The meeting of cultures has made Dunhuang an attractive land, an ideal land for adventure. This fall, don't miss your "appointment" with Dunhuang!
1. Some features of Dunhuang?
Dunhuang Oasis is an oasis on the ancient Silk Road, located in northwest China, where the Gobi Desert and the eastern edge of the Taklamakan Desert meet in Gansu Province. Dunhuang is considered the largest tourist center in the northwest of the "billion-people country". This place brings together famous natural wonders and unique culture that attracts a large number of visitors.
The meeting of cultures has made Dunhuang an attractive land, arousing the desire to "conquer" of travel enthusiasts (Photo source: Collected)
Dunhuang City, China, has an area of 31,200 km2 with a population of 130,000. It is one of the attractive tourist destinations located in the East of the Taklamakan Desert (Taklamakan Desert), in the territory of Jiuquan, Gansu Province today.
Not only is it an important gateway of the Silk Road, Dunhuang is also a religious intersection, a repository and exchange point of culture and art between China, Central Asia and the West. Because, through the Silk Road, missionaries, merchants, craftsmen, Buddhist pilgrims from all over Persia, Central Asia, West Asia, India, and Europe entered Dunhuang. Therefore, it can be said that Dunhuang can be seen as a perfect miniature model of ancient Chinese culture.
Silk Road: The Silk Road is a network of ancient trade routes connecting the East and the West. This special route is also a place where cultures, manufacturing techniques, art, etc. meet, between ancient and modern civilizations. In trade, the most valuable commodity along the route is silk. This clearly explains the name of the Silk Road. Dunhuang occupies a strategic position at the crossroads of the ancient Southern Silk Road and the main road leading from India via Lhasa to Mongolia and Southern Siberia, as well as controlling the entrance to the narrow Hexi Corridor, leading directly to the heart of the northern plains of China and the ancient capitals of Chang'an (now called Xi'an) and Luoyang.
2. When should you travel to Dunhuang?
May - November is the right time to travel to Dunhuang (Photo source: Collected)
Dunhuang is located in a continental climate, the temperature is always quite high all year round, with little rain and dryness. According to the experience of traveling to China that you can refer to, the period from May to November is the best time to travel to Dunhuang in particular and the Silk Road in general. The temperature at this time will not be too hot and not too cold, the sky is clear and high, the natural scenery is at its most beautiful. Especially in the period from September to October, when Dunhuang enters autumn, the leaves turn yellow and red, the whole Dunhuang seems to be immersed in a romantic and brilliant picture. Moreover, traveling to Dunhuang at this time, you can have the opportunity to taste the newly harvested local fruits, extremely fresh such as watermelon, apricot and grapes...
3. Travel experience when traveling to Dunhuang
Although Dunhuang is a small county-level city, it is still a great tourist city with convenient transportation. You can refer to the following means of transportation to Dunhuang:
- Plane: Dunhuang has Dunhuang Mugao International Airport, about 12km from the city center. You can choose flights to Dunhuang from cities such as Beijing, Xi'an, Xi'an, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Lanzhou, Nanning, Changsha and Urumqi. However, in winter, due to the harsh climate, some flights may be cut. You should carefully research flights to Dunhuang to have a more convenient trip.
- Train: This is a popular means of transportation in Dunhuang. There are two railway stations in Dunhuang, namely Dunhuang Railway Station and Liuyuan Railway Station. Dunhuang Railway Station is in Dunhuang City (about 10km from Dunhuang city center), while Liuyuan Railway Station is about a 2-hour drive from Dunhuang city center. Trains from Xi'an and Yinchuan stop at Dunhuang Railway Station. High-speed trains are now speeding from Lanzhou and Jiayuguan to Dunhuang Railway Station.
- Bus : You can also travel to Dunhuang by bus. There are direct buses from Dunhuang to neighboring provinces such as Gansu, Xinjiang, Qinghai, etc.
- Rent a private car: To visit around Dunhuang, you can rent a taxi. You should negotiate the price for a day with the driver. You can rent this service at the hotel or guesthouse you choose during your trip.
4. Must-visit famous tourist attractions in Dunhuang
4.1. Crescent Stream - "mysterious moon" in the middle of the Gobi desert
Discover the "oasis in the desert" on the Silk Road (Photo source: Collected)
Mingsha Mountain-Crescent Spring (Mingsha Mountain-Crescent Spring) is a famous scenic spot in the "heritage city" of Dunhuang, Gansu Province, China. This place used to be a stopover for merchants and travelers on the Silk Road connecting China with Central and West Asia.
Crescent Lake is a crescent-shaped lake that has existed for over 2,000 years. That is also the origin of the lake's name, derived from the crescent shape of the lake's surface. The lake is about 218m long, 54m wide, and contains clear water like spring water right in the middle of the arid desert of China.
Different from the colorful scenery of the majestic Dan Ha seven-color sand mountain, the mysterious Nguyet Nha Tuyen is in harmony with many beautiful legends. The journey through the windy sand Gobi region makes us feel many interesting things when we see a beautiful, clear stream of water suddenly appearing in the middle of the vast desert. This was once a stop for Arab traders on the legendary Silk Road. At the same time, the stream is also on the journey to the Buddha's land of Buddhist followers from all over.
In addition, next to the lake is an ancient temple, a row of shady green trees and souvenir shops. Here you can walk around to admire the temple, and experience riding on a camel in the middle of the vast desert to contemplate the feeling of ancient people when traveling on the "silk road".
4.2. Yumen Pass - the legendary gate on the Silk Road
Mystery of Jade Gate (Image source: Collected)
In ancient times, in order to defend and strictly control security and economy , the governments of small countries in Western China built many passes from the capital to the border. Yumen Pass was the last fortress separating the Central Plains and the Western Regions. Just passing through Yumen Pass was entering a wild, harsh and dangerous land. During the prosperous era of the Silk Road, Yumen Pass was very crowded and bustling when thousands of people from the Western Regions and the Central Plains came here to trade goods.
Since ancient times, there has been a saying "Spring wind does not cross Jade Gate Pass" to describe the ancient battlefield scene, so when you come here, you will surely feel like you are reliving a prosperous ancient time.
4.3. Danxia Geomorphology - Unique landscape in the world
Zhangye Danxia Geopark - amazed by its magical beauty (Photo source: Collected)
Danxia is the name of a unique landform found in some localities of China, recognized by UNESCO as a world natural heritage in 2010. Located in Gansu province, northwest China, Zhangye Geopark with its unique Danxia landform was recognized by UNESCO as a world geopark in 2020.
Traveling to Dunhuang and visiting Maoya Dan, you will surely be overwhelmed by the majesty and uniqueness of nature here. Danxia is a special type of landform formed by the long-term weathering and water erosion of red sandstone, creating vertical mountains with unique shapes and colorful colors.
With its uniqueness, this place was voted as one of the "7 most beautiful Danxia geomorphological areas in China", one of the "6 most beautiful and strange geomorphological areas in China", one of the "10 geographical wonders of the world", one of the "22 most memorable destinations in the world... It will definitely bring you truly different experiences in your Dunhuang travel journey.
4.4. Mogao Grottoes - World famous "Thousand Buddha Caves"
Mogao Caves, also known as Thousand Buddha Caves, are located about 25 km northwest of Dunhuang City. This is a system of 492 temples in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, China. Over a thousand years of construction, it is a testament to the long-standing miracle of ancient civilization.
Mogao Caves are famous for their exquisite sculptures and murals, located on the axis of the ancient Silk Road. For more than 1000 years, this place has been considered a market place, a stopover for tourists and a religious temple on the ancient Silk Road. This will definitely be a paradise for those who are Buddhist followers on their Dunhuang tour.
5. Famous cuisine in Dunhuang?
Dunhuang Cuisine (Photo source: Collected)
As one of the most bustling cities along the Silk Road, a place of cultural exchange, Dunhuang cuisine is very rich, with many dishes typical of Northwest China. Among those countless dishes, you can try:
- Yellow noodles with donkey meat
- Niang Pi Zi
- Apricot tea
- Lamb soup
- Dried fruit
Dunhuang, with its caves containing priceless art treasures, is not only a tourist destination but also a living museum of human history and culture. A journey to explore Dunhuang is a journey back to the past, to admire the greatness of the civilizations that once existed and to cherish the values they left to humanity.
Source: https://www.vietravel.com/vn/am-thuc-kham-pha/kinh-nghiem-du-lich-don-hoang-v15571.aspx
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