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Dunhuang is located at the transportation hub between the Central Plains and the Western Regions in ancient times. Since ancient times, Dunhuang has been a place where Eastern and Western thought and culture met and merged.
In terms of natural landscape, Dunhuang has desolate and magnificent desert scenery, golden Populus euphratica forests, and the mysterious and unique Yadan landform; in terms of cultural landscape, Dunhuang has the Mogao Grottoes, the treasure of world Buddhist art, and the ancient Yangguan , Yumen Pass and Han Dynasty Great Wall ruins. In Dunhuang, you can feel the alternation of history and the magical beauty of nature.
It can be said that Dunhuang is one of the places that must be visited in this life.
I have been chatting with friends who have been to Dunhuang before. Some people think that although Mogao Grottoes and Yangguan are famous, after seeing them, they are just holes and mounds. Tired of it.
In fact, this is because I did not fully understand the history of Dunhuang before going there. As for the cultural landscape, I need to understand the historical stories behind it, feel the vicissitudes and magnificence of historical changes, and go to the field to feel and listen. Only in this way can we better create an inner resonance with the scenic spots, especially in Dunhuang.
Today I will show you how to deeply experience the beauty of Dunhuang in 2 days.
Destination: Dunhuang
Recommended travel date: 2 days
Recommended travel season: The end of October (to enjoy the autumn scenery, just stagger the peak season)
Places to visit:
DAY1 East Route: Mogao Grottoes, Mingsha Mountain, Crescent Moon Spring, Dunhuang Night Market
DAY2 West Route: Dunhuang Ancient City, Yangguan, Yumen Pass, Han Great Wall, Ya Dan Geopark
It is strongly recommended that everyone watch relevant documentaries and books before going to Dunhuang to learn about the history and culture of Dunhuang.
We recommend the documentary "Hexi Corridor" with a high score of 9.7 on Douban. This documentary has 10 episodes. It tells the story of Dunhuang's birth, prosperity, decline and rebirth starting from when Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty sent Zhang Qian as an envoy to the Western Regions. The changes in the Hexi Corridor reflect the changes in dynasties.
After watching this documentary, you will have a deeper understanding of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Yangguan Pass, Yumen Pass, and the Great Wall of Han Dynasty. You will know how these historical relics were born and what kind of war they have witnessed. High-spirited years.
It is also recommended that you read the autobiography "My Heart Is in Dunhuang" by Fan Jinshi, Director of the Dunhuang Academy. This book also tells the history, cultural significance and protection of the Mogao Grottoes in a relatively straightforward manner. and development process. The explanation of the Buddha statues and murals in the Mogao Grottoes is also very helpful for understanding the Mogao Grottoes in advance.
I believe that after you complete these homework and then go to Dunhuang, you will have a wonderful feeling of reuniting with history when you see the places and pictures you have imagined.
After learning about Dunhuang, I believe you can’t wait to go there. It is recommended that you go to Dunhuang from the end of October to the beginning of November. At the end of the peak season, there are not many people to visit and there is basically no need to queue. The sun is not too bright and the scenery is quite good.
Dunhuang has an airport and a train station, but the direct routes to Dunhuang from most cities are rare and expensive. Therefore, most friends from far away choose to fly to Lanzhou and then transfer to a plane or train.
There are many connecting flights in Lanzhou, and most of them can reach Dunhuang on the same day, which is more convenient.
You can also choose to fly to Lanzhou and then transfer to Dunhuang by train. Basically, it departs at night and travels all night to arrive at Dunhuang in the morning. The price is cheaper. Here is a special reminder for friends who want to transfer trains. Lanzhou Airport is far from the city and the train station, and taxis are expensive and slow. However, Lanzhou Airport has direct intercity trains to Lanzhou Station and Lanzhou West Railway Station, which run almost every half an hour. It is more convenient and comfortable than taking the airport bus and then transferring.
Dunhuang has a large temperature difference between day and night and strong ultraviolet rays.
When you go there at the end of October, you basically need to wear a sweater and a coat. Girls who love beauty can also wear leggings and skirts, and bring beautiful scarves and hats. Wear masks and sunglasses.
Equipment suggestions: selfie stick, binoculars, red skirt or silk scarf (it looks great when taking photos)
If it is off-season, it is relatively cheap to go to a Dunhuang hotel, similar to a budget hotel. Around 160 a night, there are many choices of hotels in Dunhuang city, so it is recommended to stay in the city.
The attractions in Dunhuang are relatively concentrated, and the more classic one is to spend a day in each of the two routes.
Itinerary:
9:00-13:00 Mogao Grottoes
2:30-6:00 Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring
Visit the night market in the evening
Mogao Grottoes and Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring are both near Dunhuang city. You don’t need to sign up for a tour and just take a taxi there.
Tickets: 238 yuan (category A full ticket)
Purchase channel: Mobile app Mogao Grottoes visit reservation website
Tickets for Mogao Grottoes need to be booked in advance , especially when there are many people during the peak season. It is recommended to buy Category A tickets to see more caves, but it doesn’t matter if you can’t buy them. Category B tickets are also available, mainly for feelings and insights.
Dunhuang dawns relatively late. You can leave from the city at 8:30. It takes about 15 minutes to take a taxi to the Mogao Grottoes and costs about 20 yuan. The folk customs in Dunhuang are very good, and taxis are very standardized and do not charge excessive fees. This is a point that Fried Chicken praises.
Touring the Mogao Grottoes is mainly divided into three parts.
PART1 Watch a movie
Come to the entrance of the Mogao Grottoes scenic spot, which is the digital display center. This is to allow tourists to experience the history and overall situation of the Mogao Grottoes in advance and watch digital movies. And the dome movie, the experience is good and worth watching. After watching the movie, follow the guide and take the sightseeing bus to the cave area. 10 minutes drive.
PART2 Entering the cave
Follow the instructions and wait in line to enter the cave. Each group will be led by a tour guide. Because each cave can accommodate a limited number of people, you will have to wait a while to visit each cave when there are many people.
Taking pictures is not allowed inside the cave. It is recommended that you bring a telescope so that you can see the details of the murals more clearly. It will be easier to understand the preciousness and beauty of the murals and Buddha statues in the Mogao Grottoes by reading some books in advance. It takes about 2 hours to visit the cave, Sutra Cave and Nine-story Pagoda Square.
PART3 Watch the exhibition
After visiting the cave, the tour guide will see you off and introduce the current exhibition. That is the third part of visiting Mogao Grottoes, watching the exhibition. There is an exhibition hall in the Mogao Grottoes that holds regular exhibitions. You can see 1:1 replicas of many closed caves here. It is recommended to go and see them, which takes about an hour. In addition, there will be temporary exhibitions at different times, so you can learn about them in advance and choose to visit them.
After viewing the exhibition, we left the Mogao Grottoes and took the sightseeing bus back to the Digital Center. It is recommended to take a taxi back to the city to rest and then go to Mingsha Mountain in the afternoon.
Tickets: 110 yuan
Glider: 380 yuan
Desert motorcycle: 120 yuan
Mingsha Mountain is also not far from Dunhuang City. Far away, about 15 minutes by taxi. The sun is quite strong at noon, so it is recommended to go at 2:30. If you are afraid of sand getting into your shoes before going, you can buy a pair of shoe covers. The scenic spot also rents a pair for 15 yuan.
Tickets for Mingsha Mountain can be purchased online in advance and then swiped your ID card onsite to enter the park. Ticket price is 110.
Many scenic spots in Dunhuang, including Mingsha Mountain and Yadan, are no-fly zones, so those who want to take aerial photography should note that drones are not allowed.
However, there are many interesting experience projects in Mingsha Mountain. A more common event is camel riding, which takes about five or six minutes to complete one rotation. Camel riding requires a separate ticket, which can be purchased online in advance.
In addition to camel riding, you can also experience dune motorcycles, gliders, and helicopters. The cost of a motorcycle is about 110 per person, and there are different charging standards according to different routes. Here is a suggestion not to ride a motorcycle at the foot of the mountain first, but to do the desert motorcycle on the top of the mountain when you climb to the top, because the route inside is more exciting. , the slope is greater.
It is recommended to experience a glider or helicopter. You can overlook Mingsha Mountain, Crescent Spring and the urban area of ??Dunhuang from a high altitude. It is a very special experience.
Glider can be purchased on site or online for about 360 yuan per time, and the flight time is relatively short, about 3 minutes. The glider is open-air, and the wind is very strong after takeoff, and it is very cold during the flight, so be sure to bring a scarf and thick clothes. Generally, it is more appropriate to wear a jacket and a down jacket at the end of October.
If you want a more comfortable experience, it is recommended to take a helicopter to experience it, but it is not as fun and exciting as a glider. Helicopters can also be purchased online or on-site, with fares starting at 1,200 and charged according to different routes.
After experiencing it, you can hike along the route to Crescent Moon Spring, which is about 1 kilometer away. The scenery of Crescent Moon Spring is relatively beautiful. After walking along the river, you can climb the sand mountain!
It is recommended to experience the desert motorcycle on the top of the mountain. A coach will drive it, and tourists can experience it on their own in a safe area. You may encounter Mingsha Mountain’s famous little fox on the road!
You can also go sandboarding, which costs about 40 yuan per person.
After returning from Mingsha Mountain and taking a short rest, you can go to Dunhuang Night Market, which is located in the urban area similar to the pedestrian streets in many cities. The night market here is not particularly recommended. The food tastes generally expensive. But you can go shopping, there are many small handicrafts worth buying.
Nearby specialty shops and supermarkets sell Li Guang’s dried apricots, a specialty of Dunhuang. They usually cost 25-30 per pound. They are also packaged in supermarkets and are not expensive. I bought them for my colleagues and they all thought they were very good. eat.
Itinerary: Dunhuang Ancient City, Yangguan, Yumenguan, Han Dynasty Great Wall, Yadan Geopark
Depart at 8:00 in the morning and return to the city at 9:30 in the evening
The scenic spots on the west line are relatively far away, so it is recommended to join a tour group or charter a car to go there. The tour group fee is about 400 yuan. Generally, tour groups will plan their itinerary according to the sunset time of Yadan, so you can rest assured about this. Basically, the tour is in the following order
This is a film and television base, an artificial ancient city. To be honest, it is not particularly recommended to visit. If you charter a car by yourself, you can ignore this stop. If you go with a group, you can go in. Take a look around, the ticket is 40. During the peak season, there are costumes for rent and you can take photos.
Yangguan and Yumenguan are two passes established during the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. Their functions are similar to today's customs entry and exit halls. All that exists now is a rammed earth ruins. There is an explanation at the entrance of the scenic spot, and then you have to take a sightseeing bus to visit the scenic spot.
Yumenguan and the Great Wall of Han Dynasty are in the same scenic area. The scenic area is relatively large and mainly divided into three parts: Small Fangpan City, Dafangpan City, and Han Great Wall. They are all very far apart. You need to take a sightseeing bus, and within the scenic area There is no signal, so you must strictly follow the gathering time notified by the vehicle and return to the boarding point.
After visiting Yumen Pass, it’s basically lunch time. Generally, a group tour will take you to a nearby farmer’s restaurant, which costs about 50 yuan per person. The taste is actually good. I highly recommend the local specialty desert chicken, which is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It can be said to be the best chicken I have ever eaten.
Yadan is relatively far away. After entering the scenic area, you have to take a sightseeing bus and follow the tour guide the whole time, because the signal inside the scenic area is also not good. After watching the sunset in Yadan, you can start back to the city. If the starry sky is good on the way, the driver will usually stop and let everyone watch the starry sky.
After returning to the city, the two-day trip to Dunhuang is over. Friends who are interested in continuing to travel can continue to Xinjiang or Qinghai, which are also very close.