A Thousand-Year Desert Dream: An In-depth Travelogue of the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring
At the end of the ancient Silk Road lies a magical land where golden sands dance with clear springs, and the ancient coexists harmoniously with nature. This treasure of Dunhuang is none other than the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring. It's not just a visual feast but also a spiritual purification, offering a moment of tranquility and wonder amidst the vast sea of sand.
🔍Attraction Introduction
Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring, located in the southern suburbs of Dunhuang City, Gansu Province, are famous for their unique desert scenery. Encircled by sand dunes, a crescent-shaped spring is embedded within, never drying up for a thousand years, with the sand never burying the spring, and the spring never exhausting. It is acclaimed as 'one of the most beautiful spectacles beyond the Great Wall'.
🚗Transportation Guide
- **Bus**: Take bus no. 3 from the city center directly to the attraction, convenient and economical.
- **Taxi/Ride-hailing**: About a 10-minute drive from Dunhuang city center, suitable for groups.
- **Self-driving**: Follow the navigation instructions, but pay attention to parking guidance during the summer peak season.
💰Ticket Price
- Adult ticket: 110 RMB/person (valid for multiple entries within 3 days)
- Half-price ticket: 55 RMB/person (please consult the attraction for eligibility)
- Special experience projects (such as paragliding, helicopter tours) are charged separately.
👣Tour Route Planning
1. **Enter in the afternoon**, avoid the high-temperature period, and enjoy the beauty of the slanting sun on the sand dunes.
2. **Stroll by Crescent Spring**, admire the wonder of nature, and capture the reflection by the spring.
3. **Climb to the top of Mingsha Mountain**, experience the fun of sand sliding, and overlook the panoramic view.
4. **Camel caravan in the evening**, ride camels through the dunes, and capture the silhouette of the sunset.
5. **Stargazing at night**, if the weather permits, experience the vastness of the desert night sky.
📸Photography Spots Recommended
1. **Crescent Spring Panoramic Platform**: The best shooting location, capturing the perfect integration of the spring and sand.
2. **Top of Mingsha Mountain**: Overhead shot of Crescent Spring, showcasing its unique geographical location.
3. **Camel caravan**: The golden sand dunes under the setting sun and the leisurely walking camel caravan compose a classic scene.
🗺️Must-Visit Attractions
- **Crescent Spring**: A natural wonder, not to be missed.
- **Mingsha Mountain**: Experience the wonder of the echoing sands and the joy of sand sliding.
- **Iron Fish Park**: An oasis in the desert, feel the tenacity of life.
- **Mingyue Pavilion**: An excellent viewpoint, offering a panoramic view.
🍲Accommodation and Dining
- **Hotels near the attraction**: Offer a variety of choices, from economical to luxurious.
- **Specialty restaurants**: Taste authentic Dunhuang cuisine, such as donkey meat noodles and Dunhuang fruits.
🛡️Travel Pitfall Guide
1. **Sun and sand protection**: Carry high SPF sunscreen, wear windproof glasses, and a mask.
2. **Off-peak travel**: Avoid holiday peaks, and enjoy a more leisurely visit on weekdays.
3. **Reasonable time arrangement**: Utilize the 3-day valid ticket to experience different beauties at different times.
4. **Rational consumption**: Ask clearly about the cost before experiencing projects to avoid hidden expenses.
In this ancient and mysterious desert, every footprint is an exploration of the unknown, and every frame captured is an eternal memory. Let Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring be a shining star in your life's journey, illuminating your curiosity and longing for the world. Looking forward to your story, to write an immortal legend together with this pearl of the desert.
I didn't expect the sand mountains to be so interesting! Watching the sunset, riding a camel, sandboarding, cross-country motorcycles, helicopters, and open-air performances at night, the atmosphere is to the extreme! The most value for money is riding a camel. The most useful materials are shoe covers and water. The most enjoyable is to take a trip to the sandy mountain in the evening and enjoy the scenery and enjoy the performance.
Xiaoxiaomingsha Mountain is very interesting to ride a camel. Every camel has its own name. It is very human. I can understand the leader. When I go there, the sun is covered by clouds. It is a pity that I have not seen the Crescent Spring under the sunset. Everyone must pick a good day.
The scenery is very good, the sand is very fine, it is fun to ride a camel, slowly ride, the experience is good, but it is not recommended to play the scenic off-road vehicle, the price is not high, you can not go to the top of the sand mountain, you need to add another rice to send to the top,
The experience is very good, secreted super dopamine, super happy! You need to buy a shoe cover before you go in, otherwise you will fill the sand. The camel must be ridden. It is very beautiful to experience the feeling of a desert boat on the top of the mountain to see the crescent moon spring. There can be a lot of flying in it, you can try it
Last night, just in time for the trial camp of the 10,000-star desert concert, the scene was shocking, and with the ups and downs of the music, all the troubles can be left behind. There are also special changes in the drone show, which makes people call for happiness. But buy tickets in advance so you don't miss the wonderful experience.
Dunhuang Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Scenic Area Dunhuang Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Scenic Area, a national AAAAA-level tourist scenic spot in Dunhuang City, Gansu Province, is located 5 kilometers south of the city of Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province, covering an area of 76.82 square kilometers, and the core scenic area is defined as 12.79 square kilometers. It is a national AAAAA-level tourist scenic spot. It is known in the world for the wonderful landscape of "coexistence of mountain springs and symbiosis of sand and water", and is known as "one of the best scenery outside the sea". The main attractions of Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Scenic Area are Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring. Mingsha Mountain is more than 40 kilometers long, about 20 kilometers wide from north to south, and the main peak is 1715 meters above sea level. Crescent Spring is surrounded by Mingsha Mountain, and it is named because of the shape of a crescent moon. In 1994, Dunhuang Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Scenic Area was designated as a key national scenic spot; In 2005, Dunhuang Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Scenic Area was awarded the honorary title of "one of the five most beautiful deserts in China"; in 2015, Dunhuang Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Scenic Area was awarded the national AAAAA-level tourist scenic spot and Dunhuang World Geopark in China. The end of the 3 bus in Dunhuang City, the scenic spot ticket is valid for three days. It is recommended to go after 6 pm. You can take a photo of Crescent Spring in the dark. It is worth a visit.
The Qinggan Ring Road Tour ended perfectly. Travel all the way, deeply experience the charming desert style of the northwest, Qinghai Lake, Chaka Salt Lake, Emerald Lake each shine with different charm, experience desert camping, desert motorcycles, watch the sunset of Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring... The heavy historical origin of Mogao Grottoes... It is really special and exciting Impressed travel experience. The caring service of the leader, the harmony of the boutique small group of peers, and the Northwest cuisine is the icing on the cake. It is really a particularly unforgettable trip and highly recommended.