Dun, Great; Huang, Prosperous
Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring
I don't know if I have some romantic fascination with the wilderness, but the thought of this trip involving desert and gobi thrilled me so much that I couldn't sleep for several nights. Only after arriving here did I realize it was far more spectacular than I had imagined, even more than in the movies. As soon as I reached Dunhuang, I headed straight for the nationally renowned scenic area, Mingsha Mountain. From the name, its origin is clear: when strong winds blow, the sand mountain emits a loud roar, and when a gentle breeze passes, it sounds like string and wind instruments, hence the name Mingsha Mountain (Singing Sand Mountain). Camel caravans are organized in groups of five, costing 100 yuan per person. After paying, you board your assigned camel based on your number. The camels were gentle and looked very obedient. Although I felt a little nervous when they stood up, excitement soon took over! Some say the desert is passionate, others say it is ruthless. At that moment, I could only trust what I saw with my own eyes—how beautiful and enchanting it was. Riding the camel, heads held high, the grand procession advanced with the crisp jingling of camel bells, crossing one sand peak after another, forming a breathtaking desert painting against the azure sky. This was a scene I had only seen in movies, and being there in person made time feel frozen. Strolling through the sea of sand, I savored its grandeur and mystery.
Mingsha Mountain consists of dozens of sand dunes, most over 100 meters high. The dunes have a pyramidal shape with sharp edges, as if artificially crafted, resembling Egyptian pyramids or Swiss-style architecture, giving them a highly sculptural form. The sand is a clear ochre-yellow, and its surface is as soft as a maiden's skin, making it hard to step on.
Crescent Moon Spring is a dreamlike mystery. For thousands of years, it has neither been buried by shifting sands nor dried up due to drought. Amid the vast desert, such a spring; amid the dark winds and yellow sands, such a pool of water; amid the desolation, such a sight—it deeply captures the rhythm of nature and the wonder of creation, enchanting and captivating all who see it. Hence, it is called the Number One Spring in the Deserts of the World.
Catching sight of that clear pool from afar, I couldn't help but rush toward it. It seemed so close, but I ran for a long time before reaching it.
Regarding the Mogao Caves, there are many introductions online. I only want to say that this is a place every Chinese person must visit at least once in their lifetime, and they should go early because many exquisite murals are weathering away, despite the efforts of numerous experts to protect them. Previously, cameras were not allowed inside, but now it's more considerate: they are permitted, but visitors are asked to refrain from taking photos inside the caves, as the flash can damage the murals. So we only took many pictures outside the caves. After the visit, I gained a comprehensive understanding of the history of the Mogao Caves.
Speaking of the Mogao Caves, there is one incident that must be mentioned. In the 26th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1900), a Taoist priest named Wang Yuanlu, who was practicing at the Mogao Caves, accidentally discovered the world-shaking Library Cave on June 22, 1900, while cleaning and repairing the caves. This secret chamber was filled with over 50,000 items, including sutras, documents, embroideries, and paintings from the Three Kingdoms, Wei, Jin, and Northern Song periods. Unfortunately, under the specific historical circumstances of the late Qing government's corruption and incompetence and the Western powers' aggression against China, soon after the discovery of the Library Cave, Western explorers such as the British, French, Japanese, and Russians arrived one after another in Dunhuang. Using unfair means, they deceived and plundered a large number of artifacts from the Library Cave from Wang Yuanlu, resulting in the severe looting of the cave's treasures. The vast majority were tragically scattered and are now housed in various public and private collections in Britain, France, Russia, Japan, and other countries, with only a small portion remaining in China, creating an unprecedented catastrophe in Chinese cultural history.
The Dunhuang Grand Ceremony is a large-scale desert live performance, the only one in China with a desert backdrop and the starry sky as its curtain. It boasts a big reputation, and many tourists come specifically for it. Following the principle of 'since we're here, we should see everything we can,' I had also planned to watch 'Again, Dunhuang,' but due to a tight schedule, I didn't have time and it fell through. Getting back to the point, visiting the Dunhuang Grand Ceremony after touring Mingsha Mountain was definitely the right choice. Having just witnessed the desert beauty of Mingsha Mountain, continuing to experience the desert ambiance at the Grand Ceremony provided an excellent immersive experience. The performance fully embodied the openness, warmth, and tenderness that Dunhuang represents, from the closely linked storyline to the exquisite and dreamy stage lighting, and the professional and dedicated dancers—all centered around Dunhuang's cultural essence. This performance is very friendly for those wanting to learn about Dunhuang culture; it's worth watching to absorb local culture and knowledge.
