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Sleeping in the dessert in Dunhuang – Dunhuang

Dunhuang is in the far west of Gansu province and an important stop on the ancient Silk Road. The city was founded by Emperor Wudi of the Han dynasty in 111 BC at the cross roads of two trading routes on the Silk Road, and the name Dunhuang basically means to 'to prosper'. Nowadays it's a quite modern city that profits a lot from national and international tourism.

🚄 Dunhuang is accessible by plane, train, bus and car.
⛺ The place we stayed is about 4-6km East of the most popular scenic area. You don't need a ticket and there are a lot of hotels. Price depends from guesthouse to guesthouse, different quality and size of tent.

ℹ️ It's sometimes noisy due to the motorbikes that can ride you deeper into the dessert. If you want it more calm, choose a more remote guesthouse or walk deeper into the dessert (tiring)
ℹ️ You can also sleep in the city center and make a daytrip into the dessert

Enjoy!
<a class='topicItem' href='https://nz.trip.com/moments/tag-36434-beautifulsunsets/'>#beautifulsunsets</a><a class='topicItem' href='https://nz.trip.com/moments/tag-39453-naturalwonders/'>#naturalwonders</a><a class='topicItem' href='https://nz.trip.com/moments/tag-35732-roadtrip/'>#roadtrip</a><a class='topicItem' href='https://nz.trip.com/moments/tag-155805-summervacation/'>#summervacation</a><a class='topicItem' href='https://nz.trip.com/moments/tag-61887-hikingtrails/'>#hikingtrails</a>


Jiuquan

China

Happiness_Grayson_17

敦煌莫高窟，一眼望千年。
旺季門票非常緊張，一定要提前預約。講解員是隨機分配，聽講解員講解時內心很激動，尤其最愛第259窟那個微笑了1600年的佛像。
以後可以冬天再來莫高窟，淡季人少，可以看更多的窟，而且不像春天這樣，風沙太大。

Sleeping in the dessert in Dunhuang

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Make sure to stay at a desert camp site to experience various activities but mostly, the desert in itself!
✨Don’t miss the opportunity to watch sunset, the starry night and the sunrise!
✨Please avoid the hottest hours of the day to play around the dunes, especially for people with underlying conditions.
✨Make sure to always have water with you for good hydration.
✨Don’t forget to cover up and apply loads of sunscreen!
✨Climbing up the dunes can be pretty challenging, so make sure to not miss crucial times such as sunset/sunrise and calculate a good time to climb up and enjoy nature doing its job from up there.
💖Enjoy!
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#summervacation #scenicspotguide #decembertravel #nyedestinations #unforgettableexperiences #newyearstravel #travelinspiration #springholiday #naturalwonders #dunhuang

Desert through the Silk Road

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nyedestinations

unforgettableexperiences

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once you arrive in Dunghuang (by train or by flight, these are the best options), will be easy to get a taxi and arrive there. 
there are many restaurants before the entrance, you can eat something before to enter as probably you're going to spend a lot of time inside
we went to watch the sunset and it was super beautiful, one of the best sunset in China. 
even if the city arrive very close to the desert, once you're inside you feel you're in the middle of nowhere. 
there are many activities to do inside the desert like ride the camel, drive the quad(actually you just drive for a short distance, the rest is the guide with you who drives), and other activities. 
so you can enter in the afternoon, do some activities and then watch the sunset 

#historicculture#beautifulsunsets#naturalwonders#deserts#nationalpark#lakes

Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring

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deserts

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Getting There - 10-15 minutes from Dunhuang 
Attractions - spend a night in the desert, take a camel ride, experience ATV and an entertainment show at night in the middle of the desert
Hotels - Dunhuang Chamberlain Desert Camp

That was an unforgettable experience for me and my partner and a highlight of our trip to Gansu during the spring holiday. 
The driver picked us up in the afternoon from the downtown area and brought us to the camp site. We experienced an ATV ride in the desert (free of charge) and then later enjoyed the hot pot dinner and a show. We had a good laugh and a free flow of a local beer. The entertainment program was awesome, we also had a bonfire and many other exciting experiences. It's a shame that there is no showers, so I guess you only stay in this kind of place for a night. At about 9am the driver sent us back to Dunhuang.Overall, it has been a wonderful night. You should definitely try it once, it's worth it! 

#couplestrip#summervacation#hikingtrails#urbanexplorer

Glamping in the Gobi Desert

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On my drive away from the gobi desert, I was shocked to stumble across a massive field of solar panels amongst barren desert landscapes.

Located on the outskirts of Dunhuang, Gansu, these solar panels directly convert solar radiation into electric energy.

It was my first time seeing and capturing such a grand energy generation system, and I am truly amazed by its innovation, scale, and productivity! Also very proud to see China taking steps towards a more sustainable future!

Follow to discover more cool destinations with me :)

📍 Dunhuang, Gansu
📸 ig @cherstravels

#summervacation #urbanexplorer #passionpassport #2023travelwish #awesomepic #china #deserts 

China's HUGE Solar Base in Gobi Desert 😱

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The Crescent Moon Lake is an oasis surrounded by the sand dunes of Mingsha Mountain.

In the shape of a moon, this lake is often called "The First Spring" as it has never dried up since its origin thousands of years ago.

It's beauty is truly entrancing and it is only one of many Gobi desert miracles.

📍Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake
Nature Park, Dunhuang

Follow my Instagram @cherstravels to learn more!

#awesomepic #2023travelwish #china #mytripvlog #passionpassport #summervacation 

Crescent Spring

You won’t believe this OASIS in the desert😱

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Shooting in the desert was one of the hardest things I've done as the conditions are extreme and unpredictable.

Here are 5 tips for shooting in the desert:
1. Bring loose and flowy clothing (dresses, scarves, etc.) for more movements in your photos.
2. Shoot during sunset/sunrise, when the sun is not too strong.
3. Be prepared for the heat: bring sunscreen, sunglasses, at least 2 L of water, wear layers for when it gets cold (try to avoid black).
4. Play with perspective and use the textures and patterns of the sand to make your shots more interesting. Shooting silhouettes is also good!
5. Come prepared with the mindset that even after hours of filming you still may not get your desired shot.

But, don't let that stop you! The difficulties of getting the perfect shot will push you out of your creative comfort zone, and when you see the final photos, you will see that the struggle was worth it after all!

📍Gobi Desert, Dunhuang, China

Follow my Instagram @cherstravels for more travel tips and recommendations!

#campingglamping #awesomepic #gobidesert #china #summervacation #celebratewithtrip

Chasing INCREDIBLE sunset over Gobi Desert😍

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#2023travelwish

Welcome to the famous Yumen Pass Historical Site!

“Built in Western Han Dynasty, Yumen pass is the one of the two passes to the western regions in ancient China and the only gateway for the North Silk Road Route.”

📍Location: 90 kilometers away from Dunhuang. 

How to get there: This site was part of a Silk Road organized trip, so I had a private driver. 

Have a good trip! 

For 2023, one of my dream destinations is Greece. 

#summervacation #awesomepic #historicculture #gansu #china

Yumen Pass

The Historical site of Yumen Pass 🇨🇳 

gansu

Getting There - You can drive yourself or take a taxi to the entrance hall of the Mogao Grottoes, there you get onto a shuttle bus that takes you to the Grottoes.
Attractions - At the entrance Hall of the Mogao Grottoes is a big shop where you can buy souvenirs all inspired from the Grottoes. There's two 'movies' of about 20minutes each about the Mogao Grottoes that they show you, then you move on to the shuttle bus that takes you to the Mogao Grottoes. Each group get a tour guide that show the group 4 different Grottoes, as well as the biggest 'inside' Buddha and reclining Buddha. (You are not allowed to take photos inside the Grottoes)
Hotels - There are hotel about 16km from the Grottoes. There's hotels you can choose according to your preference on Trip.com
Food & Restaurants - There's restaurants to get food and drinks. Our favourite coffee shop were the one with the dog🐶😁 The dog that inspired the shop is sometimes there.
Shopping - There's shops to buy food, drinks and souvenirs. Beautiful printed replicas of the artwork that you find in the Grottoes.
#summervacation #silkroad #passionpassport #mogaogrottoes

Mogao Grottoes

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Getting There - You can ealk there if your hotel is close by, take a taxi or drive yourself. There's a big parking area. You can give The Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel as your address, the show is next to the hotel.
Attractions - What an epic show! 🤩 Outside in the desert, the visual effects, dancing, rotating pavilion...everything came together so well. Go see the show in Dunhuang it is worth it!
Hotels - There's a hotel right next to the show's location called The Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel. And there's many more hotels you can choose from in the surrounding area. 
Food & Restaurants - There's a hotel The Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel with a rooftop restaurant next to the show area overlooking the desert. Definitely go have dinner and a drink there before you go see the show the view is amazing and the food good.
Shopping - No shopping here. You go to Dunhuang to see a beautiful show in the desert.
#summervacation #silkroad #dunhuangcelebration #passionpassport #gooutside

Dunhuang Celebration

Dunhuang Celebration Show

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The Mogao Caves of Dunhuang, where a single glance spans a thousand years.
Tickets are extremely scarce during the peak season, so be sure to book in advance. Guides are assigned randomly, and listening to their explanations is very exciting, especially the Buddha statue in Cave 259 that has smiled for 1600 years.
In the future, you can visit the Mogao Caves in winter when there are fewer people. You can see more caves, and unlike spring, there is not as much wind and sand.

Do you know where you can see a thousand years in a glance?

Winter Little Happiness · Snow Mountain Lamb Hotpot.🔥 In the cold winter, hotpot is undoubtedly the best choice. Eating hotpot with friends, that steaming feeling, will make people feel very comfortable and warm.
🎶 It echoes the saying: 'The earthly smoke and fire, most soothes the ordinary heart.'
❄️ Dongyi Dunhuang Hotel sincerely and meticulously introduces the [Snow Mountain Health Lamb Hotpot] set meal
❄️ Includes: Qilian Mountain snowmelt water, Snow Mountain pasture lamb (leg of lamb, fresh lamb ribs, lamb tenderloin, premium lamb brisket), secret dipping sauce
🍰 Hotel guests and local Dunhuang residents are given a complimentary dessert worth 58 yuan: Dongyi Warm Heart Product · Li Guang Apricot Walnut Pie.
🐟 Buy 2 hotpot sets at the same time and get a free Snow Mountain cold water golden trout!
🍲 The water used for the hotpot is Qilian Mountain snowmelt water, natural and impurity-free. The base ingredients of the pot are all locally produced Ming Mountain jujubes and goji berries, which are large, delicious, warm the stomach, and nourish the body, and all ingredients are edible.
🐑 The beef and lamb used are also free-range from highland pastures. The main food is the local specialty noodle La Tiaozi, which is made fresh without additives.
🍵 The tea provided is Fucha, which has the effects of warming the stomach, aiding digestion, relieving greasiness, and not affecting sleep.

Dongyi Dunhuang Hotels and Resorts

Dongyi Dunhuang | Winter Little Happiness · Snow Mountain Lamb Hotpot.

Over two thousand kilometers of the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop, passing through grasslands, lakes, snow-capped mountains, traversing the vast Gobi Desert, and crossing the Qaidam Basin. Experience the vastness of the desert, watch the sunset over Danxia landforms, observe the Milky Way, admire thousand-year-old murals in the Mogao Caves, and see vast flower fields at the foot of snow peaks... From then on, you will fall in love with the vastness and magnificence of the Northwest.
Qinghai-Gansu Loop
6-Day Itinerary Overview:
D1——Xining-Tar Temple-La Ridge Mountain-Qinghai Lake-Chaka Town
D2——Chaka Salt Lake-Emerald Lake-Dachaidan
D3——Dachaidan-Yadan Devil City-Dangjin Mountain-Akesai-Yangguan-Dunhuang
D4——Dunhuang-Mogao Caves-Mingsha Mountain-Crescent Spring-Dunhuang
D5——Dunhuang-Guazhou-Jiayuguan-Zhangye Danxia
D6——Zhangye-Biandukou-Qilian Grassland-Menyan-Heiquan Reservoir-Xining

7-Day Itinerary Overview
D1——Xining-Tar Temple-La Ridge Mountain-Qinghai Lake-Chaka Town
D2——Chaka Salt Lake-Emerald Lake-Dachaidan
D3——Dachaidan-Yadan Devil City-Dangjin Mountain-Akesai-Yangguan-Dunhuang
D4——Dunhuang-Mogao Caves-Mingsha Mountain-Crescent Spring-Dunhuang
D5——Dunhuang-Guazhou-Jiayuguan-Zhangye Danxia
D6——Zhangye-Biandukou-Qilian Grassland-Qilian Zhuoer Mountain
D7——Qilian-Arou Temple-Menyan-Gangshika Snow Peak (Daban Mountain View)-Heiquan Reservoir-Xining

Preparation Before Departure
01, Please prepare all kinds of sunscreen items, sunscreen, sunscreen spray, sunscreen hat, sunscreen clothing. If you don't want to turn from a fairy or handsome guy into a walking tan, please be well-prepared for sun protection.
02, Be prepared for possible altitude sickness. If you are not confident in your physical condition or think you might experience altitude sickness, please take Rhodiola ten days before departure. There are two types of this medicine: capsules and herbal tea. Regardless of which one you buy, please take it at least ten days in advance. To reiterate: so-called anti-altitude sickness medicine only alleviates symptoms and does not prevent altitude sickness entirely.
03, Prepare various medicines just in case:
01: American ginseng lozenges, Bufferin, to control headaches caused by altitude sickness. Personal use of ibuprofen granules, suitable for both adults and children, is very effective for headaches.
02: Glucose oral solution is a must. Severe headaches from altitude sickness can cause serious vomiting, and drinking glucose can replenish energy.
03: Cold medicine, anti-diarrhea medicine, fever medicine, anti-inflammatory medicine, motion sickness medicine, etc.
04, Prepare warm clothing. The weather in the highlands can change rapidly. One moment you might be worried about sunburn, and the next moment you might be cold. So, please prepare at least one piece of warm clothing.
05, Prepare your ID card and wallet, as these are indispensable on the road.
06, Bring a power bank for your phone, a phone charger, spare batteries for your camera, and spare memory cards for your phone. The scenery along the way is so beautiful that you might run out of battery before reaching the next scenic spot.
Transportation:
Best Ways to Reach Xining
[Plane] In the summer of 2016, Xining added more than 20 routes, covering major cities nationwide. Most coastal cities need to transit through Xi'an to fly to Xining, while major provincial capitals can fly directly to Xining. There are more flights to Lanzhou than to Xining, and the cost is 20%-40% cheaper.
[Train] There are many trains to Xining from all over the country, and the Baolan high-speed railway opened in 2017, making it convenient to transfer from Xi'an by high-speed train.
However, the best way to reach Xining is to fly to Lanzhou first and then travel from Lanzhou to Xining.

Two Ways to Travel from Lanzhou to Xining
1. Bus: There are airport buses from Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport to Xining, costing 100 yuan per person. There are buses at 12:30, 15:30, and 19:30, taking about 2.5 hours. They can drop passengers off at Ximen, Huitong Hotel, or any allowed stop in Xining city center.
2. Intercity Train: The intercity high-speed train from Zhongchuan Airport to Lanzhou West Station (yes, it departs from Zhongchuan Airport to Lanzhou West Station) runs frequently from 7:28 AM to 10:34 PM, taking about 40 minutes. From Lanzhou West to Xining, the high-speed train runs frequently from 7:40 AM to 8:55 PM, taking about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Tips: If you fly directly to Xining, you can choose the airport shuttle service at Xining Airport, which uses regular vehicles to safely deliver you to your destination without haggling or being overcharged.

Sleeping in the dessert in Dunhuang

Dunhuang

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