[YYDS] Dunhuang, a desert art journey through the millennia

1. Two-day tour itinerary🗺️ DAY 1: Mogao Caves → Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring🏜️ DAY 2: Western Thousand Buddha Caves → Yumen Pass → Yadan National Geological Park🚌 2. Attractions🏞️ • Mogao Caves📿: The largest and most content-rich Buddhist art site in China and the world, located on the eastern slope of Mingsha Mountain, 25 km southeast of Dunhuang City. • Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring🌕: A desert wonder, composed of Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring. The sand and spring coexist in harmony, a natural wonder, known as one of the "Great Views of the Frontier". • Western Thousand Buddha Caves🌠: Part of the Dunhuang Buddhist art system, with 16 caves from the Northern Wei to the Song Dynasty. The cave shapes and mural art styles are similar to those of the Mogao Caves. • Yumen Pass🏰: An important pass on the Silk Road, built during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, known as the "First Pass of the Silk Road", with spectacular and unique natural scenery. • Dunhuang Yadan National Geological Park🏜️: A famous geological wonder on the Silk Road, formed about 700,000 years ago, known as the "Desert Wonder" and "Devil City". • Dunhuang Museum🏛️: A comprehensive museum integrating cultural relic protection, research, and display, showcasing the rich historical and cultural heritage of the Dunhuang region. • Yangguan☀️: The Yangguan in the ancient poem "Persuade you to drink another cup of wine, west of Yangguan there are no old friends", historically the boundary between the Western Regions and the Central Plains. • Han Great Wall Ruins🏰: Witness to the grandeur of China's ancient border defense system, an important historical site on the Silk Road. 3. Local specialties🍽️ Donkey Meat Yellow Noodles🍜: A famous dish in Dunhuang, the soup is made from minced mushrooms, diced donkey meat, and chunks of tofu. When the soup is poured over the chewy and firm yellow noodles, it emits a rich aroma of meat and the sweetness of mushrooms.