The most brilliant civilization island on the Silk Road

Dunhuang: The western end of the Hexi Corridor, the pinnacle of Chinese grotto art, a World Cultural Heritage site, and a jewel of the Silk Road. Here you will find: 735 caves｜45,000 square meters of murals｜over 2,000 colored sculptures｜Mingsha Mountain, Crescent Spring, Yangguan & Yumenguan ruins｜Yadan Devil City. More importantly—every frame looks like a National Geographic cover｜every step is a visual explosion.
Theme positioning: In Dunhuang, I dreamed of the painter finishing the last stroke on the wall. Suitable content directions: cultural travel / emotional vlog / Chinese aesthetic / photography spree / soul awakening---
Budget overview (per person, total: ¥2980) | Item | Cost (¥) | Round-trip transportation | 1200 | Plane/High-speed train to Dunhuang (peak season tickets ¥800–1200) || Accommodation | 600 | Boutique homestay near Shazhou Night Market ¥200/night × 3 nights || Transportation | 600 | One-day chartered car tour (Mogao Caves + West Line: Yangguan, Yumenguan, Yadan) ¥500 + city taxi ¥100 || Tickets & experiences | 580 | Mogao Caves Class A ticket ¥238 + Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring ¥110 + Yadan ¥50 + camel ride ¥100 (negotiable) || Food & drink | 300 | Donkey meat yellow noodles, apricot peel water, niangpi, night market barbecue || Filming & props | 500 | Rent flying dance dress ¥100 + tripod ¥80 + spare batteries ¥60 + sandproof cover ¥100 + fill light ¥160 || Total | 2980 | Can be compressed to ¥2200 |> If budget allows (¥5000+), you can upgrade to Mogao Caves special cave reservation (¥500+, access to unopened caves) > Join the "See Dunhuang Again" live performance (¥298) > Stay at Biyuexuan/Dunhuang Mountain Villa design hotel (¥800+/night)
📅 Itinerary
️ Day 1: Arrive in Dunhuang → Shazhou Night Market → Mingsha Mountain sunset - Arrive in the afternoon, check in to a homestay near Shazhou Night Market - Head to Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring before dusk to shoot “desert sunset + camel silhouettes” - Evening stroll at Shazhou Night Market, shoot “thousand-year-old market life”
️ Day 2: In-depth visit to Mogao Caves → Digital Center → Night star photography - Morning: Mogao Caves (Class A ticket includes 8 caves + digital film) - Afternoon: Digital Exhibition Center, shoot “mural restoration process” - Night: Return to the outskirts of Mingsha Mountain, shoot “Milky Way crossing the desert” ---
Day 3: West Line trek → Yangguan + Yumenguan + Yadan Devil City - Morning: Yangguan ruins, shoot “No old friends west of Yangguan” stele + desert smoke - Noon: Yumenguan, shoot “Spring breeze does not pass Yumenguan” + Han Great Wall ruins - Evening: Yadan Devil City, shoot “fleet sailing out” + wind-eroded wonders at sunset
Full-day content route (Deepseek exclusive optimization) | Time | Action | Content focus | Shooting suggestions
Day 1 evening | Mingsha Mountain sunset | Camel caravan + Crescent Spring reflection | Wide-angle low-angle shot of the “Eye of the Desert” ||
Day 2 morning | Mogao Caves | Flying apsaras, nine-colored deer, rebound pipa | Use guide’s fill light, no flash allowed ||
Day 2 night | Desert starry sky | Milky Way + sand dune silhouettes | Time-lapse photography, F2.8 ISO3200 25s ||
Day 3 evening | Yadan sunset | “Fleet sailing out” spectacle | Drone aerial photography (beware of wind and sand)
Five must-shoot spots | Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring sunset | Backlit camel silhouettes + spring reflection | “This crescent moon has guarded for 1,000 years” ||
Mogao Cave 257 nine-colored deer | Side light to capture mural details | “It stepped out of the mural just to save you” ||
Cave 45 Bodhisattva smile | Macro shot of eyes and lips | “She looked at you once, and your heart calmed” ||
Yangguan beacon tower distant view | Wide-angle shot of desert smoke | “West of Yangguan, no old friends remain” ||
Yadan ‘Fleet sailing out’ | Sunset drone shot of rock formations | “This is the place on Earth that looks most like Mars”
Special shooting tips: - Wear a white long dress/flying dance costume: very photogenic in the desert - Use a polarizing filter + sandproof cover
Food experience: Donkey meat yellow noodles (¥25): Dunhuang specialty, chewy and refreshing - Apricot peel water (¥10): sweet and sour, ancient thirst quencher - Niangpi + lamb skewers (¥30)
1. Best seasons: - April to June / September to October: pleasant climate, less sand - Avoid July to August: high temperatures + tourist crowds
2. Transportation tips: - Mogao Caves are 25 km from the city, tickets must be booked in advance - For West Line, it’s recommended to hire a local driver familiar with the roads - Can combine with Jiayuguan and Zhangye Danxia tours.