I rarely use the word "shocking" to describe a travel destination until I came to Dunhuang

Dunhuang is seriously an underrated travel spot in Northwest China! In the blink of an eye, centuries have passed; in an instant, you turn around a thousand years. The desert wasteland vibe carries a high-end feel, and this city where ancient civilization collides with modern time and space makes me regret not coming sooner!
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✅3 days 2 nights itinerary plan
DAY 1: Arrive in Dunhuang - Check in at Dunhuang Gaman Wanda Hotel - Le Dong Dunhuang (Shangyuan Market) - Mingsha Mountain Concert for Thousands
DAY 2: Sons of the Earth Sculpture - Boundless - Emperor Wu of Han - Stargazing - Dunhuang Night Market
DAY 3: Silk Road Heritage City - Yellow River Stone Forest - Return trip
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Photo and check-in recommendations👇
✅ Mingsha Mountain
One ticket covers 3 days! It’s recommended to enter at 6:00 PM; there’s a concert for thousands every day with an amazing atmosphere, and sometimes there’s even a desert fireworks show. You can climb to the top the next morning to watch the sunrise! Remember to protect yourself from sun and sand.
✅ Silk Road Heritage City
Very photogenic, featuring the ancient Egyptian pyramids, ancient Greek temples, the Thousand-Hand Guanyin in the desert, Shazhou city gate, reclining Buddha, and more.
✅ Guazhou Sculpture Group
1️⃣ Boundless
Right next to Sons of the Earth, a white building complex where sunlight creates dreamy light and shadow effects. Walking inside feels like entering another world.
2️⃣ Sons of the Earth Sculpture
A giant baby sculpture lying in the desert, with skin texture and expression incredibly lifelike, like a sleeping angel, creating a strong contrast with the vast desert.
3️⃣ Emperor Wu of Han
These three sculptures are close to each other and can be visited together.
✅ Le Dong Dunhuang Performance
The best money spent in Dunhuang, an 8,000-square-meter immersive show with stunning visual impact. The performance has three zones: the first two are walking viewing areas where you can interact with actors during the show, and the third zone is seated viewing.
When the cave door opened, I began a journey through time and space. Western music youth Bai Xin, the beautiful Bodhisattva from murals, the wrathful Vajra, ancient musicians playing old tunes, flying apsaras with flowing scarves and scattering flowers, as if traveling back to the golden age of the Tang Dynasty at Mogao Caves. The eye contact between young Bai Xin and old Bai Xin, accompanied by touching music, brought tears to my eyes😭
After the show, the wind-driven caisson ceiling and the lamp wheel at the market perfectly replicate the magical scenes from Mogao Cave murals, and you can also taste special snacks along the Silk Road.
✅ Yellow River Stone Forest
A seriously underrated attraction in Northwest China. We decided to visit it spontaneously on the train ride from Dunhuang to Yinchuan. It’s said to be almost submerged and disappearing soon. The scenery here is so stunning it feels like you’re on another planet! We rented an electric cart to explore and took many amazing photos!
✅ Dunhuang Gaman Wanda Hotel
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