Things to do in Dunhuang

For a first-time visit to a desert and a scenic spot so close to the city, the transportation was convenient and the scenery was beautiful. However, there were so many people climbing the sand dunes that we went in early June during the off-season. The sand dunes were quite large, and we enjoyed slowly climbing and appreciating the crescent-shaped spring. There are many deserts, but a crescent-shaped spring that coexists with the desert is unique. The Singing Sand Dunes at sunset were beautiful. The scenic area was well-managed; despite the crowds, it was orderly, and there were free shuttle buses back to the city. Taxis were also readily available, though a bit chaotic at times, but there were always people maintaining order.

We were absolutely delighted with our visit to the Mogao Caves. The staff had thoughtfully prepared an audio guide in French for us in advance, and we were also provided with a dedicated English-speaking guide at the caves themselves. Everything was very well organised, and the whole experience exceeded our expectations. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit!

Dunhuang Bookstore is a great place to visit. It has a wide variety of books, the displays are unique, and the environment is quiet, perfect for peaceful reading. They also have some nice cultural and creative products, though a bit pricey, but I still bought several 😜. There are also intangible cultural heritage experiences, but I didn't have time for them. Maybe next time.

The most iconic exhibit at the Dunhuang Museum is undoubtedly the restoration of Cave 045 at Mogao Grottoes. The guide's explanations were very detailed and thorough. The exhibits are the best interpretation of history.

Understand the scene depicted in the poem, "I urge you to drink another cup of wine, for beyond Yangguan there will be no old friends." The real ancient pass has long been buried in the yellow sand, leaving only the earthen mounds of the Han Dynasty beacon towers standing in the Gobi Desert. You can obtain a travel permit at the replica Han Dynasty pass, which has a strong sense of ceremony; take a sightseeing bus to the antique beach and walk along the wooden boardwalk of Yangguan Avenue. Go after 4 pm for the best Gobi sunset atmosphere, perfect for nostalgic photos; history and poetry lovers will enjoy it, and it's also a family-friendly educational activity.

Worth seeing; a masterpiece of nature. The yardangs are strangely shaped, but also very fragile. We must protect our ecological resources and take good care of our planet, or we will be expelled from the world.

We drove there ourselves, it took a little over an hour from Shazhou Town in Dunhuang. It's definitely worth seeing; the Big and Small Passes and the Han Great Wall ruins were both breathtaking. The景区 staff were very dedicated and responsible; they even took us to the last attraction in their shuttle bus without rushing or showing any impatience, which was very touching.

There will be washboard-like sections, but it won't affect traffic; you can drive slowly without any problems. The first half is paved and in good condition, allowing for unrestricted driving. The scenery is magnificent and breathtaking, well worth a road trip; a true masterpiece of nature.

The Shazhou/Dunhuang Night market is clean, cohesively decorated, and conveniently located in the city center! As part of your silk road travels visit this well put together market for delicious food and souvenir buys! 🛍 We bought cashmere wool scarves, magnets, and knick knacks all for great prices. The vendors are not pushy at all! We had a pleasant experience wandering the shops and the vendors were very friendly and accommodating. I'd recommend having alipay or wechat pay set up as this is the most convenient payment method when travelling China but at this market the vendors did accept cash from our fellow tour guide travellers. 🐟 The food court area gives camping vibes. You'll see small camp stools and chairs around small fires. Our tour guide told us that the fish and beef cakes are the most popular. We tried the fish which was yummy and the beefcakes welllll the line was a little too long for us but our fellow tour group travellers said it was delicious and even bought some for the road the next day! 🎐 Since the market was in the city center we explored the shops nearby and then caught a Didi back to our hotel. The night market is worth visiting, probably one of the best I have visited in my travels.