Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Moon Spring
A millennia-old wonder of sand and spring coexisting — a crescent-shaped spring lake at the foot of Mingsha Mountain, embraced by surrounding dunes yet "the sand never encroaches on the spring"; recorded in Han and Tang documents, and in the Qing dynasty "Yuequan Xiaoché (Clear Dawn at Crescent Spring)" was listed among the Eight Scenic Sights of Dunhuang
Visitor info
- Opening hours
- 05:30-21:30
- Ticket
- CNY 110 (multiple entries within three days)
Price is indicative — final quote on inquiry.
A millennia-old wonder of sand and spring coexisting — a crescent-shaped spring lake at the foot of Mingsha Mountain, embraced by surrounding dunes yet "the sand never encroaches on the spring"; it was recorded in Han and Tang documents, and in the Qing dynasty "Yuequan Xiaoché (Clear Dawn at Crescent Spring)" was listed among the Eight Scenic Sights of Dunhuang. Riding a camel caravan (strings of five camels) while hearing the "singing sands on a clear day" and sliding down the dunes with a rumbling roar are classic experiences; desert off-road motorbikes and helicopter or glider flights over Crescent Moon Spring's curve are newer thrills, while summer nights bring a ten-thousand-person starry-sky concert that turns the dunes into an open-air amphitheater. The hours around sunset are the golden window; in peak season, enter in the late afternoon to catch the sunset.
Getting there: City bus / self-drive from downtown (approx. 5 km)
Photos
More in Dunhuang
- Mogao Grottoes
Commonly known as the Thousand Buddha Caves, first carved in 366 AD (Jianyuan Year 2 of Former Qin) when monk Le Zun saw golden light over Mingsha Mountain; built over a millennium across more than ten dynasties—Northern Liang, Northern Wei, Sui-Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Western Xia, Yuan—with 735 caves, 45,000 square meters of murals, and painted sculptures 200…
- Yulin Grottoes
Located on both banks of the Yulin River valley in Guazhou County, named for the elm groves along the river; part of the Dunhuang grotto art system together with the Mogao Grottoes, known as their "sister grottoes"
- Western Thousand Buddha Caves
Named for its location west of the Mogao Grottoes on cliffs beside the Dang River; Northern Wei caves carved as early as or contemporaneous with the Mogao Grottoes still survive, with more than 20 caves and niches remaining
- Dunhuang Academy History Exhibition Center
A specialized exhibition hall facing the Mogao Grottoes across the river, housing full-scale replicas of several representative caves (including classic caves not open to visitors) and displaying manuscripts and artifacts unearthed at Mogao
- Shazhou Night Market
A night market in central Dunhuang, named after ancient Shazhou, open from dusk until late at night
- Yangguan Pass Scenic Area
A strategic gateway on the southern route of the Silk Road, established as a pass under Emperor Wu of Han; Wang Wei's verse "I urge you to drink one more cup of wine — west of Yang Pass you'll meet no old friends" made it immortal