Mingsha Mountain

The highlight of the whole trip was when the car drove to the entrance of the scenic spot. A large sand hill suddenly appeared at the end of the road. It was quite shocking. I felt like a fool riding a camel. I regretted it after one minute. Crescent Lake is not blue at all. It cost 8 yuan to take a taxi from the city. I had lunch at the snack street at noon and then took a taxi to the Mogao Grottoes Digital Exhibition Center. I felt that there was really no need to join the tour.

1. The sand of Mingsha Mountain is very fine. It is a bit difficult to climb the mountain without wearing shoe covers because your feet can easily sink into the sand.

2. It’s best not to wear clothes and pants with many pockets, because you will bring a lot of sand home 😊

3. Be careful to prevent heatstroke and sunburn on sunny days. The starry sky at night is very beautiful. It is recommended to go between May 1st and National Day, and you can go camping in the desert. Camping is not recommended at other times because the temperature difference between day and night is large.

4. It is best to wear a mask and a hat, otherwise sand will easily get into your hair and mouth.

Choosing to hike to the top of the mountain really requires a lot of physical strength! I happily slid on the sand for an afternoon, and arrived at the Crescent Lake in the evening. It was an unforgettable experience. Walking into the place sung in Tian Zhen's song, it was incredible.

Friends who are overweight should not ride camels, so as not to tire our hardworking animals out.

It is said that it is less sunny if you go earlier or later. We wasted some time because of the mistake with the tickets and arrived at around 10 o'clock. There were many tourists, but still fewer than if you go later, and you don't have to wait for the camels.

Wrap yourself tightly to avoid the sun. The anti-sand shoe covers I bought are much lighter than the orange cloth covers sold uniformly in the scenic area.

The camel has just started working and is still very energetic! It jumps up and down as it walks, and it is still fun to ride it for a while!

The slope of Mingsha Mountain is quite steep. If you walk directly on the sand, you will slide down one step after taking two steps up. You will be very tired and can only move forward a few meters. Even if you climb this ladder for a while, I will be out of breath. I will not reach the top this time. Boss, you go ahead if you can do it!

The sand is very fine and hot.

After 5pm every day, the number of tourists visiting Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake will gradually increase, and there will be a long queue of cars entering the scenic area. After the traffic jam at Chaka Salt Lake, I was still worried about the long queue, so I parked the car at the parking lot of the nearby Leiyin Temple and walked there. Climbing the sand mountain still requires a certain amount of physical strength and endurance. The tiny sand particles make climbers "take one step forward and half a step back". The actual distance to the top of the mountain is much longer than what you see with your naked eyes, and the scorching sun also consumes the energy of every tourist, so you must wait until the sun is about to set before climbing the sand mountain. Sitting on the sand mountain and quietly waiting for dark, the sunset gradually dyed the entire sky red, overlooking the clear spring, feeling the shock and charm brought to us by nature.

Night fell, but the number of tourists did not decrease. Everyone lit up their flashlights, and countless lights dotted the Mingsha Mountain at night. I don’t know who started it, but the tourists in the entire scenic area started to make noises, "Ah——" "Ah————", everyone was shouting from the bottom of their hearts. In an instant, I was moved by the noise. Although we were all far away from each other and had never met before, cherishing this brief encounter was the most important thing. This was the most beautiful sound I heard along the way.

There were many people at Mingsha Mountain, and we finally found a place to enjoy it.

A muddy yellow sunset made the earth gloomy.

It’s really dreamy, it doesn’t get dark until 10 o’clock every day.

Walking in the desert under the scorching sun feels like turning into a kebab. Imagine that the merchants who traveled along the Silk Road had to ride camels in the desert for several months. It was really hard!

Tickets for Mingsha Mountain are 120 yuan, student ID is 60 yuan, camel ride is 100 yuan

It was really hard to walk under the scorching sun. The leader was also very tired. We finally finished the lap in the hot sand. We were almost dry. (Sun protection must be done properly. I don’t know what got into me when I wore a hip skirt and it split open).

The deep sound of camel bells in Mingsha Mountain represents more than a thousand years of history.

After recording your facial image, you can enter the site within three days by scanning your face. So I recommend going to Mingsha Mountain to buy tickets and scan your face when you arrive in Dunhuang. You can watch the sunset at night and the sunrise the next day. It's a great day. There is a campsite at Mingsha Mountain. We also included this option in our itinerary. Considering that the conditions might be difficult, we didn't choose camping. It would be great to camp in the desert and watch the stars.

There is a place to rent shoe covers when you enter the scenic area. They are very long orange shoe covers and cost 15 yuan. I didn’t rent them because I thought they would not look good in photos. Later, I heard from others that it would be useless to rent them. I still got into the sand.

As soon as we walked in, we saw the desert and groups of camels. It felt like an adventure. Someone wanted to ride a camel. I read in the guide that it was not recommended. It takes one hour and it will be very sunny in the afternoon (tip: it is best to enter the scenic area after 4 pm when the sun will be smaller). So we decided to take a battery car to Crescent Lake. The ticket is 10 yuan.

After a short tour, someone still wanted to ride a camel, so we took the battery car back to the gate and bought a camel ticket for 100 yuan per person.

The scenery along the way is amazing, especially the grandeur of the desert. Some camels have camel bells, which makes you feel like you are walking on the Silk Road. Be careful not to drop anything when riding, and don't move too much, or the camels will be scared.

To summarize the correct tour route, buy camel tickets at the entrance and ride a camel. The place where you get off the camel is not far from Crescent Lake. Then go sandboarding after Crescent Lake and take the battery car back to the entrance. We spent two more battery car tickets.

Laofuzi: "The past is over a thousand years old. The mingsha crescent moon has many strange colors 9⃣️" - Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake in Dunhuang, Jiuquan, Gansu 16·10·8 "A Thousand Years of Years. Bright and crystal sand mountain and deep valley" After a night, the praise of the flowers is over. The autumn comes and the sound of flying is over. The thoughts are longing for the steps, and the cold is cold. The golden embroidery is majestic and the wind is clear. The sky is plucked, and the mines are surprised. The waves are roaring, and the surging secrets. Qingquan Pavilion, jade inlaid in Wuwa, farewell! December 29th of the year of Wuxu

Legend has it that when you slide down the Mingsha Mountain, you can hear a loud rumbling sound, like thunder. Unfortunately, I didn't hear it. Climb up the sand hill to the south of Mingsha Mountain and look into the depths of the desert.

I don't know if it's to protect the environment or to make money, but Mingsha Mountain Scenic Area has fenced off the desert for dozens of kilometers along Mingsha Mountain to the west. It was difficult for us to find a place to enter the desert along the edge of the desert. Someone cut a hole in the fence by a small river, and we got in through the hole and happened to meet someone taking wedding photos.

I feel that the desert of Mingsha Mountain is really strange. It is very close to the city, so where does this desert come from? After entering the scenic area, the main thing is to ride a camel to the sand dunes to play in the sand. If you walk to the sand dunes, it is still very strenuous. You will know how strenuous it is if you walk a little.

After arriving at the designated location, tourists can go and play on their own, and then ride camels down to the sand dunes to continue visiting Crescent Lake.

Visitors can walk to the top of the dune to go sandboarding, either on a skateboard or on a large tire.

The camel caravan in front of Mingsha Mountain is crowded with people, hundreds of camels and thousands of tourists. Poor camels, how many times do they have to walk on this sand slope in a day...

It takes ten minutes to ride a camel to Crescent Lake, and the camel team needs to walk for an hour under the sun. This is really a waste of money. In order to accompany the children, Mr. Xu can only endure it... There are a lot of people in Mingsha Mountain during the peak season. In fact, the camels are tired every day. Fortunately, the off-season should be very long in the year, so they can be busy for three months and rest for half a year. Thinking of this, I got out of the emotion of sympathy for the camels a little, riding the desert ship, feeling the beauty of the desert, Mingsha Mountain in the evening, so beautiful~

The guy leading the camel was afraid that we would be dissatisfied with the slow pace, so he took all kinds of photos for us along the way. In view of such a good attitude, we still have to give a good review to the camel team of Mingsha Mountain~

Behind this door is the desert I've been dreaming about! Looking from the outside, there is only an overwhelming expanse of vastness. I was very excited and even a little nervous.

It's so tiring to climb to the top! If there is no wooden ladder, it feels like I can't go up at all, I will sink into the sand, but walking on the ladder also hurts my feet...

It's so cool to roll down from the top alone! A bunch of people on the top shout "Come on, girl!", and then just roll as much as you can, hahaha! It's just dizzy, the world is spinning, and sand is in your mouth.

After entering Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake, there are many self-funded projects, such as camel riding, sandboarding, gliders, helicopters, etc. We went to ride a glider for 380 yuan and it was over in 2 minutes. It was a bit of a rip-off. It was my first time to see the desert, and I was still very excited. After all, I was curious about it. The difference between imagination and reality was not big. Climbing the desert looked easy, but it was really difficult. I had to step back after walking one or two steps. It felt like climbing a hill and it was getting dark. If you come too early, the scorching sun will not be able to bear it! As night fell, sitting on the hill, overlooking the Crescent Lake, which was already brightly lit, looking at the current scenery, there was less sadness in the past.

There is no end as you go up, but when the wind blows, the sand hitting your body is quite painful, so you still have to pay attention to sand prevention.

After entering the huge scenic area, the first thing I saw was a long line of camels. How could I not try riding a camel after arriving in the desert! I excitedly pulled my mother to experience riding a camel. The camel was really well-behaved and obedient, but because of its large size, it shook when it walked. To be honest, it was very uncomfortable to sit on it. I often worried that I would be thrown out. So for me, riding a camel is enough to experience it once.

There are so many people on Mingsha Mountain that from a distance they look like ants crawling on a sand dune. This shows that Mingsha Mountain is quite large.

You can see the whole picture of Crescent Lake by climbing up Mingsha Mountain, but it is said that the spring water inside is no longer natural, but artificially pumped in.

There are sand-proof shoe covers for rent in the scenic area. Although they are a bit ugly, they are very good at preventing sand. Since a friend reminded me before and I didn't need to take pictures, I rented a pair. It turned out that my choice was right. Not long after entering the scenic area is the camel base camp, where you can pay 100 yuan to ride a camel on the sand hill. Because the camel smell is a bit strong, and because I was poor, I didn't ride it. It is recommended that you still give it a try with the mentality that you are here.

Mingsha Mountain Scenic Area is not big, but it is very difficult to walk in the sand. You will slip every two steps and it consumes a lot of physical energy. After passing through a reed marsh, Crescent Moon Lake is hidden between the sand hills. I was a little dazed for a while. This clear spring has never been submerged by the sand hills for thousands of years. After walking around Crescent Moon Lake, the sun was about to set, but in fact, the weather was not good today, so I couldn’t see the afterglow of the sunset, and naturally there were no stars. I am afraid that this regret will always remain in my heart.

Today is a sunny day, with no clouds in the sky and direct sunlight. It is really hot in the summer afternoon! The next itinerary is Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake. It gets dark late in the northwest, around 8 or 9 pm every day, so we decided to go back to the hotel to rest for a while and avoid the hottest time to go to Mingsha Mountain.

Mingsha Mountain, Crescent Lake, and the bay of spring water in the desert are my dream.

The scenic spot is not far from Dunhuang Villa, and it only takes about ten minutes to walk there. The tickets for the scenic spot are valid for two days, and the gate opens at 5 am. I was thinking about going there again the next morning, after all, I thought there would be fewer people in the morning. Later it turned out to be just a beautiful wish. After climbing up the sand hill once, I really couldn't walk anymore.

Although it was already evening, there was no sign of a decrease in the number of tourists. There were too many people. We originally wanted to go camel riding, but there were too many people lining up. It was estimated that there were more than a thousand camels to meet the demand. We would need to queue for at least 2 hours. Lele and his father had no interest in riding camels, so we walked to Crescent Lake. It was really not far to walk there. In just over ten minutes, the crescent moon appeared before our eyes. It was truly a miracle of nature, surrounded by sand, with a spring that has never dried up for thousands of years, and dense reeds beside the spring, which was quite a spectacle.

Several areas of the sand hill are opened up for tourists to climb, and tourists are not allowed to enter or step on the rest of the area. The desert's complete streamlined shape is preserved, which is particularly beautiful.

There are several roads that can climb up the sand hill. In order to see the full view of Crescent Lake, you must climb up. Who knew climbing Mingsha Mountain would be so tiring? The soft sand, sometimes you slip after taking one step. The desert is not unfamiliar to me. It is often seen in movies and TV. I have also heard since I was a child that water is important to people walking in the desert. No matter how much I hear and see, it is not as good as you walking like this. I almost couldn't climb up after just a small attempt in the scenic area. Lele and his father are quite amazing and climbed much faster than me! Water is really important!

After climbing to a higher position, from this place you can already see the whole picture of Crescent Lake. Some tourists have climbed to a higher position, but I definitely can't do that.

Riding a camel to visit Mingsha Mountain is probably the most classic thing in this scenic spot. The camel ticket is priced at ￥100/person. The whole journey takes one and a half hours. An employee in the scenic area will lead the team to Mingsha Mountain with five camels.

There are three ladders that can be climbed up Mingsha Mountain. The leftmost one is the most visited because it is used for sand sliding. However, the scenery on the other two ladders is not as good as the leftmost one because you can see the entire Crescent Lake and the sunset view from there.

After finally climbing to the top of the mountain, I found that I was only half alive, with only the red flashing HP left. I sat down and couldn't get up again. I felt like I was going to die. The sun was about to set, and the beauty of Mingsha Mountain was revealed before my eyes. The golden desert accompanied the blue sky. I strongly suspected that God accidentally overturned the palette of the world. Mingsha Mountain after sunset is also very special. You can see the stars in the sky again, as well as the Big Dipper, meteors and the Milky Way. It is worth seeing~ Note: The ticket for Mingsha Mountain is still valid the next day, so you can go to Mingsha Mountain as soon as you arrive in Dunhuang to watch the sunset and sunrise. It's a perfect arrangement!

As someone who has experienced this, Nian Nian warns everyone seriously that there are things you should do and things you shouldn't do! When it comes to things like desert climbing, don't be driven by curiosity. This is really the most embarrassing choice. Five steps forward, two steps back, it's really desperate.

Not only that, in fact, Nian Nian felt a strong sense of acclimatization after a day. Her body would itch from time to time, and a large number of bumps would appear when she scratched it. Coupled with the dry weather, Nian Nian and Wang were in a bad state. The desert used to be Sanmao's Sahara, full of endless expectations; now it has become small bumps on the shoulders and arms, which are heart-wrenching.

Singing sand, also known as ringing sand, whistle sand or musical sand, is a peculiar but common natural phenomenon in the world. In deserts or sand dunes, due to the influence of various climatic and geographical factors, fine sand particles mainly composed of quartz are formed. Due to the vibration of wind, sand slides or moves against each other, and many sand particles rotate in the airflow. The holes on the surface cause the "diabolo" effect and produce a buzzing sound, which is called singing sand.

In western China, the Mingsha area is mainly desert, and these sand dunes are piled up into mountain shapes, so it is also called Mingsha Mountain.

The Singing Sand Mountain in Dunhuang, Shapotou in Zhongwei City, Ningxia, the Yinkentala Singing Sand Group in Dalate Banner, Inner Mongolia, and the Singing Sand Mountain in Barkol, Xinjiang are known as the four major singing sands in China.

The scenic area is in the south of Dunhuang. Just go straight along Mingsha Mountain Road to get there. You can see tall white sand dunes on the road. It turns out that the desert is right next to Dunhuang City. It's really incredible. There are many inns here with a good environment.

Judging from the guide map, the scenic area is not very large. One ticket here is valid for three days. When you leave the park for the first time, you only need to scan your face at the machine, and you can enter and exit freely afterwards.

There is a large square just after entering the scenic area. We came early, so there were not many people and it was a bit empty. From time to time, we could see helicopters and paragliders flying in the sky.

From a distance, the camel caravan looked like a thin, curved line, meandering under the tall sand dunes, then disappearing into the cracks between the dunes.

Each camel caravan consists of several camels linked together, with someone leading the way in front. They will take photos of tourists along the way, for a fee of course. It's okay if you don't want to take photos, but they will try their best to persuade you to take photos, which is also a big part of their income.

Continuing to the right from the Couple Tree is a larger green meadow with brightly colored flowers. Together with the ochre sand dunes and blue sky behind, it forms a beautiful picture of a desert oasis.

The sand here is extremely fine and soft. People step on it to form small sand pits of varying depths. At first glance, it looks like undulating waves in the vast sea of sand, which makes people feel a little dizzy.

We sat on the sand hill and looked around, and the view was much wider. Looking down at the hill, Crescent Lake looked small and exquisite. Surrounded by sand dunes on three sides, there was just a narrow space left, in which a small crescent-shaped green water appeared. Looking at it made people happy and distressed. I was really afraid that it would be buried by sand and never seen again.



Looking far away, the sand peaks of Mingsha Mountain are like golden waves in the sea, majestic and surging. Looking closely at the sand waves on the hillside, they are like ripples, sometimes turbulent, sometimes slow, and sometimes lingering and swirling, which is really interesting.

There are many recreational activities in Mingsha Mountain, such as camel riding, sand sliding, off-road vehicles, helicopter overlooking, etc. You can play here for half a day, and of course watching the sunset is also very beautiful. You can even participate in outdoor desert camping activities and watch the sunrise in the morning.

Camel riding in Mingsha Mountain costs ¥100 per person and takes about an hour. It is nice to come here and experience it.

The whole scenic spot is already very famous, but what I feel is a bit of a bummer is that there are conspicuous reminders from the outside that drones are prohibited from flying, and even the broadcast reminds that drones are prohibited from entering the park. But I have already put it in my bag, so I can still pass the security check, but I also abide by the regulations of the scenic spot and did not fly. Why don't you allow drones to fly in such a spectacular scenic spot? Safety considerations are definitely one aspect, and on the other hand, I think you can't touch the cheese of the scenic spot. There are helicopter rides in the scenic spot, and drones must give way to manned aircraft!

What to do in Mingsha Mountain? The most classic things are riding a camel and climbing the mountain to see Crescent Lake, right?

There are a lot of people riding camels. A camel team of five people walks closely together. The scene is very spectacular, and the scenic spot has made a lot of money! If you want the camel staff to help take pictures, you have to give her a 20 yuan tip privately. Although 20 yuan is nothing to go out and play, I think this phenomenon is not recommended, just like why Chinese people are often asked for tips when they go to Southeast Asia, it's all habit!

The camels took everyone around the desert for a small circle of about 4km. The desert here is beautiful, the camel caravan is spectacular, and the experience is really strong.

The sand hill doesn't look very high, but it's really tiring to walk up! I was already out of breath after climbing up in one go, but the beautiful scenery in front of me was worth the trip.

We waited at the top of the mountain until sunset. I was looking forward to seeing the camel caravan passing by under the setting sun. What a beautiful scenery that would be. This is also printed on the scenic spot ticket. But in fact, the camel caravan route did not go to the place where we watched the sunset, which means we could only take pictures of the empty scene. I think this is a big failure in the design of the Mingsha Mountain route, at least for people like me who like to take pictures.

I don't know why I really want to complain about this attraction, but it is a tourist attraction and a classic. Anyway, it is really a must-visit scenic spot when you come to Dunhuang. Happy > regretful! Just have fun.

If you don't ride a camel when you come to Mingsha Mountain, it seems like you've come for nothing. Every five to six people are divided into a group. The total riding time is about 45 minutes. It is said that you can ride a few kilometers, but I don't remember the exact number. I would like to remind everyone that it is very dangerous when the camel stands up or lies down. If you can't hold on firmly, you will fall off.

Climbing the sand dunes is also a must-do experience when you come here. Overlooking the entire scenic spot and Dunhuang from the sand dunes is the only thing you can do after climbing up with great effort. But the scenery is really great, and it is already dusk.

A long time ago, this was one of the places I was looking forward to the most. I was thinking about coming to worship the mysterious sand dunes on the edge of Lop Nur and kissing the stubborn Crescent Lake in the desert. Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake is a very complete scenic spot. The degree of perfection is that it is difficult to feel the grandeur of the desert sand and the mystery of the Crescent Lake water. Of course, it is also related to the time I came. If it is not the peak season, I believe it will still be quiet here.



The desert has been built into a desert park, with all kinds of game facilities. There are desert off-road vehicles, desert motorcycles, paragliding, sand sliding, and even hundreds of camels. The camel bells coming and going have never stopped, but the noise of tourists is too lively, so the desert camel bells are not so melodious.

This is one of the scenic spots I longed for during my trip to the northwest. It really didn't disappoint me. Seeing it made me feel exhausted. I was excited. Mingsha Mountain was shining golden under the sunlight. Rows of camels carrying tourists were walking slowly in the desert. It was as if you were seeing the camel caravans on the Silk Road. Most of the tourists here choose to ride camels.

Walking around the fixed route of Mingsha Mountain (100 yuan), riding a camel and hearing the sound of camel bells, your heart seems to be instantly calmed and your soul is purified. We entered the scenic area at around 3 pm, which should be the best time, because seeing the night view is an indispensable part of the trip.

The innkeeper said I was lucky because there was a charity concert at Mingsha Mountain on the evening of my arrival.

It feels like everyone in Dunhuang has come here. Traffic police are standing on the road to control the traffic. The entrance to the scenic area is packed with people. Dunhuang citizens can enter the scenic area for free by showing their ID cards, while tourists need to buy tickets, either at the self-service machine or at the window. You can enter and exit unlimited times in 3 days. There is a facial recognition machine at the exit of the scenic area. Just leave your image and you're done! If you can't recognize it, you can show your ticket!

Mingsha Mountain will not admit visitors after 7:30. After entering, visitors can play inside until the sun sets. I bought tickets at the self-service machine for 120 yuan each, and it took two minutes to get it done. I lined up to enter. I walked a few steps and there was a place to rent shoe covers. The orange shoe covers that covered the entire calf cost 15 yuan a pair. I didn't choose to rent them. Of course I had to take off my shoes on the sand mountain. What kind of shoe covers would I wear? They were ugly!

There are many entertainment projects in Mingsha Mountain, including gliders, helicopters, camel riding, sand sliding, beach buggies, etc. Of course, the price is not cheap.

After passing that stupid door, I officially stepped onto the Mingsha Mountain, which stretched into the distance in a golden color, with high and low elevations. I couldn't wait to climb the sand mountain and embrace the golden color. I didn't choose to ride a camel, although this is its job, but I always feel that it is abusive to them (personal feeling, don't criticize if you don't like it), just like when I went to Thailand, I didn't ride an elephant. I didn't choose a battery car, so I walked in slowly.

The sand hill is really hard to climb, so we put a series of narrow ladders on the sand. You won't sink when you step on them, but your feet hurt a bit! A group of people were climbing on this ladder. Everyone had different physical strengths. If one person stopped, the traffic would be blocked. It was really tiring. It didn't look high, but it was very tiring to climb it.

The sand at Mingsha Mountain is not particularly fine. There is a cordoned off area nearby, and the sand there looks finer. Many tourists climb up the mountain regardless of the warning signs prohibiting entry.

The service is good, and there are many facilities and activities.

Helicopters, gliders, camels, dune buggies, jeeps, and more.

If you take a photo and register when leaving the park, you can enter the park for free the next morning.

The overall consumption is not cheap.

Helicopter 600, camel 100+, sandboarding 30/time, jeep 100+

To watch the sunset, you must calculate the sunset time and climb to the top of the sand one hour in advance. At that time, there will be many people climbing, there will be long queues, and the climb will be very slow.



The park opens at 5 a.m. in summer, and hard-working camels and camel drivers come to watch the sunrise.



The overall scenic area is very large, the management and service are also good, I don't feel afraid of people, haha

The scenic area is very small, the ticket is 120, and it is valid for three days, which is a good point. When I climbed up Mingsha Mountain to watch the sunset, I took the wrong path, climbed one step and took half a step back, and my lips were already dry and peeling when I reached the top of the mountain. It's worth it for the sunset. There were people coming and going on the mountain. I wore a red skirt to take pictures, but I didn't take any pictures because I was seriously unwell. The skirt is in the bottom of the box. I am really not suitable for beauty.

The ticket is a bit expensive, and does not include all the entertainment and battery cars (remember to bring cash for the battery cars). But you can enter and exit for free for 3 days.

But for most tourists, it seems that they can’t get back the 120 yuan.

You can rent shoe covers after entering the park (super ugly), or just wear flip-flops like I did. It’s so cool to climb in the desert!

If you want to spend more time visiting Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake, it is recommended to set off at 4:30 at the latest, for the reasons mentioned below.

It really is a desert! Vast desert

It is said that the name of Mingsha Mountain comes from the fact that when the wind blows or the sand particles slide down, they entangle with each other and make a "buzzing" sound, which is either as light as silk or as heavy as thunder, so it is called Mingsha Mountain.

Of course, we can't hear any sounds at this moment.

After getting off the electric car, I saw rows of people like ants on the top of the desert from afar.

It's still a bit sunny at this time, so you can visit Crescent Lake before climbing.

With so many people, don't even think about posing for a good photo.

The bright moon has appeared in the sky, let's follow the ants to the top

There is a simple wooden ladder to easily climb to the middle of the sand.



When I reached the end of the wooden ladder, I was exhausted and sweating all over.

It turned out that there was still a long section where one had to walk on the sand to reach the top.

Of course, there are desert motorcycles that can take you up there, but they seem to be quite expensive. We thought we were invincible, and we were mainly broke, so we decided to climb by ourselves.

Oh my god! Really, if this desert is any higher, I will be exhausted! My legs will keep sinking into the sand during the process, which is very strenuous! I kept cheering myself up during the journey, and the people at the top would also cheer for me. I was almost exhausted and just trying to hold on.

When you sit at the top, you can't recover without catching your breath for ten or twenty minutes.

In fact, when we were almost there, people at the top said that they could no longer see the sunset. But you can't possibly be in so much pain and not reach the top.

At this point, it was difficult to move my butt.

The night sky in the desert is coming surprisingly fast. A bright and dazzling moon tells you, I will light the way for you, you can go home now.

With the moonlight behind me and the lights in front of me, sliding my feet in the cool sand was fun and much easier than climbing up. Just rush down!

There are also many shops renting sand-proof shoe covers at the entrance of the scenic area. The rent is 15 yuan per time, but no deposit is required. Therefore, few tourists return the sand-proof shoe covers to the seller for reuse. Therefore, there are many sand-proof shoe covers thrown on the ground and inside and outside the trash cans in the scenic area. We went directly to line up for camel riding. Camel riding activities have been commercialized for a long time and are being carried out in an orderly manner according to standard operating procedures. There is no deception. People line up in turn. Tourists whose numbers are called will follow the leader to claim their camels.

Our temporary camel team consisted of five camels and six tourists of different sizes. The leader led the honest head camel and walked slowly in front of us in silence. Because no one in our camel team paid him to take pictures, and no one participated in the extra-charged sand motorcycle sports, so he led us to the halfway point of the mountain and then returned to the drop-off point near Crescent Lake. Although his route was a bit shoddy, sitting on the soft desert boat and walking along the way, the sound of camel bells made everyone feel both novel and excited, so after getting off the camels, they all went to climb the sand dunes happily. Mingsha Mountain is desolate and vast, with crescent-shaped sand dunes, crescent-shaped sand dune chains, pyramid-shaped sand dunes and cone-shaped sand dunes. The mountain shape is curved and staggered. In addition, the different wind dynamic conditions, the coarseness of sand particles and the influence of the surface morphology of the sand dunes make the sand ripples on the surface of the sand dunes rich and colorful. Unfortunately, wherever the tourists go, the ripples of the sand dunes have disappeared. Following the footprints of the tourists in front of us, we climbed up to the top of Mingsha Mountain. It was still very difficult. Every time we lifted our feet, sand immediately flowed away from our feet, and we couldn't help but take a half step back. During the National Day holiday, Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake were crowded with tourists, which was less quiet and more lively. The photos taken were quite different. Groups of tourists were still climbing up along the simple plank road made of wooden sticks. And we just sat on the sand dunes and quietly looked at the sky, the ground, the sand dunes, the tourists, and the Crescent Lake. It was also nice!

Mingsha Mountain is named after the sound of the sand moving. The sand and spring coexist, creating a wonderful natural wonder. It has been known as the "desert wonder" since ancient times. It was called Shajiao Mountain in the Eastern Han Dynasty, commonly known as Shensha Mountain, and was called Mingsha Mountain in the Jin Dynasty. In the desert or sand dunes, due to the influence of various climatic and geographical factors, fine sand particles mainly composed of quartz are formed. Due to the vibration of wind, sand slides or moves against each other, and many sand particles rotate in the airflow. The holes on the surface cause the "diabolo" effect and produce buzzing sounds, which is called Mingsha Land.

Riding a camel, walking in the endless yellow sand accompanied by the crisp sound of camel bells, the camel's lazy pace lengthens slowly, as if even time has slowed down, gradually forming a silhouette, becoming a flowing symbol on the Silk Road.

In the evening, we climbed up Mingsha Mountain. At this time, many people had gathered on the top of the mountain, waiting for the sunset.

It is recommended to take the cable car to climb the sand mountain, otherwise it will be very tiring, one step forward and two steps back

The sand dunes are very difficult to climb, which shows how difficult and arduous it was for Xuanzang to cross the desert at that time.

It is valid for three days and you can enter at any time. If you want to use the sandboards sold by the aunties at the door, don't buy them. You can't slide at all. It's okay to sit on it or put things. If you go in, it is recommended to rent shoe covers inside, otherwise there will be too much sand, and masks are also necessary.

The sand at Mingsha Mountain is different from other sands. It makes a special sound when it collides, so it is called Mingsha Mountain. At that time, I brought some home from the back mountain, and the sound was indeed different.

There are camel caravans everywhere. Riding a camel costs 100 yuan, which takes about an hour. You can ask the tour guide to take photos for you, but it will cost 20 yuan per person.

As soon as I entered the scenic area, the air was filled with the smell of camels. Everywhere I looked was desert, and the sand was much finer than that on the beach. The reed marsh is a good place to take pictures. I posed casually against the light. I didn't have the energy to climb to the top of the mountain, so I played for a while halfway up the mountain. After the sun went down, the sand was so cool. I quickly went down the mountain to put away my shoes. The whole afternoon was playing "Desert Camel" and "Crescent Lake", and I almost vomited after listening to them. There were tourists wearing shoe covers everywhere, paragliding, riding motorcycles, and riding camels, and they left only after watching the sunset.

Climbing Mingsha Mountain is different from conquering Mount Tai and Mount Hua. It requires not only courage and physical strength, but also wisdom and skills. If you take a step down, you will sink and slide down. Every rise takes more effort than climbing a mountain of the same distance.

Climbing step by step to the top of the sand hill, the sand is so fine that it feels soft when you step on it, just like you are at the edge of the sea and can run towards the waves. However, looking around, there are no waves, no camel thorns, and even no water drops, only the yellow drought, shining with golden light under the early sun. In addition to giving people a sense of vastness, it also gives people a sense of the primeval world without any signs of life.

Even if you rent a pair of anti-sand shoe covers in Mingsha Mountain, there will still be sand in the shoes, but there is a significant difference between having a little sand in the shoes and having them filled with sand!

The price of 100 yuan for 40 minutes did not hinder the enthusiasm of tourists to experience it. The queue was 200 meters long. However, because there were many camels, the wait was only half an hour, which was not too long.

The one I got was a white female camel, which is said to be quite rare.

She was tall but thin, with flat breasts, not as tall and strong as the camels in the roadside pastures.

The Xiangxiangs here work from 7 am to 8 pm, and they have to receive tens of thousands of tourists every day during holidays. It is very hard. I heard that many of them die of exhaustion every year...

Camels are not as stable as I imagined, especially when going up and down hills. It's really exciting. I need to relax my body and sway with the camel to feel better. I will never say that riding a horse is bumpy again!

Because it is too bumpy and difficult to take selfies while walking, you can choose the 20-yuan state-owned photo spots on the road, which provide professional physical photos.

It is said that there are more than 1,200 camels in Mingsha Mountain, and cleaners have to clean up tens of thousands of kilograms of camel dung every day.

On the hillside, the camel caravans were connected end to end, forming long lines.

The team leader repeatedly reminded us to hold on to the handles and put away accessories and backpacks so as not to disturb the mounts.

After the ride, the camels will take tourists to the Crescent Lake at the northern foot of Mingsha Mountain.

Dunhuang Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Lake are located 5 kilometers south of Dunhuang City. The scenic area covers an area of 76.82 square kilometers. Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Lake are famous for their unique way of "coexistence of sand and spring, and symbiosis of sand and water". For thousands of years, the two have formed a wonderful landscape in the vast sea of sand.

Mingsha Mountain is 2,100 meters above sea level. It is 40 kilometers long, 20 kilometers wide, and 250 meters high at its highest point. The sand peaks are undulating and are formed by quicksand. Due to the steepness of the mountain, climbers can only climb slowly. When descending the mountain, the sand will flow with people, and the sound of the sand makes it famous.

Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake Scenic Area has three gates, namely the middle gate, the east gate and the west gate. Generally, you enter from the middle gate because it is closest to the core scenic area. In the peak season, there are traffic controls in front of each gate of the scenic area. Cars cannot drive to the gate of the scenic area. You have to park in a nearby village and walk to the gate of the scenic area. As soon as you enter the gate of the park, you can see the high sand mountain in front of you from afar. In front of you is a hundred-meter-high hillside. Camels are like a long dragon, and tourists are everywhere, as if the Silk Road thousands of years ago has reappeared. Listening to the sound of camel bells, strolling leisurely on Mingsha Mountain, watching the ancient Silk Road and the magnificent scenery outside the Great Wall along the way, it is a unique charm.

The best view of Crescent Lake is at the top of the mountain. We chose to challenge the top of the sand hill. But climbing the sand hill is not as easy as imagined. If you take a step forward, you will slide back half a step. Stepping on the soft fine sand is like stepping on a pile of cotton. It is soft and you can't use your strength. You take one deep step and one shallow step, and you are exhausted and panting. The rope ladder used for climbing on the sand hill is laid obliquely in the yellow sand. It is relatively easy to climb the mountain by stepping on the rope ladder. The sand hill looks small from a distance, but it is very high when you look closely. Although there is a rope ladder to climb, it is still quite strenuous to reach the top. Standing on the top of the mountain to appreciate the Mingsha Mountain is another kind of scenery. The sand peaks are as majestic as the waves in the sea, and the endless sand waves are like ripples on the sea surface, lingering and swirling.

Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake Scenic Area is located 5 kilometers south of Dunhuang City. It is a national 5A-level scenic area. For thousands of years, it has been famous for its desert wonders of mountain springs, sand and water coexisting together. It is known as one of the most beautiful scenery outside the Great Wall. The ticket price for Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake Scenic Area is 110 yuan, and the discount ticket for seniors aged 60-69 is 55 yuan.

Camels cost 100 per person, and there were so many people that it took an hour to queue up for tickets and wait for the camels. It took about an hour to ride a camel around the sand hill.

Mingsha Mountain stretches across the land of Dunhuang, and the golden fine sand makes it look extremely magnificent. The wind blows through the sand mountain, making a roaring sound. Since ancient times, the wild wind and sand have always kept a distance from Crescent Lake, always trying to avoid it and take a detour, and have never harmed it for thousands of years.

Many people rent shoe covers to go up the mountain, but then you can't feel the sand. There are so many people here, and people are wrapped up tightly, riding camels, walking, strolling in the desert, or climbing up the sand hills, having a lot of fun.

It is known as "one of the five most beautiful deserts in China" and is named after the sound of the sand. The scenic area is quite fun, with both traditional camel riding and various modern activities. It is classic and fun.

There were too many people during the National Day holiday. It is suitable for taking children to play in the sand. You can ride camels and sand slide. There are many ways to play. Watching the sunset depends on luck. The clouds are too thick and you can't see any beautiful scenery.

Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake



In Dunhuang City, besides the Mogao Grottoes and the museum, another place you can’t miss is the Crescent Moon Spring in Mingsha Mountain, which is also the most famous “Flying Fairies” destination. Hahahaha, you will see many flying fairies here…

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The sand dunes in the distance are illuminated by the sun, with one side being positive and the other negative. The perfect arc depicts the two realms of heaven and earth. Camel teams shuttle through the yellow sand one after another, as if the scene of Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions appeared before my eyes. The opening of the Silk Road, the construction of Dunhuang County, the monks preaching, and the Chinese and foreign merchants... Recalling the scenes of that era, a feeling of awe welled up in my heart.

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Climb up the dunes to the top, wrap yourself up tightly, and wait for the sunset (cold).

Overlooking Crescent Lake, it is like an oasis in the desert, especially quiet and beautiful. When the sun sets, the lights of Crescent Lake light up one by one, creating another kind of dazzling scenery in the dark night.

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Walking down the sand dunes, we contributed our shoes to the Mingsha Mountain (filled with sand, hahahahahaha).

It is said that "Mingsha Mountain soothes the mind and Crescent Lake cleanses the heart" can bring people a different kind of enjoyment! I think it is because of the affectionate care of Mingsha Mountain and the tender and sweet company of Crescent Lake that it has such a moving charm and grace!

Some beauty in the world is a combination of beauty, Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake are such a combination of beauty. If you look at Mingsha Mountain alone, there are many sand mountains in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and all over the world that are more majestic and precipitous than it. It is not unique to say that "sand singing"; look at Crescent Lake again, this pool of water, placed in the south of the Yangtze River, is ordinary; but when the two are combined, it becomes a match made in heaven. Let's not talk about the wonder of a pool of clear water emerging from the desert, that is just a wonder of contemplation. The real wonder is: under the scorching sun, the surface of the desert is full of smoke and heat waves. The walker is in a state of constant dehydration, with dry throat and tongue, heavier legs, weaker consciousness, more and more will, and spirit sliding into depression. Life issues the most primitive demand call - water, water! At that moment, suddenly a pool of clear water appeared in the eyes, the spirit was lifted, hope rose immediately, a coolness immersed the heart in it, the heat was forgotten, the tired body was forgotten, the mouth began to secrete saliva,... That wonderful feeling is the beauty of Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake!

The Singing Sand Mountain in Dunhuang is named after the sound made by the moving sand. In ancient times, the Singing Sand Mountain was often called the Shajiao Mountain or the Shensha Mountain. The Singing Sand Mountain in Dunhuang is formed by the accumulation of quicksand. It is about 40 kilometers long from east to west and about 20 kilometers wide from north to south. It is endless and very spectacular. If these sands encounter mutual friction, they will make sounds, as light as silk and bamboo, and as heavy as thunder.

Singing sand, also known as musical sand, is a peculiar natural phenomenon that is common in the world. In deserts or sand dunes, due to the influence of various climatic and geographical factors, fine sand particles, mainly quartz, are formed. Due to wind vibration, sand slides or moves against each other, and many sand particles rotate in the airflow. The holes on the surface create a "diabolo" effect and produce a buzzing sound, which is called singing sand.

In western China, the Mingsha area is mainly desert, and these sand dunes are piled up into a mountain shape, so it is also called Mingsha Mountain. Mingsha Mountain has been formed for more than 3,000 years, and the record of Mingsha is also very old.

"Xin's Three Qin Records" of the Eastern Han Dynasty recorded: "There is Shajiao Mountain in the west of the Yellow River. Its peaks are steep and dangerous, taller than the Stone Mountain. Its sand is coarse and yellow, like dry sand." The Shajiao Mountain here refers to the Mingsha Mountain in Dunhuang.

The "Old Stories of Xihe" from the Wei and Jin Dynasties recorded: "In Shazhou, when the weather is clear, there is the sound of sand, which can be heard in the city. People who visit the sand hills rarely go with friends, and some are frightened before they even start to visit, so no one dares to go forward."

Due to the further integration of ethnic groups in the Tang Dynasty, a large number of written records have appeared. The "Shazhou Atlas" says, "The flow is unpredictable, and suddenly the deep valley becomes a hill, the high rock becomes a valley, the peak is dangerous and seems to be cut, the solitary smoke is like a painting, and it seems that there is no land at night." The "Yuanhe County Records" records: "Mingsha Mountain is also known as the sacred mountain. It is seven miles south of the county. The mountain is made of accumulated sand. The peaks are dangerous and steep, higher than the stone mountain. There are sand ridges all around. The back is like a knife edge. When people climb it, it will make a sound. It will fall down as they walk. After a night and the wind blows, it will return to its original state." The "Dunhuang Records" of the Five Dynasties recorded: "Mingsha Mountain is ten miles away from the state. The mountain is eighty miles from east to west and forty miles from north to south. It is five hundred feet high and is made of pure sand. This mountain is magical and the peaks are like cut."

Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake are located south of Dunhuang City. Here, sand hills and springs coexist. It has always been famous for its "desert wonders" and is one of Dunhuang's business cards. Here you can climb Mingsha Mountain and overlook Crescent Lake, and you can also enjoy the sunset in the desert on the top of the mountain and feel the desolation and vastness of the northwest desert. Although water and fire have always been incompatible, Crescent Lake is safely located in this sand hill. Crescent Lake is located at the foot of Mingsha Mountain and is surrounded by sand dunes. Because of the terrain, when the wind blows, the sand does not go down the mountain, but flows up the mountain. Therefore, Crescent Lake will never be buried by sand and is known as the "Eye of the Desert". The body of Mingsha Mountain is formed by the accumulation of quicksand. From a distance, the sand dunes are undulating and spectacular. It is recommended to visit the scenic spot in the afternoon, so that you can avoid the heat in the desert at noon, and you can climb to the top of the mountain when the sun sets to look at the distant sea of sand and Crescent Lake at the foot of the mountain and watch the beautiful sunset. The scenic area currently offers a variety of recreational projects, such as camel riding, sand sliding, grass sliding, desert motorcycles, archery, helicopter tours, etc. Among them, camel riding and sand sliding are more popular among tourists and are worth experiencing. After entering the scenic area, tourists can directly climb up Mingsha Mountain, and after enjoying the scenery, choose to slide down the mountain. When you slide down from the top of the mountain, you will hear a "dong dong dong" sound, like beating gongs and drums, which makes people feel frightened and exciting. Mingsha Mountain got its name from this.

It is best to go to Mingsha Mountain at 5 or 6 o'clock. The desert is particularly sunny in the afternoon, and you can see the sunset at this time. The ticket is 110 yuan per person. It is best to rent a pair of shoe covers to avoid difficulty in climbing the desert. One pair costs 30 yuan. Mingsha Mountain is indeed more commercialized. It is like a desert park. It provides various recreational facilities, including camel riding, paragliding, desert motorcycles, etc. It is also very good to play as a park. If you really want to see the desert scenery, I personally think that the "wild" desert we saw yesterday is better. To see the sunset, you have to climb up the desert in advance. There are wooden ladders in the desert, and people can step on them to go up. However, if there are many people, you have to queue up, so it is best to go early and occupy a good position. When we climbed to the top, the sun had already set. We saw that the sky was dyed pink, and the fiery red sun slowly began to converge its light, and was slowly blocked by the desert like a ball.

Very bad experience. First is the camel arrangement, second is the camel riding experience, third is the reception at the customer service center, in short, it is disappointing.



First, they arranged a camel team and tricked me into another camel team, saying that there were only four camels in a team and that five camels were not allowed for safety reasons. In fact, the camel team my friend and I rode had five camels each. I came all the way here and was tricked?



We can say that we can wait and retreat if the camel caravan really only has four camels. We will accept that and accept the arrangement without any objection at that time.



You can't lie.

You must not cheat on National Day.

Your scenic spot is not worthy of the guests who come from afar.



At the customer service center, I also heard that the passenger next to me encountered the same situation and his money was split and cheated.



Second, camels are very bumpy and smelly, which is unavoidable. It depends on the person. I personally don't recommend it.



The third customer service center staff refused to listen to my explanation and turned a simple matter of writing a complaint into three strong male staff members surrounding a female student like me and the two sides arguing loudly.



I am really ashamed of you Dunhuang men.



Where else can you go on National Day, riding a camel?

It's not fun and I was cheated, but you even tried to make suggestions?



This scenic spot is not mature enough to satisfy tourists, and there is no good communication channel. Very bad.

Mingsha Mountain Scenic Area and Crescent Lake are two scenic spots with one ticket. Tickets start selling at 6:00 in the morning, so you can go early to take pictures of the desert sunrise. There are many experience projects in the scenic area that you can experience. The scenic area can be re-entered, and face recognition is performed at the exit. You can also go to take pictures of the sun at night.

The Mingsha Mountain Scenic Area is actually quite large. In addition to the most famous Crescent Lake, there are many entertainment projects. Most of us have been to similar scenic spots such as Shapotou, so we are not very interested in these entertainment projects. The purpose of this visit is very clear - to take pictures by the Crescent Lake and watch the sunset on Mingsha Mountain.

Dunhuang Mingsha Mountain is a national key tourist scenic spot, located seven kilometers south of Dunhuang City, Gansu Province, in the transition zone between the Badain Jaran Desert and the Taklimakan Desert. It is bordered by the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang to the east and ends at the mouth of the Danghe River in the west. It stretches for 40 kilometers, is 20 kilometers wide from north to south, is about 100 meters high, and covers an area of about 200 square kilometers.

The last stop was Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake. We had the painful experience of climbing the sand mountain in the middle of the day, so we couldn't bear it this time. It was already past five o'clock when we drove from Yadan to Mingsha Mountain. We ate and drank until six o'clock before buying tickets to enter the scenic area. Facts have proved that this choice is very correct.

At this time, the sunlight has turned into a warm orange-red color, and the sand feels soft when you step on it. Most of the tourists have finished their tours and started to leave the scenic area, leaving the desert for us to return to its original desolate appearance.

Walking into the gate of the scenic area, there are several continuous sand dunes in front of you, and then there is a straight cement road. Walking along the road, there are still sand dunes all around, and no trace of Crescent Lake. At the end of the road, it suddenly turns right. Through the bustling crowd, I see a pool of crescent-shaped clear spring in the distance, and a few reeds growing on the shore. I guess this should be Crescent Lake. Thinking of Yu Qiuyu's article "Hidden Springs in the Sand Plain", it really lives up to its name.

I took a night train from Urumqi, passed Liuyuan Station, and then took a bus all the way here to have an intimate contact with the sand. This was my first time in the desert area. It was still very spectacular to climb up the desert slope and overlook the vast desert. And when I was sandboarding here, I could really hear the sound of the sand.

Camping at the back of Mingsha Mountain: We did not go to the mainstream attraction - Mingsha Mountain, but visited Mogao Grottoes in the morning and participated in the desert camping package of Moge Outdoor in the afternoon. Because Dunhuang was too hot, we could only feel the barbecue taste if we entered the desert too early, so Ge Laoda picked us up at the Silk Road Impression Inn at 6:30 pm and took a hard-core off-road vehicle to the camping site (about 20 minutes, you can stop and take pictures at the favorite sand dunes on the way). When we arrived at the camp, fruits and drinks were prepared for us. You can ride a sand motorcycle near the camping site to feel the excitement of your heart, take a sandboard and slide on the sand unlimitedly. Dinner: Desert specialty BBQ series - roasted lamb with red willow branches, etc. (If you come to the desert and eat hot pot, it is not the specialty here), entertainment until 12 o'clock in the evening: desert karaoke, the desert sunshine breakfast early the next morning is not simple at all (milk, coffee, porridge, bread, biscuits). The most important thing is: this is an exclusive camp located on the east side of Mingsha Mountain, belonging to the hinterland of the desert. It feels great. I personally don’t like the concentration camp-style rows of tents.

Crescent Lake is surrounded by high sand hills, with a small lake in the middle that looks like a crescent. Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake are twin sisters in the desert. "The mountain sings because of its spirit, and the water is beautiful because of its spirit." It really feels like "Mingsha Mountain soothes the mind, and Crescent Lake cleanses the heart." Mingsha Mountain makes a sound on a sunny day or when someone slides down the mountain, so it is called Mingsha Mountain. There is also a peculiar phenomenon here. Because of the terrain, when the wind blows, the sand does not flow down the mountain, but flows from the bottom of the mountain to the top. Therefore, Crescent Lake will never be buried by sand, and is known as a wonder of the desert.



In fact, the desert camping the day before was on the back of Mingsha Mountain. Because I had a lot of fun, I had high expectations for the Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake attraction. But in fact, in the process of climbing the mountain to watch the sunset, I personally experienced the feeling of sand flowing from the bottom of the mountain to the top of the mountain, which was very desperate. The wind was so strong that I was covered with sand and it was a bit difficult to breathe. I had to cover my mouth and nose with a headscarf. You can ride a camel from the entrance, take a scenic car or walk to Crescent Lake. It costs 100 yuan to ride a camel for an hour, which is quite cost-effective, but the one-hour exposure is a bit scary. The scenic car is ten yuan, but in fact the distance is not long, and you can get there quickly by walking. The best place to take pictures of Crescent Lake is at the top of Mingsha Mountain opposite.

Like the Mogao Grottoes, Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Lake are also famous attractions not far from the city of Dunhuang. You can take a bus directly from the city. If you find it troublesome, you can take a taxi. As the name suggests, the sand hills and springs coexist here, and it is named because the sand makes a sound. Climbing up Mingsha Mountain, you can overlook Crescent Moon Lake, and you can also enjoy the sunset in the desert on the top of the mountain and feel the desolation and vastness of the northwest desert.



The sand of Mingsha Mountain is the finest among the desert attractions I have visited on this trip, so you can take off your shoes before climbing the mountain to experience the fun of barefoot climbing. The top of the mountain is the best viewing point overlooking Crescent Lake. Crescent Lake is really beautiful when the sun sets.



If you plan to watch the sunset, you can start climbing the sand hill around 8:00 pm. There are two relatively high sand hills, and they are about the same height. If you are in good physical condition, you can climb up in about 20 minutes to half an hour. If you are afraid of heights, you can climb along the ladder (but it is not recommended to go down the ladder as it will hurt your feet).



It is around 8:30 when you reach the top of the sand hill. If you are interested, you can take a ride on the desert off-road vehicle on the sand hill (someone will help you drive it). If you are not interested, you can just wait for the sunset. We went there in late May and early June. The sunset is basically around 9:00 pm. At 8:45, the sky will gradually darken. At 9:00, you can clearly see that the sun will shrink into a small ball, slowly blending into the horizon, and then disappearing. The sky has also completely darkened.



It should be noted that at about 9:15, the last battery car in the scenic area will end. If you don't want to walk back, you must hurry up, and the whole scenic area will use loudspeakers to announce it. If you really can't catch the battery car, it's a long distance from Mingsha Mountain to the entrance of the scenic area. Of course, if you want to see the night view of Crescent Lake under the lights, it is a wise choice to go back later.

In the desert or sand dunes, due to the influence of various climatic and geographical factors, fine sand particles mainly composed of quartz are formed. Due to the vibration of wind, sand slides or moves against each other, and many sand particles rotate in the airflow. The holes on the surface cause the "diabolo" effect and produce buzzing sounds. This is called the Singing Sand Land. In western China, the Singing Sand Land is mainly desert. These sand dunes are piled up into mountains, so they are also called Singing Sand Mountain. The Singing Sand Mountain in Dunhuang, Shapotou in Zhongwei County, Ningxia, the Singing Sand Bay in Dalate Banner, Inner Mongolia, and the Singing Sand Mountain in Balikun, Xinjiang are known as the four major singing sands in China.

I have different feelings every time I go there. Standing at the foot of the mountain and looking up, I see endless yellow sand. Looking down and far away, I see a bend of spring water. The wonder of Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake has to be experienced in person. When you climb up and wait for sunset, you will see another indescribable sunset beauty.

The scenic area is in the city of Dunhuang, and the bus goes directly to it. The whole scenic area is not big, and half a day is enough. If you are in a hurry, you can complete the Mogao Grottoes and Mingsha Mountain in one day, but Evan does not recommend such a rush, in case you linger on the exquisite murals or the continuous desert. The desert in the scenic area is not large, and its characteristic is that it is nestled with the Crescent Lake Oasis in the center of the scenic area, complementing each other. There are also entertainment projects such as camel riding and desert off-road vehicles, of course, these are standard features of various desert scenic spots. As for the scenery, babies, please look at the pictures.

The first time I entered the desert, I felt both novel and exciting. The golden sand peaks were like golden waves in the sea, majestic and surging. Camels walked slowly, with the camel bells ringing. It was like traveling back to the ancient Silk Road. Especially the clear spring in the desert, which added a bit of artistic conception.

Dunhuang's most classic scenic spots, climbing sand hills, sandboarding, and camel riding are three must-try things. We experienced two of them, and my wife was not very brave to sandboard. It was my first time riding a camel in my life. I liked the cute and silly look of the camel. The camel I rode was very naughty. It always pushed my wife who was riding in front and smelled her legs... The camel driver would charge a 20 yuan tip per person and stop about 2 times to help take pictures. The whole ride took about an hour. Climbing the sand hill was still very tiring. Many children ran around on the sand. At the beginning, we were very careful to prevent sand from getting into our shoes. When we went down the mountain, we took off our shoes and played with them. As a result, we brought the sand back home. Many people watch Crescent Lake on Mingsha Mountain, but there is nothing good to see at sunset because the mountain opposite will block it.

The empty desert has a unique beauty.

Singing sand is also called ringing sand, whistle sand or musical sand. It is a peculiar but ubiquitous phenomenon in the world.

The sand is particularly fine and soft. Looking at the endless desert makes people feel relaxed physically and mentally, and the tense and tired body also becomes relaxed.

This is a good place to relax and travel.

The first time I saw the desert, I was still very excited. It was very hot. When I entered the scenic area, they asked me to rent the anti-sand foot covers. I thought I was wearing white shoes and didn’t want sand to get into my shoes, so I rented one. Later, after I entered the desert, I felt that there was no need to waste the 15 yuan, because in many places, if you walk carefully, there will be no sand in your shoes. There is a small ladder in the Shasha where you climb the mountain. If you walk on the ladder, basically, sand will not run into your shoes. Of course, if you want to walk around in the sand more happily, you can still rent an anti-sand shoe cover. During that time, I was watching Wu Lei’s Sand Sea. At that time, I ran to the top of the mountain, wearing sunglasses and a scarf. Putting on headphones and listening to the ending song of Modern Brothers’ Shanghai, that feeling was really super good. Although the sun was very strong and hot, I didn’t feel hot at all. Then there is a sand sliding project, which seems to cost 30 yuan per person, or 20 yuan per person per time. I personally think it is unnecessary because there is nothing special, and the height is not high, and the slope is not very steep. I sat there for about half an hour, listening to some music related to Dunhuang Hexi Corridor and desert. At that time, I also took off a piece of spiritual sand given to me by a monk in Thailand, that is, the white rope, and buried it in the sand very solemnly. I don’t know if it will be picked up by someone with a predestined relationship.

The scenery of the desert, you can ride a camel here, I rode a camel in Shapotou so I didn't go, there is also sand sliding, but I feel that there are too many people, it's not fun, and the activities are not as rich as Shapotou

For southerners who are used to seeing green mountains and clear waters, it is still quite shocking. You must go when it is windless and sunny. I say it three times. My friend and I went at sunset. The wind was so strong that we couldn't open our eyes.

When I saw the Mingsha Mountain for the first time, I suddenly felt that I was in Dunhuang. Riding a camel was great and the price was acceptable. Climbing the sand mountain was really a life-threatening thing. I took one step forward and three steps back. I finally climbed to the top, but the sun had already set.

How can you go to Dunhuang without visiting Mingsha Mountain? The endless desert and the Crescent Lake in the desert that has never dried up for thousands of years are both very unique attractions! ! I went there at the end of April, and the tickets were cheaper in the off-season, only 50 yuan! ! You can enter and exit freely for 3 days after buying a ticket, so I chose to live near Mingsha Mountain! ! The attractions there include camel riding, sand sliding, and desert motorcycles. There is also a rope ladder for you to go up and see the scenery of the entire desert. I didn't choose the peak season when I went there, so there were not many people, but the temperature difference between day and night was quite large. It was not very hot but it was very sunny and dry, so you must keep warm and sunscreen.

Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake are in the same place. It is usually recommended to enter the park at 7 o'clock to watch the sunset, which is very beautiful!

Today (May 19th) happens to be China Tourism Day, and tickets are free!

Camel bells sound, time passes slowly, tents are dotted around, come to the private desert camp and enjoy this moment of tranquility.

You don’t actually have to ride a camel. The scenic area is very large and you need to arrange enough time. It is also a good place to watch the sunset and sunrise.

There are still many things to do in Mingsha Mountain, and the scenic area is still very standardized. However, the details need to be improved, especially the garbage on the top of the sand pile needs to be cleaned up in time.

It's just tiring, haha, it's fun, I want to ride a camel