Mid-Autumn Festival in Dunhuang
The beauty of moon-watching in Dunhuang is primarily due to its unique geographical location and climate. Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, Dunhuang is surrounded by vast deserts. Every Mid-Autumn Festival, the clear night sky is almost cloudless, and the moonlight spills over the earth, illuminating the ancient city. This natural stage effect adds endless charm to moon-watching activities.
The beauty of moon-watching in Dunhuang is because it is rich in cultural heritage. The Mogao Caves are a World Heritage Site with a thousand-year-old Buddhist art treasure. Under the moonlight, the sculptures and murals seem to come to life, telling ancient legends and stories. While moon-watching, people can not only appreciate the natural beauty but also gain a deeper understanding of Dunhuang's profound history and culture.
📍Address: Located in the northwestern part of Gansu Province, at the westernmost end of the Hexi Corridor, on the northern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
🚗Transportation: Dunhuang is very convenient to get to, with direct flights, trains, and buses. You can also take a chartered car from Xining or Lanzhou.
Yangguan Scenic Area, West Thousand Buddha Caves, Dunhuang Ancient City, and Dunhuang Silk Road Heritage City are all on the same line. The "City-Yangguan Town Rural Bus Line" can take you directly. Get on at "Qiaonan Parking Lot". Note that the earliest bus at 7:00 is not open. Currently, the earliest bus is at 9:30. The return departure time may change. It is recommended to leave the driver's phone number when getting off the bus and call the driver in advance to let him know. The fare to Yangguan Scenic Area is 25 yuan/person, and other scenic spots are 15 yuan/person. There are not many buses.
"Yadan Devil City + Yangguan + Yumenguan + West Thousand Buddha Caves + Dunhuang Ancient City + Dunhuang Silk Road Heritage City" is known as the Dunhuang West Line. There is a direct bus from Dunhuang City to the West Line scenic area, with a ticket price of 98 yuan/person. You can buy tickets on 12306 "Dunhuang Bus Station - Yadan". The bus departs at 7:40 in the morning. You can also join a tour group with pick-up and drop-off in the city, 150 yuan/person.
👍️Must-visit attractions: Mogao Caves, Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring, Yangguan Ruins, Yumenguan Ruins, Danghe Scenic Line, Dunhuang Ancient City, Yadan Geopark, Dunhuang Museum, Dunhuang West Lake Wetland Scenic Area, etc.
🎟️Tickets: Mogao Caves (238 yuan/person for regular tickets during peak season, 100 yuan/person for emergency tickets during peak season), sightseeing car 20. Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring (110 yuan/person during peak season), Dunhuang Museum (free), Yumenguan and Yangguan (Yangguan ticket 50 yuan/person, Yumenguan ticket 40 yuan/person), Yadan Devil City (ticket 120 yuan/person), Dunhuang Ancient City and Dunhuang Silk Road Heritage City (Dunhuang Ancient City ticket 40 yuan/person, Dunhuang Silk Road Heritage City ticket 60 yuan/person), West Thousand Buddha Caves (30 yuan/person during peak season).
Food: A fusion of Han and ethnic minorities, Central Plains and Western Regions, ancient and modern. Donkey meat yellow noodles - "Donkey meat on earth, dragon meat in heaven", mutton soup - rich mutton soup with smooth noodles, Dunhuang cold noodles - sour, spicy, cool, refreshing, and appetizing, braised noodles - chewy noodles with fragrant sauce, bubble oil cake - sweet, non-greasy, soft, and sweet, Dunhuang apricot skin water - refreshing, thirst-quenching, lung-moistening, and cough-suppressing, starch water - thin noodles with fragrant soup, poplar steamed cake - crispy cake skin with rich filling.
💗Other tips: I feel that "Dunhuang Villa" has a very western style. The hotel is like a castle with good quality. Dunhuang has a large temperature difference between morning and evening. Be sure to bring warm clothes.
With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching and the weather getting cooler, it's the best time to go moon-watching in Dunhuang.