#Crescent Spring Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Springs
Address:
6 km south of Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City
Opening times:
Open year round, 24/7Open
Recommended sightseeing time:
0.5-1 hour
Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring | You must visit this special desert for taking amazing photos ❗️
Chengdu self-driving to Dunhuang.
✨Mingsha Mountain
To the east of the Mingsha Mountain is the Sanwei Mountain, to the south is the Heishi Peak Mountain, and to the west is the Gobi and Kumtag Desert. The west wind and north wind, carrying more sand, are blocked by the mountain here, causing the sand particles in the wind to settle down over time, forming the Mingsha Mountain. Under the influence of the wind, the Mingsha Mountain "remains unchanged after a night of wind, with its tracks still visible", always maintaining a certain height and shape. For thousands of years, the Mingsha Mountain still stands tall, and the sound of sand still echoes in the ears. The Qingming Shangming of the Sand Ridge is one of the eight scenic spots in Dunhuang. Dunhuang, formerly known as Shazhou, was named after this place.
✨Crescent Spring
Crescent Spring is a clear spring nestled in the Mingsha Mountain, shaped like a dark moon, hence the name "Crescent Spring". Crescent Spring was formed under the internal and external dynamic conditions of tectonic movement, flowing water, and wind geological effects in loose geological structures, low-lying terrain, and regional high groundwater levels. Despite the changing of stars and the howling of wind and sand, Crescent Spring still shines like a bright mirror with its clear blue water. The coexistence of sand and water, and the interdependence of mountain springs have created the world wonder of "the first spring in the desert".
1⃣For leisure travel, you can follow this route: Mingyue Square Archway - Camel Riding - East Peak of Mingsha Mountain - Tiebeiyu Park - Crescent Spring.
2️⃣Learn about the stories and legends of Couple Willow and Medicine King Temple Site.
3⃣Inside Yuege, you can take a photo with the popular coffee and the latte art is quite unique.
4️⃣The sun is strong, make sure to protect yourself from sunburn.
zephyrine_4760
desert oasis
Known admiringly as ‘First Spring in the Desert’, Crescent Spring in Dunhuang is situated at the foot of Mingsha Mountain (part of, named after, and typical of the surrounding Singing Sand Dunes). Seen from afar, Crescent Spring resembles a crescent moon, hence its name.
A legend goes that the Seven Star Grasses, with specialized properties for curing difficult and complicated diseases, grow at Crescent Spring, and those who eat them will live forever, therefore, the Crescent Spring is also called ‘Medicinal Spring’.
Location: at the foot of the Singing Sand (Mingsha) Mountain
Open: 6am–7:30pm
Typical touring time: 1–2 hours
Best seasons: May to October
Jimmysandwiches
I have returned from the northwest, and I sincerely advise sisters who haven't been there to be cautious
Before going to the northwest, I did all sorts of research, but still had many doubts and worries. I thought about joining a group, but then I kept seeing posts about how group tours can be a rip-off, because we were using our hard-earned annual leave to travel, and we had high expectations for this trip. It wasn't just a trip, it had a special significance, so after carefully comparing many options, considering safety and convenience, we chose a local boutique group tour.
The benefits of visiting the northwest during the off-season
1 Lower prices, less spending: The prices for flights, hotels, and car rentals start to drop significantly during the off-season.
2 Fewer tourists, better travel experience: No need to queue up for a long time to take photos or visit attractions, unlike the crowded peak season where you spend 5 minutes taking a photo and 2 hours Photoshopping people out of it.
📝Some tips:
1 Bring some snacks for the road, because in the sparsely populated areas, meal times can be unpredictable.
2 Long-distance travel essentials (U-shaped pillow), and for those traveling in winter, remember to bring disposable personal clothing, as you'll be changing hotels every day and won't have time for clothes to dry after washing.
3 For summer trips, bring sun protection, a sun hat, sunglasses (the UV rays in the great northwest are very strong! Especially for girls with astigmatism), and lip balm! It really gets very dry!
4 Be sure to check the weather forecast before going, as many places have completely different scenery on sunny days compared to cloudy days!!
5 The attractions in the northwest are far apart, and long drives can be tiring and unsafe, so friends who drive themselves must be careful~
6 In addition to bringing facial and body moisturizers for the northwest climate, also carry a water bottle with you and drink plenty of water.
Group tour experience:
I joined the group after landing in Xining, and the driver from the group came to pick us up at the airport. The first day was free time, we went to the hotel to rest and visit the night market. The driver came very early every day and waited for us without rushing. In the end, we even praised the driver because he never smoked or played with his phone in the car, he livened up the atmosphere, and he would tell us where to take nice photos, and help us bargain in the local dialect when shopping. Who wouldn't be tempted by that!
Although it is now the off-season in the great northwest, with fewer people and slightly cheaper prices, it still depends on what you prefer.
That's all I can think of for now, I'll add more if I think of anything else~ Sisters with questions can leave a message oh
TravelTalesUnfold
The beautiful Mogao Caves in Dunhuang are a sight you'll regret not visiting
The Mogao Caves and Crescent Lake are famous tourist attractions, here is some information about them:
Mogao Caves: Also known as the Thousand Buddha Grottoes, they are Buddhist art caves located 25 kilometers southeast of Dunhuang city, at the foot of the Mingsha Mountain.
Crescent Lake: Located at the foot of Mingsha Mountain, it is an oasis in the desert. The spring water is clear and surrounded by sand dunes, yet it is not covered by sand. Crescent Lake is nearly 100 meters long from north to south and 25 meters wide from east to west. The water is deeper in the east and shallower in the west, with the deepest point being about 5 meters. The shape of the spring water resembles a crescent moon, hence the name Crescent Lake.
DEREK SHARP
Explore the mysterious journey of the Silk Road, a 7-day and 6-night self-driving tour around the Northwest
✨There is always a place that makes you yearn for, that makes your heart move. The Northwest, this mysterious place, has too many beautiful scenery and stories.✨
🚗Route planning:
Xining—Menyuan—Qilian Mountain—Zhangye (stay)
Zhangye—Zhangye Rainbow Danxia Geological Park—The World's First Hero (Jiayuguan)—Guazhou (stay)
Guazhou—Sons of the Earth Sculpture Group—Dunhuang Silk Road Heritage City—Mogao Grottoes—Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring—Petroleum Town (stay)
Petroleum Town—Mangya Emerald Lake—Aiken Spring—Mangya (stay)
Mangya—West Taijiner—East Taijiner—Water Yadan—U-shaped Highway—Blood of the Earth National Highway 757—Dachaidan (stay)
Dachaidan—Dachaidan Salt Lake—Chaka Salt Lake—Ulan County (stay)
Ulan County—Chaka Salt Lake—Qinghai Lake—Xining
📅Itinerary:
📅Day1: Xining-Menyuan-Qilian Mountain-Zhangye
Depart from Xining, go to Menyuan to see the rapeseed flower sea, then go to Qilian Mountain to feel the beauty of nature. Finally arrive in Zhangye, enjoy the food and scenery.
📅Day2: Zhangye-Zhangye Rainbow Danxia Geological Park-The World's First Hero (Jiayuguan)-Guazhou
In the morning, go to Zhangye Rainbow Danxia Geological Park to feel the magic of nature. In the afternoon, go to Jiayuguan to visit the world's first hero. Arrive in Guazhou in the evening and enjoy the local food.
📅Day3: Guazhou-Sons of the Earth Sculpture Group-Dunhuang Silk Road Heritage City-Mogao Grottoes-Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring-Petroleum Town
In the morning, go to the Sons of the Earth Sculpture Group to feel the charm of art. In the afternoon, visit Dunhuang Silk Road Heritage City to understand the history and culture. In the evening, visit the Mogao Grottoes to feel the charm of a thousand-year culture. Finally, go to Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring and Petroleum Town to experience different scenery and customs.
📅Day4: Petroleum Town-Mangya Emerald Lake-Aiken Spring-Mangya
In the morning, go to Mangya Emerald Lake to feel the clear and beautiful lake water. In the afternoon, go to Aiken Spring to understand the therapeutic effects and benefits of hot springs. Arrive in Mangya in the evening and enjoy the local food and scenery.
📅Day5: Mangya-West Taijiner-East Taijiner-Water Yadan-U-shaped Highway-Blood of the Earth National Highway 757-Dachaidan
In the morning, go to West Taijiner and East Taijiner to enjoy the beautiful lakes and scenery. In the afternoon, go to Water Yadan to feel the unique landscape in the desert. Then pass through the U-shaped highway and the Blood of the Earth National Highway 757 to enjoy different scenery and landforms. Arrive in Dachaidan in the evening and enjoy the local food and scenery.
📅Day6: Dachaidan-Dachaidan Salt Lake-Chaka Salt Lake-Ulan County
In the morning, go to Dachaidan Salt Lake and Chaka Salt Lake to feel the unique charm and scenery of the salt lake. Arrive in Ulan County in the afternoon and enjoy the local food and scenery.
Elizabeth Evans
Dunhuang - A Thousand-Year-Old Dream
❤️ You must visit the desert at least once!! A complete guide to Dunhuang Crescent Spring without any pitfalls! Come and check in at the Crescent Spring in your elementary school textbook during the holiday!
🕐 Suggested duration of visit: 3~5h
🚙 Transportation: Take bus No. 3 in Dunhuang city or a taxi for 12r directly to the Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Scenic Area (about 5 kilometers)
🎫 Ticket: 110
🏫 Accommodation: There are many homestays, hotels, and youth hostels near the scenic area. It is recommended to stay nearby and enjoy the quiet and beautiful night sky of the desert
📸 Flying Sky Photography: There are many at the entrance, it is recommended to compare and choose clothes, and negotiate the price in advance. 100~150r can rent a set of Flying Sky clothes, take as long as you want. The photographer's price is separate~
Promise me, you must go on a good day!! Enter around three o'clock in the afternoon, walk around and take pictures, then climb to the sand mountain for about 20~30 minutes, sit in the desert and wait for the sunset!
🌅 You must, must, must watch the desert sunset!! It's really beautiful and moving
EvelynReynolds94
In this life, you must visit Dunhuang once
Mogao Caves Visit time is about 5 hours
Normal ticket 238 can see 8 caves
Emergency ticket 100 can only see 4 caves
Visit time 5 hours
Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring
Ticket 110
Makeup 150
Coming to Dunhuang in the off-season is really great!
1️⃣Few people! There are only about a hundred people in Mingsha Mountain, and there will be no long camel teams when riding camels. The rate of taking pictures is absolutely high! It's best to rent shoe covers in the scenic area when climbing Mingsha Mountain. Although the ones outside are cheaper, they all say the quality is not good. It's easy to climb the mountain but difficult to descend
2️⃣Low price! The hotel is really much cheaper than the peak season, and there is an 80% chance of getting a free room upgrade! This time I booked the 'Zhongzhou International Hotel', the service is simply impeccable, making me feel a service better than five-star!
3️⃣Super value for tickets!! They are all cheaper than the peak season, so no matter how you play, you won't step on thunder! The ticket price for Mogao Caves is cheaper than the peak season.
Food recommendation🥘
I want to say it a thousand times! Dunhuang is super delicious!
1️⃣The first delicious food is Populus euphratica stewed cake. I ate the Populus euphratica stewed cake from Guohui and Chenji Mutton Restaurant. Two people can eat a small portion of Populus euphratica stewed cake, about seventy yuan, it's really explosively delicious! The taste of rice noodle roll!
2️⃣The second delicious food is Guohui's roasted eggplant! Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside!
3️⃣The third delicious food is Daji's donkey meat yellow noodles, the sauce of the noodles is very delicious.
4️⃣The fourth delicious food is Yangji's dry food, because we don't want to eat expensive meals in the scenic area, we went to buy dry food, and we didn't expect it to be more and more fragrant as we chew! Bought a big bag for just a few bucks.
DANIEL BOONE
Crescent Spring, the unparalleled scenery beyond the Great Wall | After the snow
Crescent Spring! A forgotten place on the Silk Road. Crescent Spring is known as 'the unparalleled scenery beyond the Great Wall', and is one of the 'three wonders' of Dunhuang. In this lifetime, you must bring your loved one to appreciate the romantic interweaving of sand and spring, and embark on an unforgettable desert journey.
Snow is the brush, outlining the soft and hard contours of Crescent Spring in winter. The spring water is green, the desert is covered with snow, and a layer of silver is laid on the vast land. Between the half sand and half snow, the desert hills twist forward, like a wonderful landscape painting.
After the snow, the Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring is like a mysterious and beautiful painting unfolding before your eyes. Snowflakes gently fall on the golden sand dunes, decorating the entire scenery like a poem and a painting. The interweaving of sand dunes and snow forms an intoxicating scene.
Crescent Spring is surrounded by winter snow, like a bright pearl embedded in the silver world. The clear spring water is even more dazzling under the reflection of the snow, exuding a quiet and mysterious atmosphere. The breeze blows, the spring water ripples, as if telling the story of the vicissitudes of life.
Standing on the top of the sand dune and looking down, the distant snow mountains and glaciers form a majestic and magnificent background, forming a sharp contrast with Crescent Spring. As you get closer, you will find that the ice on the edge of the spring is shining under the sun, like crystal clear gems.
When night falls, the sky is dotted with stars, reflecting a more mysterious side of Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring. The spring water shimmers with silver light under the moonlight, like a fairyland in a dream. The breeze blows, carrying a cold taste, as if you are in a completely isolated fantasy world.
Standing in this desert covered with snow, you will be conquered by the wonders of nature and the magnificent scenery of Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring after the snow. The beauty and uniqueness here will bring you an unforgettable experience, as if you have traveled to another world.
After the snow, the Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring is a precious gift given to Dunhuang by nature, and also shows the unique charm of this ancient city. Whether it is day or night, it can make people intoxicated and feel its shock and beauty.
AvaMacLeod89
Crescent Spring| Winter tour
|Winter tour.
Dunhuang Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Guide||
What projects are there in the Crescent Spring Scenic Area:
1. Camel riding (100 yuan), sand sliding (20 yuan)
2. Motorcycle (charged according to the route: 300 yuan/120 yuan two types), 3. Off-road vehicle (charged according to the route: 300 yuan/600 yuan two types), 4. Helicopter (charged according to the number of people 1280 yuan/1 person, 1760 yuan/2 people, 2000 yuan/3 people),
5. Glider (charged according to the route: experience flight 380 yuan/person, overlooking Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring) 480 yuan/person, etc.
Service items:
Anti-sand shoe covers 15 yuan/pair, sightseeing car (10 yuan/one way, 20 yuan/round trip), photos 10 yuan/piece.
The above are the projects that tourists can experience in the scenic area.
Need to pay attention to:
1. Need to do a good job of sun protection (hats, flying towels, glasses, sun protection clothes, etc.).
2. Friends who need to watch the sunrise and sunset, the specific time varies according to the season. (The photos taken at sunrise and sunset are very beautiful).
3. Regarding anti-sand shoe covers, there are also sold outside the scenic area, but the quality is not good, the pores are large, it is recommended to wear the ones inside the scenic area, the sand can be well blocked outside.
4. The scenic area has a sand sliding project. Tourists have their own sand sliding boards, but the big sand sliding boards cannot go in, only the small ones can.
5. Pets have a special free storage place in the scenic area and are not allowed to enter the scenic area.
6. Full-price tickets (110 yuan)/half-price (55 yuan) can be bought online, and tickets that enjoy preferential policies need to be exchanged at the window with preferential documents.
I hope it can help the babies who go for the first time.
quinn_5264
I took a picture of the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring
⛰【Travel Guide】
📍Detailed address: Five kilometers south of Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province
🚗Transportation Guide: Accessible by bus and taxi in Dunhuang City
🕙Opening hours: 6:30—18:30
💰Ticket price: 110
🌟Highlights: Mingsha Mountain, Crescent Spring,
Lyra_4_Hawthornfield-41
Dunhuang Crescent Spring| The wind carries sand and makes a sound
|The wind carries sand and makes a sound. Dunhuang Crescent Spring| The wind carries sand and makes a sound
The spring reflects the moon and is dust-free. Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring is a masterpiece of nature,
it is the bright eye in the desert. Standing on the top of the sand mountain,
I saw this pearl,
like the bright moon falling from the sky. The spring water is clear and bottomless, like a mirror reflection, Mingsha Mountain is majestic and spectacular,
it seems to be guarding this pearl.
:Dunhuang Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring
:Sony a7r4a 70-200 gm2 The best position is at the top of Mingsha Mountain, the higher you climb, the more beautiful scenery you can capture. :Opening hours, 6:00 in the morning-19:30 in the evening: The following are some tips for playing
1. The ticket for Mingsha Mountain is 110, and the camel ride is 100. You don't need to buy a ticket in advance for the camel ride. After entering the scenic area, you will be prompted to scan the code to buy a ticket on Ctrip, and then scan the code to check the ticket.
2. If you go for photography or taking pictures, it is not recommended to ride a camel. The riding time is about 45 minutes, the road is very congested, it is very shaky on it, you must hold on with both hands, and you can't take out your mobile phone or camera to take pictures. And there is a lot of dust, the experience is very average.
3. It is recommended to enter Mingsha Mountain from the middle door, and it will be closer to the scenic area, about 600m.
4. The Crescent Spring is more spectacular when viewed from Mingsha Mountain. You must use a ladder to climb Mingsha Mountain. The sand is very soft when you climb on foot, and there is no place to exert force and it will be very tired.
5. Remember to bring a few more bottles of water, climbing the mountain is very tiring and dry, the whole face needs to be protected, bring a V-shaped hat, mask and sunglasses.
Christopher Lewis
6-day tour of Qinghai and Gansu
Bring your sunscreen
6. Danxia landform, Jiayuguan
5. Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake
4. Mogao Caves of Dunhuang
3. Chaka Salt Lake
2. Qinghai Lake
1. Kumbum Monastery
SoothingIndulgence
You won’t believe this OASIS in the desert😱
The Crescent Moon Lake is an oasis surrounded by the sand dunes of Mingsha Mountain.
In the shape of a moon, this lake is often called "The First Spring" as it has never dried up since its origin thousands of years ago.
It's beauty is truly entrancing and it is only one of many Gobi desert miracles.
📍Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake
Nature Park, Dunhuang
Follow my Instagram @cherstravels to learn more!
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