Desertscapes and Grottoes
For centuries, the winding province of Gansu marked the eastern edge of the exotic Silk Road. On this adventurous twist on a classic Silk Road
A fertile oasis at the edge of the unforgiving Taklamakan Desert, Dunhuang has been a haven for weary travelers along the Silk Road for millennia. It was near this desert outpost that the storied trade route’s southern and northern branches converged, bringing together a melting pot of traders, pilgrims, and monks from across central and southern Asia. Today, the area is backdropped by otherworldly desertscapes and dotted with forts, cave temples, towers, and bustling markets – a desert sanctuary reminiscent of a bygone time.
Dunhuang
A fertile oasis at the edge of the unforgiving Taklamakan Desert, Dunhuang has been a haven for weary travelers along the Silk Road for millennia. It was near this desert outpost that the storied trade route’s southern and northern branches converged, bringing together a melting pot of traders, pilgrims, and monks from across central and southern Asia. Today, the area is backdropped by otherworldly desertscapes and dotted with forts, cave temples, towers, and bustling markets – a desert sanctuary reminiscent of a bygone time.
Sunrise at the Mingsha Sand Dunes
Rise early and catch a picture-perfect sunrise from the 300-meter high Mingsha Sand Dunes. Marco Polo dubbed them the “rumbling sands”, for the sounds they make when the wind blows, ranging from a B to a C sharp in pitch. This will be followed by a camel ride to Crescent Moon Lake, a dainty oasis of green amid the enormous and notoriously inhospitable Taklamakan Desert.
Expert-led Mogao Grottoes Tour
Dug out of the western cliffs of the Mingsha Mountains, this complex of 492 grottoes surrounded by harsh desert represents the pinnacle of Chinese Buddhist art. Created over the course of 1,000 years starting in the fourth century, the grottoes were used for meditation, worship and to store paintings, frescoes, and sculptures. It also housed innumerable manuscripts, most notably the Diamond Sutra, which was produced in the year 868, making it the earliest dated and printed book yet found.
Yadan National Geological Park
Make your way to Yadan National Geological Park, an ancient lakebed peppered with a slew of surreal land formations. As water levels receded and the unrelenting wind took over, sediment was eroded into the whimsical shapes you can see today, and the famous film director Zhang Yimou capitalized on the whimsical qualities of this remote region in his movie Hero. However, these eroded land formations continue to be eroded to this day, and in time the myriad of sculptures will reduced to dust by the wind, like golems returning to the earth.
Yulin Grottoes
Tucked away 60 miles (100 km) east of Dunhuang are the Yulin Grottoes, a series of forty-two Buddhist caves filled with frescoes, paintings and multi-hued sculptures. Chiseled into both cliff-sides bordering the Yulin River, the caves were once referred to as the “Ten Thousand Buddha Gorge,” and the images of Buddha, bodhisattvas, mythical beasts and religious insignia embody over a millennium of spiritual transformation.
Essential Info
When to Go: From May to October
Recommended Visiting Time: at least 2D/1N
Open Hours: All Day Long
Admission Fee: Tickets booked through himalayawander
Kindly Note: It is not allowed to take pictures in the caves
Altitude: 1.138 meters
Location: Gansu Province
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