I urge you to come out and see the magnificent landscapes of our homeland! Here, celestial maidens dance with flying apsaras, experiencing a world between heaven and earth!

Ever since my student days, I have always yearned for the "outside world." I thought, once I became independent, I would travel far and wide, haha~~, and set off on a spontaneous journey!

In October 2018, a National Day holiday fulfilled my desire to travel. I went to the long-awaited, super mysterious place in my eyes—Dunhuang! Here there are deserts, camels, Crescent Moon Spring, Gobi, poplar forests, Yangguan Pass, Yadan landforms, and other scenic features. Only here can one feel Wang Wei's magnificent scene: "A lonely smoke straight in the great desert, the setting sun round over the long river."

On the first day, I arrived at the center of Dunhuang around 7 p.m. and first settled on a place to stay. I was traveling alone at the time. Although alone, I thoroughly enjoyed this trip! The hotels/inns here are very affordable and the environment is quite nice. One thing to note: in October, the temperature varies greatly between morning, noon, and evening. In the morning, you can wear a sweatshirt or a T-shirt with a jacket; around 11 a.m., the temperature rises quickly and the sun is scorching, so remember to apply sunscreen. Evenings are very cool. At the barbecue stalls by the Dang River, sipping beer and admiring the dazzling lights of the river at night—for a moment, even paradise on earth pales in comparison!

On the second day, I planned to visit the long-cherished Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring in Dunhuang around 5 or 6 in the morning. You might ask why so early? Because, as a local taxi driver told me, if you don't go early, the sun will heat the sand until it's scorching hot, making it unsuitable to climb the sand dune; alternatively, you could go in the evening. Moreover, you can watch the sunrise in the morning and the sunset in the evening—both are magnificent natural spectacles. Of course, there are plenty of activities inside, such as sand sliding, desert off-roading, camel riding, paragliding, and more.

The ticket costs about 120 yuan per person. I took many photos; everything here was novel to me as a first-timer. Many people bought foot covers, but I chose to take off my shoes and climb barefoot, haha~~. The sand is soft and fluffy—stepping on it is incredibly therapeutic! Watching many tourists climbing up on all fours, unleashing their inner child, laughing with joy—it was wonderful! I also went sand sliding and rode a camel. The camel bells jingled all the way, with vast yellow sand stretching endlessly. Gazing at the boundless desert in the distance, my mind wandered, fantasizing about a "mirage" appearing, imagining the bustling streets of the ancient city of Loulan...

In the evening, following the navigation, I arrived at the venue for "Dunhuang Grand Ceremony"—Dunhuang Villa. Actually, the venue is not far from the scenic area. I walked straight along a tree-lined path and reached the villa in about ten minutes.

This is a must-see large-scale desert live performance if you come to Dunhuang. It's well worth watching—you'll definitely regret it if you don't! It's a visual feast. When traveling, you should cast aside all worries and have fun. Having a great time was my goal this trip. Next, I have to talk about my experience watching this show. For the first time, I felt truly immersed: "Dunhuang Grand Ceremony" uses Mingsha Mountain as the stage backdrop, with real mountains and real water, recreating the unique human history of Dunhuang, a key town on the ancient Silk Road, and telling a touching legend of that route—a story of leaving for Dunhuang for love. I couldn't help but marvel at how advanced technology is today. The entire show lasted 75 minutes, with dazzling light effects, breathtakingly beautiful, ever-changing, and vivid visuals—I was deeply captivated...

Also, the stage can rotate 360 degrees, move forward, or move backward, not only shortening the distance between the audience and the stage but also bringing the audience closer to history. This novel viewing mode stood out to me; in my impression, a fixed stage and fixed audience seats are the traditional way of watching performances. This completely exceeded my expectations and gave me a pleasant surprise.

After the show, I couldn't calm down for a long time—I felt excited, amazed, thrilled—it was truly worth it! On the bus back to the hotel, I was still immersed in the atmosphere of the performance, haha! This day was fulfilling and satisfying...

On the third day, I went to the "sacred" Mogao Caves. In my eyes, the Mogao Caves are holy and mysterious. Before visiting the caves to see the murals, you must first go to the Mogao Caves Digital Exhibition Center to watch an introduction to the historical background of the caves. After watching, a shuttle bus takes you to the Mogao Caves. The ticket costs about 200 yuan per person. Once inside, there are dedicated tour guides for cave explanations. You can ask the guide if you have questions; the explanations are very detailed. I followed the guide and visited more than ten caves; some caves are not open. Of course, for me, what struck me most was the wisdom of ancient people. There were still many things I didn't understand, but for people who study the Mogao Caves, what they see is entirely on a different level from what I saw!

Photography is not allowed inside the caves, so I took a few photos in the exhibition hall outside as souvenirs for later!

In the evening, I went to the Shazhou Night Market. It was a dazzling array of goods, delicious food, and a street of snacks and local customs—full of Western Regions charm! There were so many tourists.

With so many tasty and fun things, who could resist such temptation? That night, I ate more than ever before, haha~! Dunhuang left a deep impression on me. It is very clean, the roads are wide, the sky is blue with white clouds, the desert is vast, and the fruits are sweet... In contrast, the sky in big cities is gray and depressing, but here, I was completely healed, and my soul was cleansed. It was a wonderful trip. If I have the chance, I will come here often.