View Dunhuang's Real Scenery and Appreciate the Wonders of the Desert
At the western end of the Hexi Corridor, amidst the vast Gobi desert, there are a few small oases, and Dunhuang is one of them. For two thousand years, people have lived and worked here, creating the world-renowned Dunhuang art. Taking advantage of this holiday break, I decided to go to Dunhuang to experience its culture and essence.
Mogao Caves is a brilliant pearl of art on the ancient Silk Road. On the cliffs beneath the mysterious Mount Sanwei, embraced by the vast Gobi desert, it radiates dazzling brilliance. Mogao Caves is located southeast of Dunhuang city. According to the tour guide, the caves stretch about 1,600 meters from north to south. The caves, row upon row and layer upon layer, are like a beehive embedded in the sheer cliff face. In front of the caves, pavilions stand tall and majestic, and plank roads wind and twist. Although Mogao Caves has suffered from natural and human damage over thousands of years, it still preserves 492 caves, more than 45,000 square meters of murals, and over 2,400 painted sculptures. It is a key national cultural relic protection unit and has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. At Mogao Caves, I truly realized the profoundness and grandeur of Dunhuang art. The murals and painted sculptures in Mogao Caves provide a vast amount of precious material for studying ancient Chinese politics, economy, culture, military, transportation, geography, religion, social life, ethnic relations, and friendly exchanges between China and foreign countries. However, such precious murals have been severely damaged by human activities and wind-blown sand erosion. Despite the diligent care of experts and scholars, the rate of deterioration still outpaces preservation efforts. Therefore, one must visit Mogao Caves while these treasures still shine brightly.
Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring
The beauty of the sand mountain and moon spring needs no elaboration; pictures can speak for themselves, but to truly appreciate the scenery, one must experience it in person. Since ancient times, tourists have loved climbing Mingsha Mountain. However, reaching the summit is no easy task. Although it is not as thrilling as climbing Mount Hua, it is as arduous as ascending Mount Tai! The fine sand causes you to advance half a step for every full step, making progress feel like moving horizontally without upward gain. You have to use both hands and feet to climb. At the top, the sand peaks resemble golden waves in the ocean, majestic and surging. Looking closely at the sand ripples on the slopes, sometimes swift, sometimes gentle, sometimes swirling in eddies, it is truly fascinating and full of charm. There is also a clear spring at the foot of the sand mountain, like a young maiden gently nestling in her lover's embrace. Gazing into the distance, the world opens up, and the mind suddenly broadens. Descending the mountain is the most fun. Sliding down the slope, taking leaps of ten steps, riding the air as if weightless, one feels like a celestial being.
Fire and water are traditionally incompatible, and desert springs rarely coexist with sand. But in Mingsha Mountain, you can witness the wonder of desert and clear spring living side by side—this is the world's number one desert spring: Crescent Moon Spring. Some say Crescent Moon Spring is like the eye of a peerless beauty, so clear, beautiful, and affectionate; some say it is like the lips of a graceful lady, so mysterious, gentle, and alluring; some say it is a slice of white melon, green, sweet, and crystal clear. In fact, Crescent Moon Spring most resembles a crescent moon on the fifth day of the lunar month, fallen in the yellow sand. The spring water is cool, clear, sweet, and delicious. It has lain quietly in the embrace of the sand mountain for thousands of years. Though frequently assaulted by fierce winds and drifting sand, it still ripples with emerald waves and murmurs with flowing water. It is truly the number one desert spring.
This time I chose to watch the large-scale desert live performance "Dunhuang Celebration." Friends who have been to Dunhuang recommended I watch "Dunhuang Celebration," saying the effect was very stunning. After watching it, I indeed found it very unique. The performance uses modern technological means, in an original form of live musical and dance scenes, accompanied by literature to reinterpret Dunhuang's regional cultural phenomena. I had never seen such a live performance before. Because the venue is right at the foot of Mingsha Mountain, the audience has a strong sense of immersion. The scenes were beautiful: the camel bells fading in the rustling wind of Mingsha, the fluttering banners standing tall deep in the desert—these left a deep impression on me. Life meets, knows, loves, and longs in the world; memory engraves the distant mundane world into eternity. This performance truly did not disappoint me. Its storyline was complete and touching, the stage lighting was magnificent, and no audience member was unmoved by this stunning visual feast. In a trance, I felt transported back a thousand years, experiencing a dreamlike time-travel performance.
Dunhuang, the most dazzling pearl on the long Silk Road, its brilliance shines with the light of civilization, its vastness proclaims a broad mind. Time stands still there, depositing a splendid culture that belongs to life; space solidifies there, concentrating a regional charm that belongs to life.
