Desert Romance: Camel Riding at Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake to Watch the Sunset, the Ultimate Romantic Experience Exclusive to Dunhuang

This desert oasis, with yellow sand on the left and the crescent lake on the right, truly deserves the title "The Best Scenery Beyond the Great Wall"!

🌟 Best Time to Experience

🌅 Early morning 5-8 AM (fewer people and no hot sand! Perfect for sunrise) 🌇 Evening 6-9 PM (golden sand dunes + stunning sunset)
🌌 Night after 10 PM (Milky Way visible to the naked eye, best in July-August)

🎫 Tickets & Transportation
💰 Ticket: 110 RMB (valid for 3 days!)
🚗 Transportation:
▫️ 15-minute taxi ride from Dunhuang city center (about 20 RMB)
▫️ Bus line 3 goes directly to the scenic area entrance
🐫 Must-try activities:
• Camel riding 100 RMB/person (40 minutes full route)
• Sandboarding 20 RMB/time
• Desert off-road vehicle 150 RMB/person

📸 Five Best Photo Spots

1️⃣ Front of Crescent Lake Pavilion (symmetrical reflection in the water)
2️⃣ Top of the sand dune (requires climbing wooden ladder, reserve spot 1 hour before sunset)
3️⃣ Camel caravan S-curve (background of rolling sand dunes)
4️⃣ By the reed cluster (great with Hanfu for photos)
5️⃣ Starry sky camp (shoot Milky Way arch at 2 AM)

🏕️ Accommodation Recommendations

⛺ Desert camping: includes bonfire party + stargazing lecture (around 300 RMB per person)
🏨 Hotel at scenic area entrance: Sinopec Sunshine International (5-minute walk)
💎 Luxury wild tents: Dunhuang Mountain Villa (Arabian style)

🎀 Special Experiences

✅ Flying fairy photoshoot (rent costumes outside the scenic area for 100 RMB/set)
✅ Sand bottle DIY (fill with five-colored sand as a souvenir)
✅ Desert post office (send postcards to your future self)
✅ Camel bell experience (record your exclusive desert BGM)

🍢 Food Highlights

🍈 Li Guang apricot (limited to June-July, super sweet!)
🍵 Apricot peel water (Dunhuang version of sour plum drink, perfect for cooling down)
🍢 Red willow grilled meat (amazing with naan bread)
🍜 Donkey meat yellow noodles (local favorite breakfast)

💡 Hard-earned Tips

☑️ Must bring: face towel + sunglasses + sandproof phone case
☑️ Outfit: red/white long dresses are most photogenic
☑️ Avoid traps: don’t buy "free camel ride" packages outside the scenic area
☑️ Hidden perk: no queue if entering before 7 AM

🕒 2 Days 1 Night Itinerary

Day 1: Camel riding → Climb Mingsha Mountain → Crescent Lake sunset → Starry sky camping
Day 2: Sunrise photography → Flying fairy photoshoot → Dunhuang Museum