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The mystery and beauty of the ancient Dunhuang as well as the carefully preserved Buddhist frescos and statuary makes it one of the most premier tourist destinations in China.
Mogao Grottoes
Arguably the most extraordinary and consummate depository of Buddhist art in the world, the walls of the Mogao Grottoes, or Mogao Caves, were painted and carved for a span of almost a thousand years reflecting the evolution of Buddhist beliefs in this period and its interactions with new cultures and peoples as it spread across Asia.
For years, up until the plundering after the grottoes' rediscovery in the last century, they also held the premier library of Buddhist literature, which including original sutras and Buddhist scriptures in Chinese, Tibetan, Turkic, Uygur and other languages. Soon after their rediscovery, most of the important works of literature stored in the caves made their way to Brittish, French and American institutes of oriental research and remain their today. So important are the treasures of the Mogao Grottoes to understanding medieval Chinese society, religion and art that a whole new field of academic research, dubbed 鈥淒unhuangology鈥?has spun off in response in China and in the west.
25 km south of Dunhuang proper, the caves were first inhabited in 366 A.D, and have been restored several times throughout history. Visitors can still enjoy the remaining 492 grottoes, with 45,000 sq. meters of mural paintings, as well as 2,415 painted statues. One of the world's foremost collections of Buddhist relics, these caves have been registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as of 1987.
The Western Thousand-Buddha Cave
The Western Thousand-Buddha Cave is located 35 kilometers away from the city of Dunhuang, west of Mogao Grottoes. The frescos in this cave are similar in style and time period to those found in the Mogao Grottoes and are thus also an important part of the legacy of Dunhuang's Buddhist art. Those hoping to see one thousand Buddha statues may be disappointed as 鈥榯housand' here is not so much an exact number, but rather an expression of scope, many of the seven of the sixteen caverns within have also been badly damaged or destroyed by both natural and human factors over the course of history. The art in these caverns dates back to the Tang (618-907) and Wei (386-557) Dynasties.
Today this cave has been carefully restored to maintain its rich cultural legacy. One can visit the cave's ten caverns and imagine its splendor in antiquity.
Echoing-sand Mountain and Crescent Lake
Seven kilometers away from Dunhuang city stands the 300m tall Echoing-sand Mountain. This mountain is not so much a mountain as it is a prodigious sand dune. From the summit there is a fantastic view of the sand dunes below. Climbing to the top may be exhausting and time consuming, but the way down is simple and fast. The natives say that sliding down this gargantuan sand dune mysteriously produces a sound like that of a thunderclap.
Cradled by Echoing-sand Mountain, Crescent Lake is 150m long and 50m wide. Such an oasis is a miraculous feat of nature in Gobi Desert where the average evaporation rate is 48 times higher than the rate of rainfall. Assaulted constantly by sandstorms and the arid heat of the desert, this lake has weathered the elements for more than 2,000 years and its waters still remain limpid and fresh.
White Horse Dagoba
The White Horse Dagoba is located in the southwest of Dunhuang city, two kilometers away from the city center. Built in 386 A.D., the Dagoba has a beautiful legend attached to it of a white horse, which carried a monk along the Silk Road. The Dagoba is a 9-story, gourd shaped piece of architecture with each floor a different shape. It is 12m in height and 7m in diameter, made of adobe with central support pillars. Its architectural style is similar to that of the Lama pagoda of the Ming Dynasty.
Yang Gate
Yang Gate was a historically important pass protecting Dunhuang from western invasion. Its many beacon towers and walls served not only as defense, but also served to reflected the power of the ancient empire upon whose borders it lay. The Chinese recognize this historical site as one of great significance, thus it is said, 鈥渋f you visit Silk Road, don't miss Dunhuang; if you visit Dunhuang, don't miss Yang Gate.鈥?Unfortunately, while this site is replete with historical importance, there is left little for the modern traveler to see. Swallowed by the sands of time and marauding armies, this fort has gone to ruin and one can only find amongst the ruined walls and broken tiles a tracery of former greatness, relics of an ancient empire thick with history.
Yumenguang(Jade Gate)
Jade Gate is located in the Gobi Desert, 80 km northwest of Dunhuang. In ancient times the caravans transporting jade from Khotan into the inner country would have to pass this gate; thus the name 鈥淛ade Gate鈥? Jade Gate was an important fort on the Silk Road. Compared to Yang Gate in the south, the ruins of Jade Gate were preserved relatively intact. The fort was in the shape of square, with 24 meters in length and 27 meters in width. Standing before the Gate, which is considered to be one of the most desolate places on earth, one is easily moved by the great barrenness of its surroundings.
Local Specialties
Saozi Vermicelli Soup
Dunhuang's Saozi Vermicelli is a traditional hand-made dish. The vermicelli is very thin, and forming them requires special skills. The vermicelli is put into a fresh soup and a seasoning made of beef, mutton, radish and potato, called saozi.
Niang Pizi Cold Noodles
Related to liangpi, niang pizi are thick, see-through noodles prepared cold with sliced vegetables and dressings. It is a popular and convenient local flavor widely loved by visitors from home and abroad.
Dunhuang Spirits
Made from jowar and wheat, Dunhuang spirits, a local variety of baijiu, enjoy a famous reputation for their mellow taste and you don't have to be a connoisseur to enjoy them. (Text by Xie Tingting Photo Source:d-library.com.cn)
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