Name in Chinese: 敦煌 Dūn Huáng [dwən hwæŋ]
Location: Northwestern Gansu, China, GMT+8
Population: 191,800 as a county, about 130,000 living in the town
Telephone Code: +86937
Keywords: Mogao Grottoes, the Silk Road, the Crescent Lake and the Echoing Sand Dunes
Dunhuang is a county in Northern Gansu. The town was founded during the reign of Emperor Wu(141B.C.-87B.C.), the Western Han Dynasty(202B.C.-8A.D.). It used to be a garrison town at the westernmost terminus of the Great Wall in the Han Dynasty. The western terminus of the Great Wall in the Han Dynasty was called Yumenguan Fort(or the Jade-Gate Fort). The town is located at the fork where the silk road divides into two parts. It was a very important point on the silk road. A wide range of cultures were brought to the town by merchants from different countries. The word Dunhuang means “much prosperous” in English. We can still imagine from the carvings at Mogao Grottoes how prosperous the town was in ancient times. Dunhuang is not only famed for Mogao Grottoes, but also for its gorgeous landscape and colorful cultural traditions. Shazhou Night Market is one of the must-go attractions in Dunhuang.
Attractions
Mogao Grottoes
Well-known as the oriental Louvre, Mogao Grottoes are a treasure trove of artworks and antiques. The assemblage of statues and murals has revealed the history of the Silk Road and Chinese Buddhism. It is also known as the Thousand-Buddha Grottoes. The carving project began in 366 and lasted for almost 1,000 years. The site of the grottoes is located 25 kilometers(15.5 miles) to the southeast of downtown Dunhuang. It was added to the list of world cultural heritage site by UNESCO in 1987. The admission charges to the grottoes also include the access to the Digital Exhibition Centre where visitors can watch two movies. The first movie explains the history of the site and the second one is an impressive 3D movie unveiling the mystery of some grottoes at the site which are still off limits to the general public. Both the movies are about 20 minutes in length.
The Echoing Sand Dune and Crescent Lake National Park
The Echoing Sand Dune and Crescent Lake National Park is one of the top two attractions in Dunhuang. It is also known as Mingsha Mountain and Yueyaquan Lake. The park lies in the south suburb of Dunhuang. The view of the sand dunes is amazingly gorgeous. The sand dunes often echo in sunny days. It sounds like the orchestral music. Sometimes, visitors can hear it, when they slide downhill from the top of the sand dunes. The Crescent Lake refers to a beautiful pond which is in the shape of a crescent moon. It is surrounded by the sand dunes. There is an oasis nearby the pond, small but stunning.
Climate
Dunhuang County has an arid and temperate climate with distinct seasons, namely, warm but windy springs, blazing hot summers, pleasantly cool autumns and freezing cold winters. Hot sun and cold winds can soon dry out your skin. It is highly suggested to bring some suncream to protect your skin from harmful effects of the sun and the winds. The temperature in Zhangye ranges from minus 8℃(17.6°F) to 7℃(44.6°F) in spring, 11℃(51.8°F) to 28℃(82.4°F) in summer, 15℃(59°F) to 32℃(89.6°F) in autumn, and minus 6℃(21.2°F) to 10℃(50°F) in winter. The best time to travel to Dunhuang is between May and October.
How to Get to Dunhuang
Dunhuang is located about 1,100 kilometers(683 miles) to the northwest of Lanzhou, the capital city of Gansu Province. There is an airport in Dunhuang. But the airport is quite small, operating only a few flights to some of domestic cities within Mainland China, such as, Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Lanzhou, Xi’an and Urumqi. However, tourists prefer to start their journey along the silk road from Xi’an, travelling to Dunhuang by car and bullet train.
Author: Tina Luo
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