The author: Fan Chen

 

 

Dunhuang(敦煌) is a county-level city in northwestern Gansu province, Western China. Located at the crossroads on the Silk Road, the city is known world-wide for its grottoes, historical murals and Buddhist scriptures. Today, tourists can visit historically significant and senic locations such as the Crescent Moon Spring and Singing Sand Mountains.

The Silk Road is an ancient trade route which connected China, Asia and Europe. Around 2,000 years ago, caravans of camels carrying goods followed the trade routes across Eurasia, crossing mountains and deserts, linking the continent's east and west through the trade of silk, jewelry, handicrafts, spices and seeds.

 

1. Crescent Moon Spring

Crescent Moon Spring is 6 km south of Dunhuang. The spring’s name is derived from the crescent moon shape of the small pool of spring water sitting between two large sand dunes. The spring is about 100 meters long, 25 meters wide and 5 meters deep.

 

 

Tourists travel across the sand dunes to visit Crescent Moon Spring resort in Dunhuang, Gansu province. [Photo by Fan Chen]

 

 

Tourists ride camels on the Mingsha Sand Dunes during a visit to Crescent Moon Spring on the outskirts of Dunhuang county. [Photo by Fan Chen]

 

 

 

The Singing Sand Dunes are famous for the sounds the wind makes when blowing over the dunes. On top of the sound the wind makes, the sand itself is said to be rather noisy, making noises when stepped on. The dunes can reach heights of 100 meters or more and remain relatively stable. [Photo by Fan Chen]

 

 

 

Reeds and other plants grow around the Crescent Moon Spring in Dunhuang county, northwest China’s Gansu province. [Photo by Fan Chen]

 

 

Reeds flourish at the foot of the Singing Sand Dunes in Dunhuang county. [Photo by Fan Chen]

 

 

 

The Crescent Moon Spring sits between two large sand dunes.[Photo by Fan Chen]