Crescent Spring

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! #awesomepic #2023travelwish #china #mytripvlog #passionpassport #summervacation

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.

❤️ 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

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.

At the end of the ancient Silk Road lies a magical land where golden sands dance with clear springs, and the ancient coexists harmoniously with nature. This treasure of Dunhuang is none other than the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring. It's not just a visual feast but also a spiritual purification, offering a moment of tranquility and wonder amidst the vast sea of sand. 🔍Attraction Introduction Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring, located in the southern suburbs of Dunhuang City, Gansu Province, are famous for their unique desert scenery. Encircled by sand dunes, a crescent-shaped spring is embedded within, never drying up for a thousand years, with the sand never burying the spring, and the spring never exhausting. It is acclaimed as 'one of the most beautiful spectacles beyond the Great Wall'. 🚗Transportation Guide - **Bus**: Take bus no. 3 from the city center directly to the attraction, convenient and economical. - **Taxi/Ride-hailing**: About a 10-minute drive from Dunhuang city center, suitable for groups. - **Self-driving**: Follow the navigation instructions, but pay attention to parking guidance during the summer peak season. 💰Ticket Price - Adult ticket: 110 RMB/person (valid for multiple entries within 3 days) - Half-price ticket: 55 RMB/person (please consult the attraction for eligibility) - Special experience projects (such as paragliding, helicopter tours) are charged separately. 👣Tour Route Planning 1. **Enter in the afternoon**, avoid the high-temperature period, and enjoy the beauty of the slanting sun on the sand dunes. 2. **Stroll by Crescent Spring**, admire the wonder of nature, and capture the reflection by the spring. 3. **Climb to the top of Mingsha Mountain**, experience the fun of sand sliding, and overlook the panoramic view. 4. **Camel caravan in the evening**, ride camels through the dunes, and capture the silhouette of the sunset. 5. **Stargazing at night**, if the weather permits, experience the vastness of the desert night sky. 📸Photography Spots Recommended 1. **Crescent Spring Panoramic Platform**: The best shooting location, capturing the perfect integration of the spring and sand. 2. **Top of Mingsha Mountain**: Overhead shot of Crescent Spring, showcasing its unique geographical location. 3. **Camel caravan**: The golden sand dunes under the setting sun and the leisurely walking camel caravan compose a classic scene. 🗺️Must-Visit Attractions - **Crescent Spring**: A natural wonder, not to be missed. - **Mingsha Mountain**: Experience the wonder of the echoing sands and the joy of sand sliding. - **Iron Fish Park**: An oasis in the desert, feel the tenacity of life. - **Mingyue Pavilion**: An excellent viewpoint, offering a panoramic view. 🍲Accommodation and Dining - **Hotels near the attraction**: Offer a variety of choices, from economical to luxurious. - **Specialty restaurants**: Taste authentic Dunhuang cuisine, such as donkey meat noodles and Dunhuang fruits. 🛡️Travel Pitfall Guide 1. **Sun and sand protection**: Carry high SPF sunscreen, wear windproof glasses, and a mask. 2. **Off-peak travel**: Avoid holiday peaks, and enjoy a more leisurely visit on weekdays. 3. **Reasonable time arrangement**: Utilize the 3-day valid ticket to experience different beauties at different times. 4. **Rational consumption**: Ask clearly about the cost before experiencing projects to avoid hidden expenses. In this ancient and mysterious desert, every footprint is an exploration of the unknown, and every frame captured is an eternal memory. Let Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring be a shining star in your life's journey, illuminating your curiosity and longing for the world. Looking forward to your story, to write an immortal legend together with this pearl of the desert.

Holding a handful of fine sand, slightly loosening the fingers, letting the light sand slowly sprinkle on one's dress. The fine sand grains seep through the skirt, dyeing the lotus-colored dress with a faint yellow. Handful after handful of yellow sand falls on the body, as if burying the most beautiful longing. Longing Like Sand—A Beautiful Legend of the Taklamakan Desert; any affectionate woman, if she wears the most beautiful clothes and immerses herself in the rolling dust, heaven will give her a promise, turning her lifelong longing into a grain of light sand in the desert. For every lifetime of longing, heaven will sprinkle a grain of sand for her, thus creating the vast Taklamakan! In the uninhabited desert, there is such a beautiful legend. When standing here, one will miss every person they care about in their heart. Some say longing is like the sea, but I prefer longing like sand!~~~~~ Desert Tour Recommendations: Xinjiang's S21 Desert Highway: The S21 Desert Highway features landscapes such as oases, wetlands, and sea Yadan. The S21 project is designed to create a national "Top 100 Service Areas" and "Transport-Tourism Integration" demonstration service areas with high standards, truly building the brand system of the "Most Beautiful Desert Highway," the ethnic folk culture system, the smart travel service system, and the travel and tour design system. It reflects desert charm, wildlife protection, and green agricultural leisure themes, combining the strengths of many, and showcasing the diverse cultural combinations of the Corps culture, red culture, fishing and hunting culture, and nomadic culture. Gansu: Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring Distance from Dunhuang to Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring: 5 kilometers (about 10 minutes by car) Scenic Area Ticket: 110 yuan (valid for 3 days) Special Recommendations: To take beautiful photos of Mingsha Mountain, you must go to the top of the mountain. To take beautiful daytime photos of Crescent Spring, it is best to go before the sun sets in the afternoon when there are fewer people and the light is better. To watch the sunset, pay attention to the sunset time of the day and allow an hour and a half to climb the sand mountain, otherwise, you might miss it halfway up. Tips: Some advice for friends who want to go to the desert 1. About clothes: Remember not to wear blue-green and dark-colored clothes. 2. The best spot for shooting is on the roadside before reaching the core area of the scenic spot (but often there are many cars and people, all will be in the frame, and you can only edit them out later). 3. There is a parking lot in the core area (the observation deck does not require a ticket, but if you want to park in the parking lot, you need to buy a ticket). You can choose to park for free on the roadside a few meters away from the core area (there are planned roadside parking spots, and after parking, you need to walk a few hundred meters to the observation deck, saving the ticket and parking fees). 4. Wear proper clothes. When you reach the observation deck, especially by the lake, the wind will be very strong and cold. 5. If the car is parked far away and you want to take photos by the lake, remember to bring all your sunscreen products. Do a good job of sun protection!

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.

✨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.