Dunhuang
Another ! long bus journey overnight to here, Dunhuang. The place a major tourist destination, with a modern easy going center and user friendly with good hotels and food. However as elsewhere the tourist season finished so very quiet despite the nice sunny weather.
Dunhuangs claim to fame is the Mogao caves, as per LP, one of Buddhist arts greatest respositories in the world going back to 366ad up until the decline of the silk road. Basically hundreds of caves/grottoes along a sandstone canyon wall which were hidden by the sands of the Gobi desert until discovered and raided by western explorers in the early 20 century. Impressive sights despite only getting to see a small selection of caves and given my tour group consisted of only me couldn’t complain about the crowds.
Today did the crescent moon lake, a none descript bit of oasis nestled amongst huge sand dunes up to 1715m high. Climbing the dunes proved great exercise ( hard work) and very scenic
so all good fun and well worth the effort.
Tomorrow another long trip across the mountains to Xining, and going by the weather forcast will be none to warm.
Tags: China, Dunhuang, Travel
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