Silkroad culture

#mytraveldiary Dunhuang (敦煌, in Gansu Province, northwest China) is a fascinating place, especially if you’re interested in history, Silk Road culture, desert scenery, Buddhist art, and unusual landscapes. Historically a major Silk Road outpost and oasis city. Goods, ideas, religions passed through here. The Mogao Caves (Thousand Buddha Grottoes) are one of the world’s most important repositories of Buddhist art, spanning many dynasties over more than a thousand years. Beauty of desert landscapes: sand dunes, crescent‑shaped oases, echoing dunes. The juxtaposition of harsh desert and oasis life is striking. Mogao Caves Hundreds of cave temples with wall paintings and sculptures; art from 4th to 14th century. UNESCO site. Crescent Lake (Yueyaquan) and Mingsha Mountain (Echoing Sand Dunes) Sand dunes you can walk/camel ride on. Crescent Lake is a picturesque oasis amid dunes. Sunrise or sunset there is especially beautiful. Western Thousand Buddha Caves Another grotto complex, less famous but interesting. Contains murals/statues. #naturalwonders #thingstodo #china #citydaytours #resorts