Dunhuang Travel Guide

Introduction of Dunhuang              What to see in Dunhuang                Environment of Dunhuang

Introduction of Dunhuang

Dunhuang is a famous tourist city, whose landmark is an attractive statue called "Playing Pipa (a Chinese musical instrument) in a Reverse Direction", the idea of which comes from the mural in Mogao Caves or Mogao Grottoes, a shrine to the culture and arts of Dunhuang.

In ancient times, Dunhuang was the center of trade between China and its western neighbors. At that time, it was the most westerly frontier military garrison in China. With the flourishing of trade along the Silk Road, Dunhuang was prompted to become the most open area in international trade in Chinese history. It provided the only access westward for the Chinese Empire and eastward for western nationalities. Today, as a reminder of this historical area, we are left with the Mogao Caves Yangguan Pass Yumenguan Pass and many wonderful Chinese poems depicting the time. Although what remains of the two Passes are crumbling walls, one can still experience the atmosphere of that time while visiting in person.

Today, Dunhuang is a typical tourist city, clean and beautiful. Because of its splendid stone caves, tourism has become an indispensable industry to Dunhuang City. Surrounding establishments include various classes of hotels and restaurants for your choosing. As well, tourism personnel are knowledgeable and well trained these days. For a western city in China, it has become more accesible for people to come and go as they please. Transportation is much more efficient, ensuring that your wonderful trip runs smoothly. May to September is the best time to visit, so be sure to plan your trip during these months. Including Dunhuang City in your tour is an ideal decision and you won't regret! Dunhuang City, an obvious pearl on the Silk Road, opens her arms to welcome tourists from all over the world.

What to see in Dunhuang

This is the rare and grand scene after the nature and culture came into collision and eased into harmony and coexistence. The landscape in Northwest China is unique and distinguishing from others. It is an oasis of desert and pearl of nature. Come and feel surprised in wind and breath.

【Dunhuang Attractions】

【Dunhuang Murals】

【Dunhuang Study or Dunhuangology】

 
In 1900, a Taoist whose family name was Wang (historically he was called Taoist Wang), employed some staff to help him with cleaning the collected sand of the 16th aisle and accidentally found the Cangjingdong or Sutra-Collection Cave(today it is the 17th cave). But the local officials and rich men could not understand its unprecedented value, and the corrupted government of Qing Dynasty was unable to give the reasonable protection. As a result, a large batch of the rare sutras and cultural relics as well as many treasured records were stolen and robbed by so-called foreign expedition (currently, a large number of Dunhuang collection is still distributed overseas). The rest was taken to Beijing and collected in Imperial Library. During these foreigners’ plundering, the murals, statues and collection were largely destroyed. During the time from 1914 to 1915, a Russian expedition arrived in Dunhuang and collected numerous records of Dunhuang and robbed many murals of the 263rd grotto. In 1921, hundreds of Russian soldiers who failed in civil war fled to Mogao Grottoes, and they daubed and carved at will on the murals, even made fire to cook in grottoes, and it brought about a lot of murals were burnt and smoked seriously. In 1924, Langdon Warner (1881-1955) of the United States once shucked out of a large area of murals and robbed a lot of colored statues. The foreign destruction and man-made hurt cause the great harm to Chinese culture. Objectively, it indirectly promoted the further research and management of west and east learners in different angles. And in 1930s, a new subject appeared, and in China, it was called Dunhuangology.

This is an unprecedented art museum of anicent China and oriental cvilization! A wonderland burying China's charm in sand and history looks like an old man who suffered lots of hardships and nightmares together with China, but it is still shining as the gem of art and sun of soul in the world. Achieving great success and eternality in hardship is its destiny and so is China! Come and feel shocked here!

Dunhuangology aroused the attentions of the academic society of the world, and they paid more attention to Dunhuang and Maogao Grottoes. Since 1930s, more and more Chinese historians, archeologists and artists went to Dunhuang for researching and promotion. Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes gradually became famous in cultural society. In 1944, Dunhuang Art Research Institute was founded to take responsibility for grottoes protection and mural research. In 1984, it was upgraded to be Dunhuang Research Academy. In 1987, Dunhuang became a county-level city and listed in the List of World Cultural Heritage. By the way, about the Dunhuang research in mainland China, Zhejiang University in Hangzhou is the best one. Currently, Dunhuang Study has been an international study, and the researchers are distributed widely in many countries.

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 Environment of Dunhuang

【Dunhuang Geography】:

Dunhuang is situated in the common boundary of Gansu Province, Qinghai Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China, with a total area of 31,200 sq. km. Dunhuang, long ago referred to as "Sha Zhou" (beautiful desert oasis, for which the sand dune and the oasis sceneries are very nice in appearance), was the hub of middle and eastern silk routes in ancient times. From Mt. Qilian in the south to Mt. Mazong in the north, and from Mt. Sanwei in the east to Taklamakan Desert in the west; the landform of Dunhuang City is a declining basin-plain from west to northeast, high in the north and south, and low in the middle. The land is very fertile and irrigated by the melted ice water from the glaciers on nearby mountains.

【Dunhuang Climate 】:

【Dunhuang Population 】:

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