Dunhuang : Main Scenic Spots

The 492 remaining caves of Mogao Grotto are the most important at Dunhuang. Mogao ku lies 16 miles (25 km) southeast of the city in a small oasis along the banks of the Dang River. The caves, which date from the 4th through the 14th century, were carved into a 5,200-foot (1,600 m) stretch of sandstone on the face of the Mingsha Mountain. The wall paintings have been well preserved by the dryness of the desert and the coolness of the caves. The caves at Mogao show a fascinating progression of art styles over the centuries, form the Indian influence of the Northern and Western Wei periods (38-557 A.D) to the softer and more humane figures of the Sui and on into the Tang Dynasty (618-907) when the grottoes reached their artistic peak. Though the carvings continued through the Song and into the early part of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, Dunhuang declined markedly after the fall of the Tang.   More Info >>

The dune top provides an excellent vantage point to watch the sun set over the desert and the oasis town. You can rent a camel or ride in a camel-drawn cart to visit the dunes overlooking Crescent Lake. Visitors deciding to climb the dunes should be forewarned: It's much harder than it looks. Also, it's not a wise idea to go barefoot since the sands hold buried pieces of broken glass.

The tips of the Han Dynasty beacon towers can be seen poking up out of the drifting sands in this barren area 38 miles (62 km) outside Dunhuang. The Yangguan Pass was the start of the northern branch of the Silk Road, which arched above the Taklimakan Desert. The Yumen Pass, starting point of the southern route, is noted for its ancient ruins. The now buried towers were, in effect, lighthouses for travelers navigating through what was a nearly featureless desert. They reportedly could be seen for tens of miles.