Save This! A 2-Day In-Depth Dunhuang Travel Guide! Play Like This on the Weekend, Let's Go~

Through millennia, I see your face. Some say a girl's heart is like poetry; the yellow sands here have blown through five thousand years, witnessing the rise and fall of countless civilizations, and also touching the magical legends of the Silk Road and the most robust, unbridled Western Region charm. So, Dunhuang, here we come.

Feel the Charm of Dunhuang State Guesthouse—Dunhuang Hotel

Take a Panoramic View of Dunhuang's History and Culture—Dunhuang Museum

Experience Dunhuang on the Tip of Your Tongue—Dunhuang Hotel's 'Dunhuang Banquet'

Desert Scenery Sunshine Breakfast—Crescent Moon Spring Sunshine Breakfast

Buddhist Art and Culture Holy Land—Mogao Caves

Sand Spring Symbiosis Love Land—Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring

Experience the Bustle of Life—Dunhuang Night Market

Accommodation—Dunhuang Hotel

13:00-14:00 Check in at Dunhuang Hotel and take a short rest.

The meaning of travel is not only the beautiful scenery along the way, but also integrating into the local cultural atmosphere. Accommodation is particularly important. We booked a hotel with strong Dunhuang characteristics in advance online—Dunhuang Hotel. It not only offers thoughtful services like airport transfers, but also has cultural depth. The driver who picked us up said that Dunhuang Hotel is the only state guesthouse in Dunhuang with a 42-year history, and it's about a 10-minute walk to the night market and major shopping areas. Hearing that, we felt like we got a great deal.

We arranged lunch at the hotel's restaurant. For the first time, I tried stir-fried Mongolian leek (Shā cōng).

At first glance, this emerald-green vegetable looked like Chinese chives. The waiter said it was a local specialty, Mongolian leek. I usually have a slight aversion to all kinds of 'onions' and 'leeks,' but because it was a 'specialty,' I couldn't resist. I picked up a few pieces; it was fragrant and fresh, without any pungent taste. I immediately took a liking to it and recommended it to my best friend. In the following days, every time we encountered this dish—sometimes stir-fried plain, sometimes stir-fried with eggs—we would finish it all. This shows that Mongolian leek is indeed delicious and special.

In ancient times, Chinese called this plant 'Mongolian leek,' probably related to its growing environment. It is mainly distributed in deserts, sandy lands, or dry slopes at altitudes of 800-2800 meters, such as in Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia. Li Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty recorded Mongolian leek in the Compendium of Materia Medica, but he gave it another name, 'Míng cōng.'

1. During peak season, book hotels in advance to avoid ending up on the streets, even though Dunhuang is a safe and charming city at night.

2. You can directly purchase tickets for the three major Dunhuang performances at Dunhuang Hotel, saving time and effort.

Visit—Dunhuang Museum

15:00-17:30 Experience Dunhuang's history and culture at Dunhuang Museum.

My advice to all travelers: at the very beginning of your trip, arrange a visit to the local museum, no matter how small or famous it is, and invite a professional guide—because this is the best way to meet a distant, unfamiliar place, and the most comprehensive way to understand its historical origins and geographical context.

Our first stop in Dunhuang was the Dunhuang Museum. The guide assigned to us was Director Zhang from the museum's explanation department.

Director Zhang's explanation was detailed, rich, and vivid. Sometimes, when we couldn't fully understand, she would give examples. What I previously knew about Dunhuang all fell into place. My best friend had done her homework, and she often exchanged ideas with Director Zhang on various topics. This deepened our understanding of Dunhuang and the sites we would visit later.

After listening to the explanation, I suddenly realized and corrected my previous understanding of Dunhuang—Dunhuang is not just about the Mogao Caves, and the murals in the Mogao Caves don't only depict Buddhism! Over two thousand years ago, during the Western Han Dynasty, Dunhuang was a meeting point of Chinese and foreign cultures. Society, economy, military, humanities, arts, and multiple religions all showcased their unique status and prosperity here.

Director Zhang poetically described: Imagine, two thousand years ago, you wore Hanfu, came to the border pass, presented your documents, and set off toward the Western Regions... How would you feel? Coming to Dunhuang with this sense of history, you will gain more than just a trip.

In the subsequent itinerary, perhaps not intentionally, but the historical picture often made us feel as if we were there.

Before leaving the museum, I bought several bookmarks with Dunhuang patterns. I love small souvenirs that carry memories of my travels. Every time I take a break from reading quietly, my eyes and heart can return to that journey.

Museum opening hours are divided into low and peak seasons.

Peak season: May 1 to September 30, 9:00-17:30

Low season: October 1 to April 30, 9:00-17:00

★ Closed on Mondays. Don't miss the visiting time, folks.

Eat—Dunhuang Hotel

18:30-20:30 Experience the 'Dunhuang Banquet' at Dunhuang Hotel.

The Dunhuang Banquet is one of the hotel's signatures. It is said that Dunhuang cuisine was once selected into China's new eight major cuisines, ending Gansu's history of having no cuisine and filling a gap in Dunhuang studies regarding culinary research. Since 1985, four generations of chefs have studied the cooking and food materials depicted in the Mogao Caves' murals, finally forming today's 'Dunhuang Banquet.'

Since it's a banquet, there must be a performance. The staff carefully selected programs for us, including Buddhist-themed ones, ethnic minority styles, songs, and dances. During the meal, a Mongolian singer came to sing to each of us one by one. Later, we learned that all the performers were employees of Dunhuang Hotel!

My best friend and I exclaimed, 'So in Dunhuang, if you don't have any talent, you might not find a job!'

Full and satisfied, the wonderful day ended in the soft bed of Dunhuang Hotel.

Eat—Desert Scenery Sunshine Breakfast

06:30 Experience the Crescent Moon Spring Sunshine Breakfast.

We went out early in the morning for the mysterious desert breakfast. First, we took a tourist bus to a village near Mingsha Mountain, then switched to an electric cart. At the foot of Mingsha Mountain, before getting off the electric cart, we put on anti-sand cloth shoe covers. The bright orange-red color instantly gave everyone a warm, sunrise-like vibe.

In the morning light, we wound our way up with some momentum, reaching a flat area where we saw a large carpet spread on the sand, with tablecloth-covered dining tables and chairs placed on it. Nearby were a chef, waitstaff, and a preparation table... Forgetting the difficulty of walking on sand, I ran over to take a closer look. 'This is our desert breakfast!' The sun had already risen behind the sand dunes, making this spot shaded and cool.

In a place without wind and not scorching, that was our breakfast room! Without even tasting, my stomach seemed already filled with deliciousness. In this vast desert, encountering such refinement, my inner emotion was beyond words.

The chef had already fried an egg for each of us. Juices, salads, and other appetizers were quietly placed at each seat. In the center of the table, a vase filled with sand held a camel thorn. The impression this desert sunshine breakfast left on me far exceeded my imagination. Sometimes, people are not moved by a feast, but by the effort behind such refinement.

What exactly is happiness? Perhaps it lies in many small moments—doing things that reveal the heart, speaking sincere words, and having a few close friends. If there are also some longed-for sceneries, that is happiness.

We were fortunate enough to experience it.

The sun gradually rose, crossing the ridge and shining on us.

We finished breakfast contentedly and bid a temporary farewell to Mingsha Mountain. Next stop: Mogao Caves.

Visit—Mogao Caves

9:00 Head to the Buddhist art and culture holy land, Mogao Caves.

On the way to Mogao Caves, we had no idea that we would end up staying there for six hours, just to see more and in detail the murals in the thousand-year-old caves, as well as a few sculptures (though most sculptures were renovated during the Qing Dynasty, so not pleasant to see).

Mogao Caves are located 25 kilometers southeast of Dunhuang city, on the cliffs at the eastern foot of Mingsha Mountain. It takes about 30 minutes by car to get there.

Nowadays, at Mogao Caves, apart from the necessary health code checks and temperature measurements due to pandemic control, protection measures are very good. After buying tickets, you need to take a designated shuttle bus. It takes about ten minutes to actually reach the vicinity of Mogao Caves (the Digital Center was closed due to the pandemic).

Traveling during this period, many are experienced travelers—going to cities without many COVID cases to see, play, and eat. With few people, the scenery becomes especially beautiful. At Mogao Caves, the ticket at this time includes 8 ordinary caves, and we specially booked 5 special-grade caves. During peak summer season, aside from long queues, the number of caves you can visit is sharply reduced to four.

We formed a group with others, each group about 25-30 people, following the same guide throughout. Within the specific area of Mogao Caves, tourists are not allowed to wander on their own (without a guide, you can't enter the caves either).

Mogao Caves are also known as the Thousand Buddha Grottoes. There are 735 remaining caves, distributed on a 1680-meter-long cliff face, arranged in 1-4 levels. The southern section is for worship activities, with 492 caves containing murals and painted sculptures from various dynasties; the northern section has 243 caves where monks practiced, largely without painted sculptures or murals. Therefore, only the southern section is open to the public.

When actually entering the caves, the guides are very serious and detailed in their introductions, covering features of the paintings or painted sculptures (especially murals), their ages, the stories depicted, and the conservation process. Basically, every group has some eager learners who ask questions from historical, social, artistic, and other perspectives. Most guides can answer or discuss, especially the guides for special-grade caves, whose breadth and depth of explanation are truly admirable.

Memories are still unfolding, but my typing fingers must point to the next stop.

1. Mogao Caves opening hours:

Daily 9:30-17:00, ticket sales: 9:00-14:30 (online ticket sales: 7:00-22:00);

2. During peak season, if you plan to visit Mogao Caves, book tickets online at least one month in advance. There are two types of tickets:

Type A: Full price 238 RMB/person, discounted 148 RMB/person (check the Mogao Caves reservation website for discount policies), 3000 tickets sold daily;

Type B: Full price 100 RMB/person, discounted 55 RMB/person (check the Mogao Caves reservation website for discount policies), 6000 tickets sold daily.

★ Due to the pandemic, visitor numbers and cave access are limited. Check relevant information before coming to avoid affecting your visit.

Visit—Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring

19:00 Head to the sand-spring symbiosis love land, Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring.

After returning to the hotel for dinner and a short rest, we headed to Mingsha Mountain again to watch the sunset.

The sky was covered with thick clouds at that time, so we were a bit worried about not seeing the sunset. Perhaps having traveled extensively, we had enough psychological preparation for the impact of various weather on scenery. Even if the sunset didn't appear, I wouldn't have too many regrets.

Looking up, I saw 'Tīngléi Xuān' (Thunder Listening Pavilion). Not knowing what it was, I walked in and found it was a Dunhuang creative store. The shop assistant said all products were designed by original design teams. The products were unique and exquisite, exuding a strong Dunhuang vibe. I couldn't help picking up a Nine-Colored Deer U-shaped pillow to look at. My best friend said that since we travel often, we always need sleep aids on flights, so we unhesitatingly took two.

To save time, we took a jeep, speeding upward. By this time, I was no longer nervous about riding the jeep as I had been in the morning. In the dry breeze, I relaxed.

As we moved forward, we saw the clouds in the western sky thinning and becoming more translucent. The beautiful sunset at Mingsha Mountain probably wouldn't be a regret, I prayed silently.

And then, we were already sitting at a high point on the west side of Mingsha Mountain, surrounded by tourists. We found a spot as far forward as possible and waited for the sunset.

The sun fully emerged from the clouds, its red body descending slowly yet quickly, in just over four minutes—every time I watch a sunset, I reflect on the brevity of life, and this moment was no different.

After the sunset, many people were still reluctant to leave immediately. We 'bravely' slid down the sand mountain on sandboards.

1. Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring scenic area ticket prices:

Full price: 110 RMB/person, discounted 55 RMB/person (check the 'You Dunhuang' mini-program for discount policies)

2. Opening hours:

June 1 – October 31: 05:00-20:30 (last entry 20:30)

November 1 – May 31: 06:00-19:30 (last entry 19:30)

3. It is recommended to visit the scenic area in the afternoon, to avoid the scorching desert heat at noon, and climb to the top to overlook the distant sand sea and the Crescent Moon Spring below while watching the beautiful sunset.

4. The Crescent Moon Spring scenic area currently offers various recreational activities, such as camel riding, sand sliding, grass sliding, desert motorcycles, helicopter tours, etc. Camel riding and sand sliding are worth trying.

Eat & Shop—Dunhuang Night Market

22:00 Head to Dunhuang Night Market to experience the bustle of life.

A day full of itinerary finally found healing here. This is a gathering place for Silk Road cuisine and handicrafts. With distinctive local characteristics and rich folk customs, it is known as Dunhuang's 'night scene' and 'folk custom painting.'

Before even getting close, I was attracted by the sea of red. Standing under the bridge and looking around, both sides of the street were lined with small vendors selling local specialties. Going further in, there were sand bottle paintings, woodcarvings, needle-carved gourds, silk scarves... Every few steps, I had to stop and linger, unable to tear my eyes away. Buying, buying, buying was the right thing to do.

Following the fragrant smells, we turned a corner and entered the snack street.

As the saying goes, 'Food is the first necessity of the people.' In the night market, all kinds of delicacies are definitely not to be missed! In the Dunhuang night market, full of food, with brilliant lights like those of a grand lantern festival from the Han and Tang dynasties, how could we not taste the various foods of Dunhuang night market?

Vendors on both sides shouted, 'Come on, lamb stew with pancakes, big plate chicken!' 'Clay pot, lamb offal, donkey meat with yellow noodles.' We smiled and waved our hands as we walked further in. For a moment, I thought, 'The bustle of life comforts the common heart.' The night market of every city is the best place to reflect the local customs and people's feelings. To experience the vibrancy of Dunhuang city, start at the Dunhuang night market. Strolling and eating, our body and mind were unconsciously healed, and we achieved harmony with ourselves.

Another wonderful day came to an end. Thinking that I need to get up early the next day, follow me into sweet dreams. Good night.