Dunhuang Ring Road Tour
Day 1: Mogao Caves—Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring—Dunhuang Grand Ceremony
Day 2: Zhangye Colorful Danxia
Day 3: Tar Temple—Sun Moon Mountain and Daotang River
Day 4: Chaka Salt Lake—Heima River
I traveled with my best friend, starting from Xi'an.
On the first day, we went to the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang. We had booked tickets in advance. After picking up the tickets, we first visited the Mogao Caves Digital Exhibition Center, where we watched "Millennium Mogao Caves," which mainly introduced the history and culture of the caves, helping everyone gain a deeper understanding. There was also "Dreamlike Buddha Palace," a dome-screen movie that showcased many grottoes that are not open to the public. It was very rich in content, with each screening lasting about twenty minutes. After watching, we took a bus to the caves and entered the site in groups led by a guide. Due to the age of the caves, we could only visit eight grottoes, and the tour lasted about an hour. Photography is not allowed inside the caves, as flash can damage the murals. The Mogao Caves are famous for their murals and sculptures. Inside the caves, there are paintings of Buddhas, apsaras (flying deities), musicians, and celestial maidens everywhere, with statues ranging from nine-story tall seated figures to small bodhisattvas just over ten centimeters. There are so many, each in different poses. The ancients were truly remarkable to create such masterfully crafted Buddha statues and murals. It was really awe-inspiring, worthy of being one of the four great grottoes in the world.
Dunhuang's Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring are world-famous for the "desert wonder" and are also a famous scenic spot in Dunhuang. The area offers a variety of recreational activities: camel riding, sand sliding, grass sliding, desert motorcycles, archery, helicopter tours, etc. Among these, camel riding and sand sliding were more popular with tourists, so my friend and I tried them. It was really great. I suggest going in the morning or afternoon, because the UV rays in Dunhuang are too strong and it gets very hot. The scene of sand and spring appearing together, which seems impossible, seamlessly merges due to the topography. When we climbed to the top of the mountain, looking into the distance, the sand dunes rose and fell magnificently. We could also watch the beautiful sunset while overlooking the distant sand sea and Crescent Moon Spring below.
In the evening, according to the plan we made, we went to watch the performance "Dunhuang Grand Ceremony." At first, I didn't want to go—I thought it wasn't interesting. I wanted to see the show "See Dunhuang Again" because it had high ratings on a certain website. But ultimately, my friend dragged me along. As soon as the show started, the lighting and sound effects captivated me, and the more I watched, the more I liked it. The seats could actually rotate, making me feel like I was traveling through history. There was even a "Mogao Caves" scene where I felt very close to the apsaras and Buddha statues. Loved it, loved it—I wanted to watch another performance. I'm glad I came. It seems some things are best experienced personally. Back at the hotel, the images from the show were still in my mind, unforgettable. (The hotel is not far from the city center, named Carnival, priced at 288 RMB per night.)
On the second morning at 7 a.m., we took a train (ticket 81 RMB per person). The scenery along the way was quite nice. We arrived in Zhangye around noon. After lunch, we went to the Colorful Danxia, with tickets booked online. As soon as we arrived at the scenic area entrance, we couldn't find the entrance and asked the staff for directions. The area is quite large, so visitors can take a tour bus. My friend and I chose to walk. When walking, avoid stepping directly on the ground to prevent damage to the landforms. The ticket was 70 RMB per person. This is the filming location for the movies "A Simple Noodle Story" (also known as "The First Gun") and "Detective Di Renjie." The Danxia landform is a type of red-layer landform, mainly composed of red conglomerate, sandstone, and mudstone. It is a paradise for photography enthusiasts. (We found a hotel near the center of Zhangye for 200 RMB per night.)
On the third morning, we took a high-speed train from Zhangye to Xining, departing at 8 a.m. and arriving around 10:30 a.m.—very fast and convenient. Then we took a bus to Tar Temple (Kumbum Monastery). Tar Temple is about 25 kilometers from Xining city. Upon entering the scenic area, the first thing we saw were the Eight Auspicious Stupas. A certain website said we must see the temple's three artistic treasures (murals, applique embroidery, and butter sculptures). It is said that making butter sculptures is very arduous. I really liked the architectural style there. Everyone should experience it in person.
Sun Moon Mountain and Daotang River are about 100 kilometers from central Xining, reachable within about 2 hours after leaving Xining. Along the way, we saw snow-covered mountains and flocks of sheep everywhere. The total ticket price was 80 RMB. Daotang River includes a Tibetan costume experience, yak riding for photos, and horse riding for photos—good value for money and high engagement. Sun Moon Mountain is the place where the Tang dynasty envoys bid a final farewell to Princess Wencheng when she entered Tibet. Overall, it was pretty good and worth a visit.
On the fourth day, we went to Chaka Salt Lake—the Mirror of the Sky—which I had dreamed of visiting. The drive from Xining took about four hours. We booked tickets on a certain platform. After entering the park, there was a small bus for 5 RMB per person. Walking took about fifteen minutes. We followed the train tracks; on both sides were salt lakes. My friend and I took the small train for 50 RMB per person. You must wear shoes when getting off, otherwise the salt crystals will prick your feet. The final stop of the small train is an excellent spot for photos, with places to rent clothes. Don't worry, girls who didn't prepare outfits. The blue sky and white clouds reflected on the lake were absolutely stunning.
Heima River is the best place to watch sunrises and starry skies. We went there in the evening. We booked a hotel near Heima River for a little over 200 RMB. The scenic area is free to enter, allowing us to look and play as we pleased. After returning to the hotel and changing clothes, my friend and I started posing for photos. The starry sky at night was super beautiful, and watching the stars with my best friend by Heima River was even more beautiful!
