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| Dunhuasng, Gansu, China |
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Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring
Dunhuang, Gansu
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| Dunhuang City Riverfront by Night |
Day 20 Monday Sept 15 2025 (Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring, Dunhuang UNESCO Global Geopark, Gansu) Part 3 (Afternoon) - main focus was our visit to Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Spring & an evening stroll along The Danghe Riverfront Scenic Area in downtown Dunhuang city.
Mingsha Mountain (Echoing Sand Mountain), Dunhuang, Gansu - the Singing Sand Dunes in Dunhuang are the sand dunes that when the wind blows, give out a singing or drumming sound, they are part of the Kumtag Desert, the Singing Sand Dunes were originally known as the "Gods Sand Dunes". Some of the sand dunes stand like a golden pyramid, some lie as the fish scale & some wave like a snake !
Yueyaquan (Crescent Spring), Dunhuang, Gansu - a crescent shaped lake in an oasis, 6km south of the Dunhuang City in Gansu Province, the lake is 100 metres long, largest width is 25 meter & the depth is 5 meters, Crescent Lake is known as the First Spring in the Deserts because it has never dried out since its origin, a famous attraction in the Han Dynasty (202BC > 220AD), during the Tang dynasty (618 AD > 907 AD), there used to be a large complex of halls & towers by the side of the lake, but many of them ruined in the later eras. The present pavilions / buildings are Tang-style architectures which make the lake scenery much peaceful & exquisite !
1) Bus ride (Y$1) from a bus stop nearby our hotel to Mingsha Mountain Scenic Area / Tourist Center (6km)
2) Old pictures of Crescent Spring Lake from early 1920 > 1960. My last visit to Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring, Dunhuang was in May 2006 !
3) Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Tourist Centre / Ticketing Counter, Dunhuang, Gansu; no concession tickets for foreigners, entrance fee Y$110.
4) A short walk from the Tourist Centre > Shuttle buggy transport centre
5) Sightseeing buggy car ride (Y$20 return) from the Mingsha Mountain Transport Center to Crescent Spring Lake, Dunhuang, Gansu
6) Mingsha Mountain sand dunes, Kumtag Desert, Dunhuang, Gansu
7) Desert sand dunes sport - board walking, surfing, hiking etc - not for oldies like me too strenuous to walk up & down the sand dunes along a walkway on a steep slope !
8) Crescent Spring Sign - getting near to The First Spring in an oasis of a desert in Dunhuang, Gansu.
9) The Big bell of Yuequan Pavilion - Crescent Spring Lake, Dunhuang, Gansu - the Big Bell of Yuequan Pavilion was donated to the Singing Sand Dunes & Yueya Spring Scenic Area by the brothers Liu Jixian & Liu Jizhen along with their family members, on the ocassion of the completion of the 1st phase project of the ancient architectural complex of Yuequan Pavilion during the Dragon Boat Festival in 1994. The Deng family expressed their deep love for their hometown through this donation, this bell is 1,65 meter tall & has a diameter of 1.4 ,eters, it is made of cast iron & the inscriptions on the bell were written by the late calligrapher Jing Jiacheng from Dunhuang .
10) Calligraphy works praising the grandeur & beauty of Crescent Spring in Dunhuang !
11) Tang dynasty style Pavilion, Crescent Spring, Dunhuang, Gansu
12) A little flower garden near the Crescent Spring Lake, Dunhuang, Gansu - a wonderful sight !
13) Exiting the Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Spring Scenic Area after almost 2 hours of sightseeing !
14) Camel riding in Mingsha Mountain, Dunhuang, Gansu - if you do not mind doing the riding under a scotching sun !
15) Bus ride (Y$1, return journey) from Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring bus stop to Dunhuang city.
16) The Danghe River Scenic Waterfront - a leisure evening walk along the waterfront in this famous city of Dunhuang, breathing cool air & admiring the surrounding.
17) Mogao Grottoes Mural Wall, evening walk along the Dunhuang city river front, Gansu - 60 meters long & 32 meters high including 15 classical Mogao Grottoes murals, the wall was set uo on Nov 2012.
18) Toilet run in a 4 star hotel in downtown Dunhuang city - classy looking & luxury reception hall.
19) Goodies shopping in a local dried fruit / nuts shop in Dunhuang city. KM bought dried dates / dried raisins (Y$80) & KF bought pistachio for home !
20) Evening stroll along a commercial / food street in downtown Dunhaung city.
21) Shichang (Market) Lane, Dunhaung City, Gansu - Dunhuang local snack street, foodies delight !
22) Ramen noodle dinner in a local restaurant in downtown Dunhuang, Gansu - each savoured a plate of stir-fried beef ramen (Y$16), large serving, tasty & filling !
23) Downtown Dunhuang City by Night - colourful street lighting brightening up the city environment !
24) The Danghe River Scenic Waterfront, Dunhuang City, Gansu - a national-level conservancy scenic spot, the water body & the landscape complement each other, time your visit in the evening & take a leisure stroll, when the light is on, the entire riverfront line & surrounding looks very scenic & grand. A starry starry night !
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