like this, despite the fact that the expertise wasn’t the very best…
In order to not have a foul shock, the most suitable choice is to remain at a world lodge the place foreigners are usually accepted and despite the fact that they’re 4 star, they’ve aggressive charges.
Relying on the realm of Dunhuang the place you favor to remain, there are a lot of lodging to select from which can be good high quality at good costs.
What to see and do in Dunhuang
After the sensible data, lastly right here’s a listing of to not miss locations for anybody touring to Dunhuang!
The Mogao Caves – 莫高窟
The Mogao Caves (莫高窟, Mògāokū), registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Web site since 1987 for his or her inestimable historic and creative worth, are made up of 492 caves carved into the rock organized on 5 ranges.
About twenty caves will be visited, however the entrance ticket solely permits for a go to to only eight caves (which rotate), that fluctuate on the idea of the group you’re assigned and any restoration work that outcome within the closing of some single facilities.
Inside every cave, there are numerous masterpieces that span a thousand years of Buddhist historical past, between frescoes and sculptures.
What takes your breath away is the notion of discovering your self launched again in time, within the actual place the place this began within the yr 366 A.D: the location’s authenticity stays regardless of the crowds of vacationers that descend on it every day.
To assist our creativeness return in time, there are frescoes representing scenes of life throughout that point: enterprise going down alongside the Silk Highway, footage of valiant warriors and staff within the fields are simply a number of the scenes that you simply’ll see.
How you can get there
It’s about 25 kilometers between Dunhuang and the Mogao Caves, which will be reached in half-hour by automotive. In China it’s straightforward to get round by taxi: the route between the town heart and the caves ought to price lower than 100 yuan.
In case you choose to do issues by yourself, you’ll need bus quantity 12: for 8 yuan it is going to carry you to the doorway of the attraction. The bus stops each on the practice station and in entrance of the doorway of the Silk Highway Lodge.
Alternatively, many resorts manage visits to the primary sights for vacationers.
Entry
Tons of individuals from throughout China and past come to those caves day by day. To keep away from surprises I like to recommend that you simply go to one of many numerous vacationer companies unfold out across the metropolis, or on the official resale level in the course of city, the place you should purchase your entrance ticket prematurely: solely then will you have got assured entry.
This is because of a each day restrict imposed on the variety of guests, which permits entrance to 6000 folks a day (huge illuminated screens point out the quantity reached at that second).
Your complete ticket prices 140 yuan for Chinese language residents, together with a go to to the caves, digital exhibition heart (a 40-minute video is performed whereas ready on the entrance) and transportation from the town heart to the caves.
For international company there’s a 20 yuan surcharge for the reason in English. In excessive season costs might fluctuate.
Mingsha Shan and the Lake of the Crescent Moon – 鸣沙山 and 月牙泉
It might sound a paradox that behind you there’s the confusion of the town and in entrance of you there’s an expanse of dunes and fantastic sand.
The town of Dunhuang is positioned on the borders of the Gobi desert and from right here there are views of the Singing Mountain（鸣沙山, Míngshā shān), a reputation that derives from the candy sound that’s made by the sand being caressed by the wind or quickly sliding down from the dunes.
The legend says that on this space within the foothills of the mountain there as soon as lived a vigorous village surrounded by sacred temples. One yr, throughout a celebration at one of many temples, the songs of the opera and the noise of the celebration was so deafening that it bothered the Yellow Dragon Prince that slept in a close-by desert.
The Prince, livid for having been disturbed, used all his energy to maneuver the sand of the desert to bury the village together with its inhabitants who, to at the present time, cry and complain within the track that offers the mountain its identify.
On the dunes you possibly can enter the town: after passing your ticket by the scanner and passing by the turnstiles, you’ll be inside (or outdoors relying in your perspective!). Geared up with massive, flashy orange neon boots, you can begin the journey from the primary dune, which is the one one seen from the town.
Arriving on the high, a wide ranging view will open up that extends to different dunes, and the additional you go into the dunes, the extra large and free the view of the desert will develop into. The climb is fast however the view is completely price this little effort.
Surrounded by the Singing Mountain is the Lake of the Crescent Moon (月牙泉, Yuèyáquán), an emerald-colored pure oasis of water, which in historical instances was a resting place for vacationers on the Silk Highway.
One other legend says that in the course of the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C. – 8 A. D.), the Common Li Guang alongside together with his troops arrived on the Singing Mountain with out discovering water for a very long time.
He inserted his sword into the aspect of the mountain, a blue slate rock from which crystal clear water started popping out, forming the Lake of the Crescent Moon.
How you can get there
Simply 5 kilometers from the center of Dunhuang you’ll discover the doorway to the desert, which will be reached in ten minutes by automotive or with bus quantity 3 for the worth of two yuan. In case you take a taxi from the town heart, it’s about 10 minutes by automotive.
Entry
An entrance ticket prices 120 yuan and may cowl entry for 2 consecutive days. With this ticket, you will get to your entire space which incorporates each the Singing Mountain and the Lake of the Crescent Moon. The value could fluctuate based on the season.
Actions
No actions are included within the entrance ticket however you should buy them individually when you enter. Among the many choices: a camel journey to the Lake of the Crescent Moon, sliding down the dunes, quad, and dune buggy rental, and bus excursions to the lake.
Yadan Nationwide Geological Park- 雅丹国家地质公园
Yadan (雅丹国家地质公园, Yǎdān guójiā dìzhì gōngyuán) is a nationwide park positioned in Gansu Province, about 180 kilometers northwest of the middle of Dunhuang. Your complete area covers an space of about 400 sq. kilometers.
The park is known for its geological formations, which encompass rocky ridges created by erosion from wind and rain on this desert atmosphere: the yardang.
The formations have a protracted historical past going again about 700,000 years and every have a unique form, a few of which have the looks of various kinds of animals (camels, lions, birds …), a Mongolian tent, Beijing’s Temple of Heaven and rather more.
The legend usually associates the realm with the names Ghost Metropolis or Metropolis of the Satan, for the sinister sounds you possibly can hear when the wind blows, whistling by the fantastic sand.
On this space you’re obligated to get round with organized bus excursions, which is able to carry you to see 4 totally different main factors to look at close-up the rocky formations. The time of the go to is proscribed and inflexible relying on the group.
A sensible choice can be to plan your go to at the side of the sundown: prepare issues prematurely to know the instances of operation and be sure to’re first in line to see the solar disappear behind the Gobi Desert.
How you can get there
By automotive it takes about two and a half hours to achieve the location. The bus from the town coasts about 76 yuan (on-line I learn that it’s not the advisable selection due to the lengthy journey instances and instances of departure, however you could possibly ask on the lodge the place you’re staying).
For about 500 yuan you could possibly negotiate a value with a taxi that can carry you and anticipate the top of your tour to then carry you again to the town.
Entry
Your complete ticket prices 120 yuan, together with entrance to the geological park and transportation to essentially the most panoramic factors contained in the park.
Nice Wall of the Han dynasty – 敦煌汉长城)
The Nice Wall that everyone knows goes again to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). What maybe not everybody is aware of, is that the idea of a defensive wall was already quite common a lot earlier.
What you possibly can see close to Dunhuang is in actual fact a fair earlier instance, going again to the Han Dynasty: greater than a thousand years earlier than the Nice Wall.
Little or no stays of the unique partitions, however to return to that far-off time, you possibly can come right here to see what stays: about 400 meters of the unique wall will be admired right here, together with about 80 guard towers that had been as soon as unfold alongside the perimeter.
Protected by not less than one soldier at a time, they had been used to ship data by smoke alerts about enemy troops.
Plainly the wall from the Han Dynasty (汉长城, Hàn Chángchéng) was fully made with out the usage of stones and bricks, however solely utilizing branches as the idea of building, on which layers of soil and labored sand had been alternated.
How you can get there
The Nice Wall of the Han Dynasty is discovered about 100 kilometers from the center of Dunhuang. I like to recommend that you simply negotiate a value with an area taxi driver.
Entry
The entire entrance ticket prices 40 yuan.
The Yangguan Move – 阳关遗址
Yangguan (the cross of Yang Mountain – 阳关遗址, Yángguān yízhǐ) is among the most essential Western passes alongside the Nice Wall in the course of the time of the Han Dynasty.
In-built 120 B.C. by the Emperor Wu, it protected the town of Dunhuang from invasion in addition to being a business artery alongside the Silk Highway: a glimpse of the previous because of the artifacts preserved throughout the museum.
In case you’re desirous about Chinese language historical past and such a attraction, I like to recommend that you simply additionally make a diversion to go to the Jade Move (玉门关, Yùmén Guān). Together with Yangguan, it’s a very powerful Western Chinese language cross, and as with the previous, it served the aim of defending and offering passage for the retailers.
How you can get there
The Yang Move is 60 kilometers from the center of Dunhuang and takes slightly greater than an hour to achieve by automotive. I recommend that you simply negotiate a value with an area taxi driver to get there (about 300 yuan spherical journey).
Entry
An entrance ticket prices 50 yuan.
Dunhuang Museum – 敦煌博物馆
Transferring on to the Dunhuang Museum (敦煌博物馆 – Dūnhuáng bówùguǎn) you possibly can relive historical past by trying on the artifacts discovered within the space from the prehistoric period and the Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1911).
How you can get there
Bus quantity 3 will go away you close to the museum for two yuan a journey. The cease it is advisable get off at is definitely designated because the museum: 博物馆站. As all the time, a taxi is a viable different.
Entry
Entrance to the museum is free.
Night time market – 敦煌沙洲夜市
A must-see in Dunhuang is the Shazhou night time market (沙洲夜市, Shāzhōu yèshì): a night stroll by the intricate and crowded alleys of the market lit up for the night is a style of the town’s tradition.
The very best time to return right here is round dinnertime, to be able to get pleasure from a pleasing stroll and style a number of the native delicacies. Some recommendations on what to eat in Dunhuang will be discovered beneath the Meals and Typical Merchandise heading: hold studying on to find what to strive on the night time market!
Moreover avenue meals and typical eating places, you could find all kinds of souvenirs: from costume jewellery to small bottles full of desert sand, to native handicrafts and stones in weird shapes.
To style the spirit of the place, sit on a stool and check out a mutton skewer together with a refreshing glass of apricot juice.
How you can get there
Relying on the place you’re saying, it could be handy to get to the market on foot or getting round by different means. The general public transport system’s bus leaves from the station and one of many stops is about ten minutes from Dunhuang’s night time market. A taxi can also be fast and low-cost.
Right here’s the market’s handle to point out to the motive force: 敦煌沙洲夜市，阳关东路 (The Shazhou night time market of Dunhuang, Yangguan East Road).
Entry
Entrance is free however the temptation to purchase some souvenirs shall be irresistible!
Meals and typical merchandise
Among the many typical merchandise of the area are wheat grain noodles in addition to mutton, lamb, rooster and donkey. Among the many specialties you’ll examine is camel’s hump, however actually locals will inform you that it’s just for vacationers and are actually onerous to seek out.
I additionally anticipated to seek out extra dairy merchandise, however this wasn’t the case. So what are you able to anticipate to eat in Dunhuang?
Dunhuang Rang Pi – 敦煌酿皮
Rang Pizi (酿皮, niàngpí, extra generally often called rangpi) is a dish primarily based on wheat noodles and peas. It’s white or shiny yellow and slippery when utilizing chopsticks. They’re often seasoned with garlic sauce, spicy peppers, soy and vinegar. Dunhuang rangpi are usually served chilly.
Dunhuang Yellow Noodles – 敦煌黄面
In one of many Mogao Caves we discover that one of many frescos proves that yellow noodles (黄面，Huángmiàn) have an historical historical past.
Boiled and seasoned with various kinds of sauces, these noodles are often served chilly and accompanied by different dishes. For a unique taste, strive them seasoned with donkey meat (驴肉黄面, lǘròu huángmiàn)!
Fruit
It’s unattainable to depart the town with out having tried the candy and succulent fruit: grapes, dates, and jujubes develop so scrumptious because of the climate and lengthy hours of sunshine.
In case you’re on this space you possibly can’t not style the xiangshui pear (香水梨 – xiāngshuǐ lí): these pears are preserved till the winter when the frozen fruit turns into black. As soon as thawed, these pears are gentle and bittersweet.
Apricot peel water – 杏皮水
The apricots listed here are so well-known that they gave rise to an precise competition.
Maybe the commonest dish of Dunhuang is the juice constituted of apricot peels (杏皮水, xìngpíshuǐ), that are contemporary and thirst quenching. On the night time market you could find them actually on each nook.
Recommendations and cultural elements
On the majority of vacationer sights, there are numerous varieties of reductions, equivalent to these for college students. I like to recommend that you simply all the time have useful your legitimate pupil ID in case you have one.
Some costs might fluctuate in comparison with these listed on this information, I all the time suggest that you simply verify with the ticket workplace itself. Lodges often provide guided packages, whose costs are greater than paying straight on the attraction, however might prevent time organizing it.
There appears to be a bus service that runs the route from Dunhuang to the 2 passes Yang and Yumen, however on-line data is unclear: ask for extra data on the lodge the place you’ll be staying or on the station.
As with all journey, keep in mind that you’re a visitor right here: respect native traditions and let your self get swept away by the wealthy tradition of the place.
Then (you could) negotiate costs, however understand that there are agreements among the many numerous retailers that at a sure threshold they gained’t go any decrease. For instance, for camel rides on the dunes, you gained’t discover something beneath 100 yuan.
I hope this information has been helpful to you. Depart a query beneath to let me know what you suppose or to provide us different recommendations on visiting Dunhuang!
Photograph Credit: Photograph by nhluoj on Pixabay