How can I get a better experience when going to a popular destination like Dunhuang? The answer is – off-peak travel. And March is a good time to take advantage of the beautiful spring and travel all the way west!
Dunhuang City, Gansu Province has formulated a number of preferential policies for winter and spring tourism. From December 15, 2022 to March 31, 2023, Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes and Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Scenic Area will offer half-price discounts on tickets. The number of open caves at Mogao Grottoes has increased from 8 to 12 during the peak season, and the number of visiting groups has been reduced from 25 to 15 during the peak season. Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring, Yadan, and Yumenguan Scenic Spots are free of tickets for students from all over the country.
Highlights, discounts until the end of March! Students who thought it was too cold in winter can go for it. After the vernal equinox, there is still a chance to meet the dreamlike apricot and pear blossoms outside the Great Wall. Of course, the thousands of worlds painted in the caves are indispensable. The aesthetic feast of “the sky is flying, and the wall is full of wind”~ Take advantage of the limited time offer, hurry up Explore the dual charm of nature and humanities in Dunhuang with LP!
Dunhuang City
The Dang River divides the urban area of Dunhuang into two, and usually travelers are involved in the old city on the east bank. The “Bounce Pipa” statue at the intersection of Shazhou Road and Yangguan Road is the center here, and the roundabout around the statue is the “circling road” in the local population.
When staying in Dunhuang, apart from going to Mogao Grottoes and Mingsha Mountain·Crescent Spring, you might as well leave some time for the city itself, especially in the off-season when tourists are scarce, you will find that this tourist city is actually very livable.
The altitude of 1,000 meters makes it airy and sunny, the streets are spotless, and you can walk everywhere, and the layout of the city is just right. Danghe, the mother river of Dunhuang, has now been built into a “Danghe Style Line”. You can stroll here in summer nights, enjoy barbecue and beer by the river, and watch the leisurely and contented Dunhuang people, and you will find this “international famous person” “The other side.
Dunhuang Museum
No. 1390 Mingshan North Road; free visit with ID card
Museums are the tangible history of a city. If you want to walk into the millennium charm of Dunhuang, you might as well start from the Dunhuang Museum. The design here is presided over by Cui Kai, a Chinese architect. The shape combines the elements of beacon towers, the Great Wall, and ancient castles. The area is small, and the exhibition layout ideas are very clear. The circling upward guide line makes the whole visit process go smoothly, as much as possible. cultural experience.
In addition to the rich exhibits, there is also a restoration of the corridor lighting wall of a Western Jin Dynasty tomb, and Cave 45, the top work of Tang Dynasty painted sculptures in Mogao Grottoes. In addition, you can also see the restoration models of Xuanquanzhi, Hecang City, Shouchang City, etc., as well as the remnants of two Beiliang stone pagodas.
Mingsha Mountain·Crescent Spring at the south end of Dunyue Road
Looking south from the urban area, you can see the graceful curve of Mingsha Mountain, and a straight avenue leads from the urban area to here. Today’s Mingsha Mountain Scenic Area is not a daunting desert, but a playground full of food, drink and entertainment. In addition to throwing yourself into the embrace of the desert, what is even more exciting is the Crescent Lake, which is praised by the world. This spring lying in the middle of the desert has been recorded as early as the Han Dynasty.
The top of the dunes is the best place to overlook the Crescent Lake. Here you can see the wonders of clear springs and deserts embracing each other. Enjoy the sunrise and sunset here in summer and autumn. The horizon in your field of vision is dyed gorgeous gold, transitioning from gold to dark yellow in the desert, and then turning into the transparency of spring water. The visual gradient of color and transparency is yours. A wonderful experience not to be missed.
Mogao Grottoes
The name of Mogao Grottoes is needless to say, but it is not easy to understand Mogao Grottoes. Every year, the number of tourists on holidays is challenging the reception limit of Mogao Grottoes. Even if the upper limit of the number of people is controlled, it is difficult to guarantee the visiting experience.
The most beneficial thing for mankind is the official launch of Digital Dunhuang (www.e-dunhuang.com) – 30 grottoes, spanning 10 dynasties, 300DPI high-definition collection, 360° panorama without dead ends – so that everyone now and in the future can Appreciate these thousands of years of art online.
Using it can not only help you do some homework on understanding Mogao Grottoes, but also make up for many regrets of watching on-site, and realize the wish of every traveler “to avoid crowds and book a place to see the caves”.
The image of flying Apsaras in the murals of Mogao Grottoes has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Flying Apsaras generally refers to the heavenly beings in the heavenly palace who support the gods and worship the Buddha and perform music and dance. They originated from Indian mythology, and may be the combination of Gandharva and Kinnarode in the Eight Parts of Heaven and Dragons. After it was introduced to China, it merged with the Taoist immortal system and existed in large numbers in temples, grotto murals and statues.
Apsaras in different periods were affected by the social and cultural context at that time, showing different postures and demeanor. Perhaps the most popular is the flying, chic and beautiful female flying image. From the Northern Wei Dynasty to the Sui and Tang Dynasties, influenced by the culture of the Central Plains, Feitian changed from an early male image to a female image, wearing a long skirt, throwing flowers, playing musical instruments, or holding offerings. The rich shape of Feitian is different from the solemnity of Buddha and Bodhisattva. Ancient craftsmen devoted more freedom to the shaping of Feitian.
Tips before going to Mogao Grottoes
Open Grottoes: The specific caves that will be opened that year will be announced on the official website and official account. When the on-site commentator led the team, he basically followed the principle of “wrong peak and wrong generation”, and asked tourists to abide by “going all the way” and “not turning back”. Cave 96 in the center is a must-see cave. During the peak season, it will be used as a boundary to delineate the visiting areas for Class A tickets and Class B tickets, and they cannot cross each other. Not all special caves are open, but specific information needs to be inquired on site or by calling the scenic spot.
Note: It is strictly forbidden to take pictures and touch in the cave. In the event of heavy rain, strong wind, and dusty weather, the scenic spot will be closed, and a notice will be issued on the official account as soon as possible. On the day of the Dunhuang Marathon (the race is held in May every year and registration starts in February), the urban area and the road to Mogao Grottoes may be closed on the day of the race. Be cautious when purchasing tickets for the morning.
Dunhuang West Route
Travelers who finally come to Dunhuang are all looking forward to a taste of “exiting customs”. Since the Han Dynasty “listed four counties and occupied two passes”, Yangguan and Yumenguan guarded the southern and northern passages connecting the Western Regions. The tragic frontier poems, the long Silk Road, the mirage, the devil city, all kinds of dangerous and mysterious atmosphere have been shrouded in this desert and oasis.
West Thousand Buddha Caves,
G215 National Road, Dunhuang, about 31 kilometers southwest of the urban area
After seeing the big scene of Mogao Grottoes, many people will give up here, but for grotto lovers, West Thousand Buddha Caves is still a stop not to be missed. The West Thousand Buddha Caves and the Mogao Grottoes were excavated on the west and east sides of the Mingsha Mountain Desert respectively. This place has also become a Buddhist art relic with a long history, rich content, and exquisite art. The grand and dense statues unfold in front of you. .
Yangguan-Yumenguan
Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty “listed four counties and occupied two passes” in Hexi, and Yangguan was one of the two passes. It guards the southern route of the Silk Road. It was once the residence of Yangguan Duwei in the Western Han Dynasty. According to historical records, it was once an oasis with sufficient water sources. Today, it is a desert. The only relic in the scenic spot is the Yangguan Beacon on the top of Dundun Mountain, also known as “Yangguan Eyes and Eyes”. It is not the real Yangguan City, but the only remaining building in Yangguan.
Yumen Pass guards the northern line of the Silk Road. According to legend, it got its name because Hetian beautiful jade from the Western Regions entered the Central Plains through this pass. Compared with Yangguan, the scenery here is a little monotonous. There is only a small square city built with yellow clay on the Gobi Desert. What you can do is to follow the plank road and enter the inside of this square pier. A narrow ramp allows the defenders to go up to the top of the city and look around.
Yardang Geopark (Devil City),
about 72 kilometers northwest of Yumen Pass
When you arrive at the Yardang Geopark, you have already entered the edge of the “Sea of Death” Lop Nur. The uncanny wind-eroded landform, coupled with the legendary howling ghosts and wolves, gave it the name “Devil City”. In fact, the iron-bearing gravel from the Black Gobi of Mazong Mountain covers the entire sandy land of the geological park. Most of the time, the sand here is not easy to be blown up. ©MANDU Yu Sheng/Tuchong Creative Geopark has a very large area, so the whole visit process is basically completed on the bus. If you want to enjoy more wonderful landform wonders, you need to use additional means of transportation. There are off-road vehicles at the Peacock Opening Spot, and there are even helicopters and gliders here for tourists to overlook from a high altitude. Therefore, the use of drones is prohibited in the scenic area. ©Wuhan Jiangshan/Tuchong Creative It is difficult to capture the layered beauty of Yadan under the strong direct sunlight, but the side light at sunset is just right, and the open terrain is also the best choice for enjoying the sunset.
Dunhuang East Route
In the past, Guazhou was the only way to reach Dunhuang. Nowadays, most travelers go straight to Dunhuang, and Guazhou has become a day trip to explore eastward. The biggest attractions here are Suoyang City and Yulin Grottoes in the south of Guazhou County. The former is Guazhou City in the Tang Dynasty, and the latter is the sister cave of Mogao Grottoes.
Yulin Grottoes is also called “Wanfo Gorge”. Compared with Mogao Grottoes, also known as “Thousand Buddha Caves”, it is said that the scale was larger in those days. It is a pity that many caves were destroyed by the flood of Yulin River. Today, although the scale and popularity are obviously not as good as Mogao Grottoes, the grottoes preserved here just make up for the decline period of Mogao Grottoes from Xixia to Yuan Dynasty.
It should be noted that, as a “world wind bank”, the wind in Guazhou is nicknamed “one wind a year, blowing from spring to winter”, and once blown away the melon plate of the statue of “Fairy Presenting Melon” in the center of the city. Therefore, before starting the Guazhou trip, you’d better take a look at the weather. If it rains heavily, Yulin Grottoes will be closed, and if there is strong wind, Suoyang City will be closed.
Suoyang City has a sound defense system and a well-developed irrigation system. After the fall of Xixia, the administrative buildings were abolished. Jiayuguan was closed in the Ming Dynasty, and the Shule River was diverted, making it finally abandoned. When this place was reintroduced into the imperial territory in the Qing Dynasty, the common people discovered that it was rich in Suoyang and called it “Suoyang City”. Of course, none of them can be found now. In 2014, Suoyang City was included in the “World Cultural Heritage List” as one of the sites of the “Eastern Section of the Silk Road”.
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