Dunhuang

Dunhuang gave me my first impression: clean, peaceful, and full of sunshine. The sun here is not as intense as in Lhasa, especially the winter sunlight, which feels warm and just right on the skin. This trip to Dunhuang avoided the bustling summer crowds by choosing to arrive in winter. Unlike the summer noise, winter Dunhuang reveals its truest self: quiet and serene. Walking through the clean streets and alleys, you can see artistic elements from the Mogao Caves everywhere. The floor tiles are carved with Tang Dynasty caisson patterns, the buildings by the roadside feature murals of the Nine-Colored Deer, and the central roundabout in the main square is topped with a flying Apsara statue playing the pipa; entering this city feels like stepping into the poetic frontier scenes from a textbook. Today, Dunhuang scholars from around the world gather here to study Dunhuang culture; artists from various countries come to pay homage to Dunhuang art; and travelers from all over the world come to experience Dunhuang aesthetics, taste Dunhuang cuisine, and enjoy Dunhuang life…