The Mingsha Desert has become a fun recreational site to enjoy many desert activities such as camel riding, ATV driving, helicopter riding, sand sliding, and more. It’s also a photographer’s paraside for desert photos. It’s popular to dress up for the famous Dunhuang “Feitian” or flying asparus which are depicted in the Mogao caves. You’ll see photographers up early at sunrise or at sunset snapping pics!

I recommend 1 full day, or going for 2 half days. It gets really hot during the day, so I went for the later afternoon and evening one night, then the next morning.

1. Mingsha Mountain
2. Crescent Lake Temple
3. Desert Activities
   1. Camel Riding
      1. Camel Traffic Lights
   2. ATV (Four-wheeling)
   3. Helicopter
   4. Take Desert Photos

Mingsha Mountain

You can hike up Mingsha Mountain to get a view overlooking the Crescent Spring from above. The hike can be tiring, especially on the steeper dunes, so make sure to wear appropriate footwear and bring water!

Crescent Lake Temple

The temple near Crescent Lake in Dunhuang is commonly referred to as the Crescent Lake Temple or Yueyaquan Temple. This Buddhist temple is situated in close proximity to the Crescent Lake and Mingsha Mountain, adding a spiritual and cultural dimension to the scenic desert landscape. The temple has historical significance and is believed to have been established during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD).

Desert Activities

Camel Riding

Camel Traffic Lights

Have you ever seen a Camel Traffic Light? Here in Dunhuang you will! Since the camels will cross through some pedestrian areas, they have created these lights to help pedestrians know when to cross.

ATV (Four-wheeling)

For those seeking a more exhilarating experience, ATVs (All-Terrain Vehicles) provide an adrenaline rush as they navigate the sandy terrain. You will be accompanied by one of their staff, who will give you a (quick) tutorial on driving the vehicle before letting you take the reins! On the way back he will drive for you, which is when I used my Insta 360 to take some photos and videos.

Helicopter

A helicopter ride offers a breathtaking aerial perspective of the expansive desert and the Crescent Lake below. It cost me 600 RMB for this ride (about 5 minutes – it is quick, but it was such a unique experience to me that I felt it was worth it!)

Take Desert Photos

And of course, another great activity is to just take photos around the sand dunes! Dunhuang is a popular place for photographers and visitors who want some cool desert shots.

They were created by Buddhist monks as places of worship and meditation, showcasing a remarkable fusion of Chinese and Central Asian artistic styles. The caves house a vast collection of sculptures, paintings, and manuscripts, providing valuable insights into the history and development of Buddhism.

Here’s some photos from my trip to the caves; there are hundreds of them here! When you visit you will be placed with a group and a tour guide – it’s not possible to just wander around here on your own. The guides will show you into the caves, and unlocked different ones for your group.

They are very protective of the caves, and no photos or videos are actually allowed inside the cave either. You can see digital scans online, but it’s best to come visit the site and see it for yourself!

I also learned about American Irene Vincent. In the summer of 1948, she went on her own pilgrimage to the caves of Dunhuang, which she wrote about:

‘In his secret heart almost everyone carries the name of some place on earth which he hopes to see before he dies… In 1939 I had chosen mine — the Thousand Buddha Caves of Tun Huang. The summer school of the University of Michigan offered that year an excellent course in Chinese art. I had spent three months at this heady banquet … After this hastily devoured—almost indigestible—feast, the memory of the Thousand Buddha Caves had remained to haunt and tantalize me. I never really expected to see them with my own eyes, however. The only westerners who had this good fortune seemed to be eminent scholars, under the wing of important organizations, who spent weeks travelling there in horse-carts, sacks of bullion concealed in their luggage.’

Extract from Irene Vongehr Vincent, The Sacred Oasis: Caves of the Thousand Buddhas Tun Huang. London: Faber and Faber 1953: 43. Reproduced by courtesy of Bronwen Vincent.

It was a remarkable place to visit, and so cool to imagine what it must’ve been like for Irene Vincent to visit in the late 1940s.

Have you heard of the Mogao Caves? Is it on your China Bucket List?

It’s the perfect place to go after a full day of desert activities in Dunhuang. In fact, the city has made it really easy to get here and encourages visitors to spend their evening here! There are shuttle buses from Mingsha Mountain that will take visitors directly here after it closes. It really becomes lively after 8pm, and stays open into the wee hours of the morning.

I visited the Shazhou Night Market twice during my stay in Dunhuang, and had a great time exploring the area. Enjoy these photos of my walks around the Shazhou Night Market!