{"id":5835,"date":"2011-08-15T08:27:57","date_gmt":"2011-08-15T00:27:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/?p=5835"},"modified":"2016-11-19T03:58:40","modified_gmt":"2016-11-18T19:58:40","slug":"dunhuang-trip-my-trip-to-dunhuang","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/china-travel\/dunhuang-trip-my-trip-to-dunhuang","title":{"rendered":"Dunhuang Trip, My Trip to Dunhuang"},"content":{"rendered":"
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
On Auguast 01, 2011, after simple Chinese lunch at the end of visiting\u00a0Jiayuguan Pass<\/a><\/span>, we set off for Dunhuang<\/a><\/span> on a 385km road trip along the National Highway G30 and changed at Guazhou County for National Highway G313 leading to\u00a0our destination – Dunhaung<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/div>\n
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We set off for Dunhuang on a 385km road trip.<\/span><\/div>\n
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we set off for Dunhuang on a 385km road trip<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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This 385km driving trip was the most challenging part of our Hexi Corridor trip. But we were all excited and very much expected the long bus\u00a0travel cutting through the\u00a0Gobi desert bound by Qilin Mountain in the south and the North Mountain and the extention of Tianshan Mountain in the north. <\/span><\/div>\n
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Gobi<\/span><\/div>\n
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Gobi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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At the city Yumen, we stopped for about 20 monutes for using toilets and relaxing. It was a national highway, so each distance between 60 and 100km there would be a service center with the facilities like a restaurant, a store and a toilet. <\/span><\/div>\n
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Service Area at Yumen on the G30<\/span><\/div>\n
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Service Area at Yumen on the G30<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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On our left side was Qilianshan Mountain.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Our left side was Qilianshan Mountains.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Wind turbines\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
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wind turbines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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In the later afternoon, after\u00a0four and half hours, we reached the city of Dunhuang<\/a><\/span>. The monotonous desert landscape suddely gave away to the green oasis with cultivated fields opposite the rolling sand dunes. But it was not the oasis and the sand dunes that attracts a huge number of tourists coming to Dunhuang each year, it\u00a0is the the splendid cave temples of Dunhuang, a trove\u00a0of Buddhist art in the high desert.<\/p>\n

Dunhuang once\u00a0commanded a very important\u00a0strategic position at the crossroads of the ancient Silk\u00a0Road<\/span>\u00a0<\/a>along\u00a0the narrow Gansu Corridor which\u00a0was extended to the north Chinese plains and the ancient capitals of Chang’ans and Luoyang.<\/p>\n

The Mogaoku (Mogao Caves ) was located under the Minshanshan (Singing Sand Dunes ), 25km southeas of the city of Dunhuang<\/a>. The attraction\u00a0site of the Crescent Moon Lake and the Singing Sand Dunes was located 7km south of Dunhuang City. The Dunhuang Railway Station was located 12km in the northeast of Dunhuang and Dunhuang Airport 13km in the east of Dunhuang.<\/span><\/div>\n

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Dunhuang Tourist Map <\/span><\/div>\n
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Dunhuang Tourist Map (www.friendsofdunhuang.org)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Now we entered the city center of Dunhuang. The Feitian Statue standing in the center of the city.<\/p>\n

New hotels in Dunhuang<\/a>\u00a0were\u00a0popping up\u00a0to\u00a0meet the\u00a0increasing number of\u00a0tourists coming from home and broad.<\/p>\n

All the hotels\u00a0were located in Dunhuang city, not at the Mogao Caves area. This time we were arranged to stay at Grand Sun Hotel Dunhuang ( add: 5 Beilu, Shazhou Tel; 0937 -8829999 ), one of the best hotels in Dunhuang. Other nice hotels include Dunhuang Hotel ( add:14, Guandong Lu Tel: 0937 – 88220088 ), Dunhuang Shazhou Sunny Hotel ( add: 31, Guanzhong Lu Tel: 0937 – 8850001 ), Dunhuang Shanzhuang ( add: Guoyue Lu Tel: 0937 – 8882088 )…<\/span><\/div>\n

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Grand Sun Hotel Dunhuang <\/span><\/div>\n
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Grand Sun Hotel Dunhuang<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Rooms at Grand Sun Hotel Dunhuang<\/span><\/div>\n
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Grand Sun Hotel Dunhuang<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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After check-in, for the rest of the time, we were\u00a0free without any prearranged activities. Together with a bus mate from Guilin, we went to the famouas Dunhuang Market for a short trip.<\/p>\n

In the market, you would see good dried fruits, and nuts ( including\u00a0dates, raisins, walnuts, apricots…). You would alo discover\u00a0many souvenirs. If you felt hungry, the market would not let you down. <\/span><\/div>\n

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A panoramic view of the Dunhuang Market, the commercial street.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
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A panoramic view of the Dunhuang Market,<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Jade, bracelet, beards, wrist beads…<\/span><\/div>\n
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Jade, bracelet, beards, wrist beads…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Luminous cup\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
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luminous cup<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Gourd Carving<\/span><\/div>\n
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Gourd Carving<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Stone Carving<\/span><\/div>\n
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Stone Carving<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Skewered lamp<\/span><\/div>\n
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Skewered lamp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Enjoying the local flavors<\/span><\/div>\n
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Enjoying the local flavors<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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The next morning we got up very early to catch the beautiful view of the Singing Sand Dunes coupled by the Crescent Lake. We were a little bit disappointed by the yellow dust (\u00a0yellow sand, yellow wind or\u00a0dust storms)… It is a seasonal meteorological phenomenon which affects much of Northern and Northwest of China like Lanzhou, Baotou and Yinchuan\u00a0as well as\u00a0Beijing in the season of March. <\/span><\/div>\n
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Singing Sand Dunes <\/span><\/div>\n
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Singing Sand Dunes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Riding a camel<\/span><\/div>\n
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Riding a camel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The Crescent Lake in the\u00a0 dust storm<\/span><\/div>\n
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The Crescent Lake in the dust storm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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The visit to the Mogaoku, or Mogao Caves was the highklight of our Hexi Corridor trip. The site of the Mogao Caves is loacted 25km southeast of the city of Dunhuang. The Mogao Cave\u00a0temples rise three levels along a 1.6 kilometer escarpment near the Daquan River. Every visitor to Dunhuang\u00a0will be\u00a0overpowered by their rich complexity and astonishing details. There are totally 492 caves, hand hewn from the cliff face over a millennium, are numbered for reference and protection.<\/p>\n

If you travel on a large group, your group have to make a reservation in advance. Individuals and small groups do not need a reservation\u00a0for entering\u00a0Mogao Caves.\u00a0\u00a0But all visitors must be\u00a0escorted by a guide offered by the Dunhuang Academy. High season tickets are\u00a0around US $25, the two hour guide service available in major languages.<\/p>\n

Photography is not allowed inside the caves. The standard admission\u00a0only allows you visit\u00a0a dozen cave temples, including the Cave No.96, the iconic nine story pagoda with the colossal 35.5m tall Buddha, the third largest in the world.<\/p>\n

It is worth visiting at least two cacess. Aroud 30 caves are open to the public at any one time of the 429. Murals and sculptures\u00a0bring us much enlightment on\u00a0the ten centuries of culture at the crossroads of East and West. <\/span><\/div>\n

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The Cave 96, the Iconic Structure<\/span><\/div>\n
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The Cave 96, the Iconic Structure<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
The caves are well protected<\/span><\/div>\n
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The caves are well protected<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Three levels caves<\/span><\/div>\n
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More caves<\/span><\/div>\n
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More caves<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Tip:\u00a0 Hassle-free Dunhuang Guided Tours
\n<\/strong>If you don\u2019t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,\u00a0 here are some options for Dunhuang Guided Tours:<\/p>\n

Dunhuang Highlight Day Tour<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 from US$ 119 p\/p<\/span>
\nDunhuang Excursion Day Tour<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 from US$ 89 p\/p<\/span>
\nDunhuang 4 Day Tour<\/a>\u00a0 from US$ 159 p\/p<\/span><\/div>\n
Dunhuang Tailor-Made Tour<\/a><\/div>\n

Further Readings<\/h2>\n
\n<\/div>\n

How to get to Dunhuang<\/a>
\nDunhuang Trip<\/a>
\nTop 10 Places in Gansu<\/a><\/p>\n

Any questions, just drop a line<\/strong>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 On Auguast 01, 2011, after simple Chinese lunch at the end of visiting\u00a0Jiayuguan Pass, we set off for Dunhuang on a 385km road trip along the National Highway G30 and changed at Guazhou County for National Highway G313 leading to\u00a0our destination – Dunhaung. We set off for Dunhuang on a 385km road trip.  …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,907,528],"tags":[1369,1371,1372,1370],"class_list":["post-5835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-china-travel","category-dunhuang-travel","category-jiayuguan-travel","tag-dunhuang","tag-how-to-visit-dunhuang","tag-how-to-visit-dunhuang-mogao-grottoes","tag-visit-dunhuang"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5835"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5835"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5835\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21690,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5835\/revisions\/21690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5835"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5835"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5835"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}