Mogao Grottoes

'The Journey to the Mogao Caves: A Soul-Stirring Passage Through Time' Stepping onto the journey towards the Mogao Caves, my heart was filled with anticipation and reverence. When I finally stood on this ancient and sacred land, an indescribable sense of awe overwhelmed me. Entering the caves felt like stepping into a tunnel through time. The mottled stone walls bore exquisite murals that came to life, narrating stories of a thousand years. The compassionate faces of Bodhisattvas and the dynamic figures of flying apsaras appeared faintly in the dim light, exuding a mysterious and enchanting aura. Every line, every shade of color, was the crystallization of ancient artists' wisdom and painstaking effort, making me marvel at the greatness of human artistic creativity. Moving along the narrow passageways, one cave after another unfolded before my eyes. Each cave had its unique style and theme, some solemn and dignified, others vibrant and colorful. Standing before these colossal Buddha statues, I felt my own insignificance, yet I was also touched by the endless solemnity and tranquility. Immersed in such an atmosphere, my heart gradually became calm and peaceful. Inside the caves, the profound sense of history was ever-present. Those artistic treasures that have survived the ravages of time deepened my understanding and appreciation of ancient civilizations. They are not just artworks; they are vital testimonies to the legacy of human culture. Stepping out of the caves, the sunlight fell upon me, yet my thoughts remained immersed in that magical world of art. The visit to the Mogao Caves was a feast for both the eyes and the soul. It gave me a new insight into history and art and instilled in me a greater appreciation and reverence for our cultural heritage. It was an unforgettable experience that will forever be etched in my memory.

We chose to travel the loop in an RV for several reasons: √ Close to Nature We arranged RV camping on the grasslands and in the desert, as well as 4-5 star city hotel accommodations. This allows children to connect with nature through camping, hiking, and stargazing, while also enjoying comfortable lodging. No need to worry about long drives and restroom issues. The distances between attractions are long, and the dry climate of the northwest requires frequent hydration. Kids can't hold it in for long, so traveling in an RV perfectly solves this problem. You can also prepare some toys, picture books, and games. √ Solves Luggage Issues RVs have ample space. The northwest experiences all four seasons in a day. If it rains, you'll need light down jackets in the morning and evening, but it gets very hot in Dunhuang, requiring dresses. So, you need to bring a lot of luggage, and kids' stuff too. The RV has enough space to store everything. ⛺【Activities】: How to Play with Kids: ◎ Horseback riding on the Qinghai Lake grasslands ◎ Observing the migration of Huang fish ◎ Feeding sika deer on the Qilian grasslands ◎ Unique geological classes at Danxia ◎ Camel riding in the desert and Tang Dynasty-style photo shoots ◎ In-depth tour of the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang ◎ Traditional mural copying/Intangible cultural heritage handmade Mogao rubbings ◎ Desert bonfire with a study guide explaining Journey to the West ◎ Wearing Tibetan clothes, making Tsampa, and receiving a Tibetan welcome ceremony ◎ Watching shadow puppet performances of Journey to the West and learning about intangible cultural heritage ⛺【Itinerary】 D1: Arrive in Xining, explore the food street D2: Xining - Menyuan - Ohburg - Zhangye D3: Zhangye - Rainbow Mountains - Jiayuguan D4: Jiayuguan - Dunhuang D5: Dunhuang Mogao Caves D6: Dunhuang - Yangguan - Emerald Lake - Golmud D7: Golmud - Delingha D8: Delingha - Chaka - Qinghai Lake D9: Qinghai Lake - Xining - Home

1⃣ Because of the May Day trip to the Hexi Corridor, I could only drive all the way on the highway, watching the signs of familiar places pass by. Although I entered Dunhuang, I could only stay in a hotel for one night and was escorted to the airport by a special car the next day to be persuaded to return. It was like trying hard to catch up with the girl who had never met but had long admired. I was just one step away from tapping her shoulder and getting a look back at her beauty, but all I got was an increasingly unforgettable back. 2⃣ Although there are many descriptions of the history, art, and guardians of the Mogao Caves in the Hexi Corridor, Dunhuang, and the Dunhuang School of Painting, when I really came to her, the feeling she gave me was not shock, but touch. Under such circumstances, the outside troubles of the cave become insignificant. These four short days are just a meeting with her, and I will definitely come many more times. 3⃣ PS The experience of Dunhuang in the off-season is not too good, everywhere is VIP

When the Hexi Corridor of a thousand years ago collides with contemporary science and technology🚀, what kind of sparks🔥 will it produce from Lanzhou to Zhangye, to Jiuquan, to Jiayuguan, and then to Dunhuang This time, it will be a journey across a thousand years to marvel at the development of technology and taste deep humanities~ 💕Space is the most romantic existence, but most people have not come into contact with real space objects, they all know a little bit from various online reports This time, we can walk the Hexi Corridor of a thousand years together, explore the 🌌 space dream and have your unique Hexi Corridor and space memories, and find your stars and sea✨ . 👣Quick look at the itinerary Lanzhou gathering—Lanzhou free travel Lanzhou—Colorful Danxia—Zhangye Zhangye—Jiayuguan—Overhanging Great Wall—Jiuquan Jiuquan—Space Launch Center—Jiayuguan Jiayuguan—Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring—Shazhou Night Market—Dunhuang Dunhuang—Mogao Caves—Dunhuang Bookstore—Dismiss —— 💖Highlights of the itinerary ✅Exclusive arrangement for Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center 1 day 🔅Explore China's only manned space launch site 🔅Manned space launch tower (manned space starts here) 🔅Wentian Pavilion (the place where astronauts live and train) 🔅Exhibition hall (feel the spirit of two bombs and one star, manned space and Dongfeng) 🔅Feitian Park (feel the storm rocket, spaceship escape tower and other real objects) ✅Dunhuang Mogao Caves 12 caves + 1 special cave (156 special caves) In the off-season, in addition to being able to see 4 more caves than forgetting, we have also specially arranged a special cave to check in the upcoming "Dunhuang Hero" and the legendary story of the returning army👍 ✅Jiayuguan is arranged for separate manual explanation, no longer a cursory view, understand the story of every brick and tile of Jiayuguan and the repairs of the past dynasties ✅Overhanging Great Wall, the Overhanging Great Wall is a long distance from Jiayuguan, and it is rarely visited in the past itinerary, so it is specially arranged to deeply feel the history and culture ✅Dunhuang Bookstore afternoon tea🍵In the Dunhuang Bookstore with Dunhuang's unique elements and a strong bookish atmosphere, have a cup of special 1900 coffee and immerse yourself in the charm of Dunhuang culture and art —— 📜Classic humanities —The treasure of a thousand years of cultural art, even after a thousand years, the murals made from gemstone powder are still brightly colored —The first majestic pass in the world, the starting point of the Great Wall🚩 Overhanging Great Wall —It looks like it is hanging in the air, it is located on the Black Mountain, standing on it, you can see the desolate scenery of the desert Satellite Launch Center —The "cradle" of China's🛰 space —— 🏞Natural landscape Colorful Danxia —The white snow in winter and the colorful Danxia blend into one, which has a different desolate mood Mountain Crescent Spring —Look at the snow scene love letter written by nature to Mingsha Mountain, look at the frozen Crescent Spring🏜 —— 🏨Selected quality accommodation ✓1 night Lanzhou Hilton Huanpeng ✓1 night Zhangye Fuldeng Hot Spring Holiday Hotel ✓1 night Jiuquan Silk Road Wenhua Holiday Hotel ✓2 nights Dunhuang Huaxia International Hotel

The Mogao Caves of Dunhuang, where a single glance spans a thousand years. Tickets are extremely scarce during the peak season, so be sure to book in advance. Guides are assigned randomly, and listening to their explanations is very exciting, especially the Buddha statue in Cave 259 that has smiled for 1600 years. In the future, you can visit the Mogao Caves in winter when there are fewer people. You can see more caves, and unlike spring, there is not as much wind and sand.

Shanghai-Jiayuguan-Guazhou-Dunhuang-Lenghu Town-Chaidan Town-Dunhuang-Jiayuguan-Shanghai Day1 Shanghai to Jiayuguan, stay in Jiayuguan Arrived in Jiayuguan at night, had dinner and went to sleep, the barbecue in the great Northwest is awesome! Day2 Jiayuguan-Guazhou-Dunhuang, stay in Dunhuang The second day after brunch, we headed to Dunhuang, passing through Guazhou, where there is the stunning Son of the Earth! It's that huge baby statue, with some other sculptures nearby, worth a look on the way In the afternoon, we went to the Mingsha Mountain, where you can ride camels. And I was so excited to see the desert for the 1st time, took hundreds of photos! In the evening, we arranged for desert camping, the camp staff drove us into the depths of the desert in an off-road vehicle, there were no people in this desert, less than ten people at the camp that day, the whole desert felt like it belonged to me, sitting on the desert watching the sunset was really romantic, I personally like it here more than Mingsha Mountain At night, we had barbecue in the desert, watched the stars, and had a bonfire party. It was a night worth reminiscing over and over again🎑 🤍Day3 Dunhuang-Heidushan, stay in Lenghu Town In the morning, we went to the Mogao Caves, a glimpse of a thousand years❗️ A treasure of stone carving and mural art‼️ Really shocking! It made me want to cry, no amount of documentaries can compare to the feeling of being there It's really worth it‼️ Unfortunately, all the murals are not allowed to be photographed, so the beauty remains only in memory. After visiting the Mogao Caves, we set off for Heidushan. Heidushan has that otherworldly beauty, standing on the black sand and stone ground, looking at the black scenery, it feels like being on another planet. The wind is very strong there, so dress warmly. It is recommended to drive a four-wheel drive, otherwise, it's easy to get stuck. 🤍Day4 Heidushan-Bicolor Lake-Water Yadan-Dongtaijiner Lake, stay in Chaidan Town Bicolor Lake was just a casual stop along the way, the actual color difference is not as obvious as online, no need to go out of the way to see it. Water Yadan is beautiful, with unique landforms, and the scenic area is large, you can find areas with fewer people to take photos. Very photogenic Dongtaijiner Lake💦, is a bit like Chaka Salt Lake, you can choose to visit just one of them. 🤍Day5 Dachaidan Emerald Lake-Aseke Oil Town-Dunhuang, stay in Dunhuang Dachaidan is super beautiful, can't help but marvel at the magic of nature, suitable for aerial photography. It's also particularly cold and windy, I wore a down jacket and still felt cold Aseke Oil Town was also on the way, it has a bit of an American West feel, quite photogenic. 🤍Day6 Dunhuang-Jiayuguan✈️Shanghai 【Northwest Travel Tips】 ➡️The temperature changes greatly, bring both light and heavy clothes, it's 30 degrees in Dunhuang, but it's cold even with a down jacket in Qinghai. ➡️Rent a drone‼️Many of the landscapes in the Northwest can't show their beauty without a drone‼️ Wish everyone a happy journey😀

2021 Latest Recommended Route Qinghai Lake, Chaka Salt Lake, Water Yadan, Dongtai Jinel Lake, Dunhuang, Zhangye Seven-Day Loop Tour day1️⃣ Xining—Qinghai Lake—Chaka Town Accommodation day2️⃣ Chaka Salt Lake—Qaidam Basin—Emerald Lake—Dachaidan Accommodation day3️⃣ Dachaidan—National Highway 315 (Most Beautiful Road)—Water Yadan—Dongtai Jinel Lake—Dachaidan Accommodation day4️⃣ Dachaidan—Qinghai Yadan Devil City—Dangjin Mountain Most Beautiful Road—Aksay—Yangguan—Dunhuang Accommodation day5️⃣ Mogao Caves—Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring—Dunhuang Accommodation day6️⃣ Dunhuang—Guazhou—Jiayuguan Pass (The First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven)—Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park—Zhangye Danxia Accommodation day7️⃣ Zhangye—Biandukou—Qilian Grassland—Ebo Silk Road—Gangshika Snow Peak (Distant View)—Menyuan—Xining (End)

There are 735 caves preserved in the Mogao Grottoes to date, with more than 270 caves featuring Feitian, totaling over four thousand five hundred figures. Through the evolution of Feitian images over the dynasties, one can see the integration and development of Indian culture, Western Regions culture, and Central Plains culture. Feitian is the calling card of the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, imbued with rich imagination. The early Feitian represented people's liberation from the traditional Confucian constraints since the Han and Wei dynasties, embodying their longing and pursuit of freedom. Cave 272's western wall on the south side features a Bodhisattva Feitian listening to the law, belonging to the early Northern Liang Feitian of Dunhuang, which adopted the Western Regions' halo dyeing technique, consistent with the murals in the Kizil Grottoes. Cave 285 is a Western Wei grotto, known as the 'Pantheon with Buddhism as the main body.' On each side, there is a flying Apsaras beast, shaped like a heavenly horse. On both sides of the Feitian, there is a beast-headed human-bodied thunder god, tapping a circle of connected drums. From the Western Wei to the Sui Dynasty, it was known as the innovative period of Dunhuang Feitian. The Feitian inside niche 285 adopts the Western Wei's Central Plains style of painting, emphasizing the portrayal of line drawing, while the form and dynamics have the characteristics of the Central Plains style, but the painting technique is Western Regions style. By the middle and late Sui Dynasty, the Feitian had already shed the robust and rounded style introduced from India, becoming more graceful and nimble.

The story of the Mogao Caves carries the weight of history, just like those murals, where one layer covers an earlier one, sculpted by the long passage of time, with hardships and devotion. The Scripture Cave 16-17 is a definite part of the visit. The story of the Scripture Cave is well-known; this small cave contains tens of thousands of precious scrolls and artifacts. A century ago, a Taoist priest named Wang accidentally discovered it, which also marked the beginning of the Mogao Caves' tumultuous fate of being plundered. Visiting the Mogao Caves, one can always feel the slight tremors of different historical periods resonating with you at this moment. The intricate caissons, the Thousand Buddha frescoes that have oxidized to a black visage, the solemn statues, and the unique colors of the Mogao Caves can only be captured with the eyes and memory, and cannot simply be taken away with a camera. During the dome movie, a middle-aged man traveling alone sat in the front row, needing to lean back slightly to see the entire screen. After the movie ended and everyone got up, it was discovered that he had entered into a dream, eliciting chuckles from the people around. The experience of visiting the Mogao Caves is similar to that moment, like a dream truly realized. I wonder if his dream also included apsaras flying around. Travel Tips: 1. The Mogao Caves enter the off-season in winter from December 1 to March 31, with tickets priced at 140 yuan, allowing the visit of 12 caves, which is very worthwhile. During the peak season, tickets are divided into Class A and Class B, with Class A including 8 caves, and Class B without the movie, totaling 4 caves. 2. The ticket prices for both off-peak and peak seasons include two digital movies and a round-trip shuttle to the Mogao Caves (Class B does not include the movie during peak season). The visiting process is fixed; you need to first arrive at the Dunhuang Digital Exhibition Center to exchange tickets, watch two movies, and then be divided into small groups of about 20 people, led by a guide to visit the caves, which specific caves to visit is not fixed. 3. The two digital movies are 'Millennium Mogao' and 'Fantasy Buddha Palace'. The first one briefly outlines the history of the Dunhuang Mogao Caves, while the second is a dome movie that displays the cave scenes in a surround format, making you feel as if you are there, with murals and statues seemingly within reach. 4. After the entire visit, you can reserve a special cave visit within the Mogao Caves scenic area, each cave costing between 150-200 yuan, and which specific cave you can visit depends on the actual opening situation. 5. Photography is not allowed inside the caves, and there are 8 replica caves in the Dunhuang Grottoes Cultural Relics Protection Research Exhibition Center within the scenic area, where photography is also not allowed. (These are replicas of caves 003, 217, 276, 419, 285, 249, 275, and Yulin Cave 29) Although they are replicas, they are also very much worth seeing.

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.

The widely circulated saying "China is very beautiful, with seventy percent of its beauty in the northwest" raises the question: where does the renowned beauty of Qinghai lie? Its beauty lies in the grandeur of its mountains and rivers, the elegance of its landscapes, the harmony of its culture, the purity of its blue skies and white clouds, the vastness of its snow-capped mountains and grasslands, the pristine lakes and rivers, the desolation of its Gobi deserts, the magnificence of its Danxia landforms, the uniqueness of its glaciers and permafrost. Its beauty lies in its long-standing historical, ethnic, red, and ecological cultures, its beauty lies in the Sanjiangyuan National Park, Qilian Mountain National Park, and the Great Wall Long March National Cultural Park, where new chapters are written and brilliance is displayed. From mountains and rivers to lakes, from the Gobi to deserts, from plateaus to grasslands, it is both lonely and prosperous, desolate yet full of vitality. This is the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop. 🛬【Itinerary】: Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop Seven-Day Tour (Chaka Salt Lake + Water Yadan) Day 1: Depart from Xining → Sun and Moon Mountain → Qinghai Lake → Chaka Salt Lake (overnight) Day 2: Chaka Town → Keluke Lake → Cross the Qaidam Basin → Dachaidan Emerald Lake → Dachaidan (overnight) Day 3: Dachaidan → Chaka Salt Lake → 315 U-shaped Road → Water Yadan → Nanhaixian Ghost City → Dachaidan (overnight) Day 4: Dachaidan → Oil Town → Yangguan → Dunhuang (overnight/camping in the desert optional) Day 5: Mogao Caves → Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring → Shazhou Night Market → Dunhuang (overnight) Day 6: Dunhuang → Guazhou → Jiayuguan Fortress → Zhangye Danxia Landform → Qicai Town (overnight) Day 7: Zhangye → Biandukou → Qilian Mountain Grassland → Gangshika Snow Peak → Menyuan Rapeseed Flower → Xining (overnight) ⛺【Must-Visit Attractions】: "Chaka Salt Lake" Chaka Salt Lake is similar to Chaka Salt Lake, but Chaka Salt Lake is particularly dependent on the weather. When the weather is bad, it doesn't look very good, just a vast expanse of white. When the weather is good, there are blue skies and white clouds above, and windmills and snow-capped mountains in the background, which is one of the reasons it became famous. However, compared to Chaka Salt Lake, the weather has less impact on Chaka Salt Lake. Chaka Salt Lake is a salt lake nurtured by nature for billions of years. Walking by the lake, you can feel the crystal-clear, ever-changing magical salt flowers. There is a 32-kilometer-long salt bridge on the salt lake. Although it is just an ordinary road, it is made entirely of salt, so it is also known as the "Ten Thousand Zhang Salt Bridge". 🍩【Must-Try Foods】: Hand-Grasped Lamb; Hand-Grasped Lamb is a traditional food loved by the Mongolian, Tibetan, Hui, and Uighur ethnic groups in Northwest China. It is said to have a history of nearly a thousand years and got its name because it was originally eaten by hand. As the name suggests, it needs to be eaten by hand, tearing, or cutting with a Tibetan knife. Although this unique way of eating lamb is no longer necessary with the development of the times, the name has been passed down to this day. The meat is red and white, fatty but not greasy, oily and tender, and very delicious. The meat is so tasty that even those who don't usually like lamb can give it a try, as it doesn't have a strong lamb smell. 🏨【Accommodation Tips】: "Desert Camping" When you arrive in Dunhuang, you must experience desert camping. Activities include sand sliding, watching the sunset in the desert, desert motorcycling, singing and talent performances to set the mood, large bonfire parties, fireworks, iron flower performances, and unlimited hot pot, beer, and drinks. At night, you can also go to the heart of the desert to watch the starry sky and the Milky Way. Nowadays, everyone lives in cities and hasn't seen a sky full of stars for a long time, so experiencing desert camping will be an unforgettable night. 🚌【Transportation Tips】: In the northwest, the distances between attractions are too far for city buses. There are route buses, but taking them is very troublesome and inconvenient as they don't go directly to the destinations. Therefore, the main ways to travel the northwest grand loop are self-driving, joining a tour group, or chartering a car. Personally, I recommend joining a tour group or chartering a car because, with self-driving, you are unfamiliar with the road conditions, and the long distances on the plateau can easily cause fatigue. Nowadays, there are many pure-play small groups, especially recommended for 1-2 people traveling. Since it is a pure-play small group, there are at most 8 people in a car, not too many, but the atmosphere will be very lively. Another option is to charter a car, which offers high flexibility, allowing you to plan your itinerary according to your preferences. You can play along the way, with professional drivers who are familiar with the routes, ensuring a safe and enjoyable trip, avoiding many detours and pitfalls. 🧡【Tips】: 1. It is recommended to take Rhodiola, Highland Red, or other medications to prevent altitude sickness one or two weeks in advance. 2. Drink plenty of water when you first arrive at the plateau, avoid strenuous exercise and emotional excitement, do not overeat, and go to bed early to stay energetic for the trip. 3. Make sure you are in good health before traveling to the plateau. Although most areas are around 3,000 meters above sea level and most people have no reaction, it is still called a plateau, so respect it... hahaha (Safety is always the top priority when traveling). 4. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is an area with a high concentration of ethnic minorities, so please respect local customs. 5. When engaging in free activities in scenic areas, pay attention to safety, follow the rules of the scenic area, and travel civilly.

The Hexi Corridor has been a major transportation route connecting the Central Plains of China with the Western Regions since ancient times. It is a core area where various ethnic groups have continuously clashed and integrated, leaving a large number of cultural heritages and cultural tourism resources. Experiencing the rich and colorful multiculturalism of the Chinese nation is a treasure trove for understanding cultural differences between different ethnic groups. At the same time, it is also a living textbook for understanding the formation, integration and development of the Chinese nation, and has become a region for cultivating a sense of cultural identity of the Chinese nation. Highlights of the Hexi Corridor Colorful Danxia In winter, the sun shines on the red sandstone of Danxia, like a brilliant painting. Walking here is like stepping into a real colorful fairy tale world. Jiayuguan In winter, Jiayuguan has a dry climate, and a thin layer of frost forms on the city wall. Climbing the city wall, you can see the magnificent scenery of the grand pass, as if traveling back to ancient times. Son of the Earth Here are deserts, Gobi, and mountains. In winter, the Son of the Earth is covered with a layer of pure white snow, forming a snow scene. Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes The Mogao Grottoes contain many cultural treasures such as murals and colored sculptures. In winter, there are few tourists, and you can quietly appreciate the unique paintings. Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring is one of the four wonders of China. The Crescent Spring is like a bright pearl embedded in the desert. Yumen Pass In winter, the mountains and grasslands around Yumen Pass are covered with snow. Here, you can feel the footsteps of those merchants who once traveled on the Silk Road. In winter, there are fewer people to reduce queuing time, and you can also see different scenery. As long as it is not encountering extreme national weather, the cost performance is very high. After all, the tickets are cheap, and the air tickets are also cheap. The disadvantage is that the transportation connection is not so convenient, and there are few flights, which require transfers.