Sand Dune and Crescent Spring [Dunhuang]

"One of Top Five Most Beautiful Deserts in China"
Ranked by China National Geoegraphy Magazin

Booming Sand Dune and Crescent Spring in Dunhuang City of Gansu Province: A thousand years of watching
The Booming Sand Dune and Crescent Spring, five kilometers southwest of Dunhuang City, create an amazing desert view. The dune's name (Mingshashan) comes from the booming noise made by the sands when people climb up. The Spring's name (Yueyaquan) comes from its crescent form, cradled in the dunes. For a lake near a dune to survive for a thousand years is a unique desert phenomenon. As it is near Dunhuang, it has a temple on its bank, adding to its fame.

Mingsha Sand Dunes is stretching for more than 40 km long and more than 20 km wide. The hill is composed of five-color sands in red, yellow, and green, black and white. The northern peak is cragged, steep and wonderful--looking like the sharp edge of a knife. Sands will come down and sound could be heard when you slide down from its top. Crescent Moon Spring lies in the arm of the dunes at the foot of Mingsha Hills, extending for 118m from west to the east but only 25m from south to the north. Despite being surrounded by the sand hills, the Spring has never been covered by quicksand and kept clear perennially.

Featuring the quite pretty scenes, It neither overflow after rain nor dry up after drought, It is really a wonder that the sands and spring lake coexist together for thousands of years.

Best time to go
From May to October.
July and August is the hottest month of the year, when the average temperature is about 76.8F. January is the coldest month, when the average temperature is about 15.2F.

Ticket
RMB 80/person (high season) RMB 40/person (low season)

Around Landscape
Dunhuang Folk-custom Musuem, Mogao Caves, The Dunhuang Yardang National Geologic Park, etc.

Local Snacks and Specialties
Dunhuang Zaozi Noodle, Dunhuang Carpet, Crystal Glasses, Mingshan Chinese-date, Liguang Apricot and Grape, Handicraft Camel, etc.

Travel Tips
Gansu Province is still poverty so please buy enough necessity in big cities before traveling. Be sure to respect local customs and traditions.
Watching sunrise and sunset in summer is a must.
In winter the best sightseeing is on noon.
Pay attention to and keep away the sand blown by wind and take sunglasses and skincare products.
From March to May there is sometimes sandstorm.

Distance
Beijing (1876 km) Lanzhou City (1133 km) Dunhuang City (5 km) Booming Sand Dune and Crescent Spring