CHINA-DAY 10-SILK ROAD TOUR-HAMI TO DUNHUANG--SEP 2014

 

HAMI TO DUNHUANG

28 Sep 2014

It was another 5.5 hours long drive over 470km. The itinerary for  today was the Mingsa Mountains and Crescent Moon Lake with a camel ride over the desert sand.

Ahmar, our Uyghur guide speaks fluent Mandarin, normally gave short but interesting history during the long bus journey. To many tour members were also good lullaby to take a nap. But I was always awake, enjoying the unique desert vegetation.

Imagine in ancient time, the travelers with camels moving through these landscape under harsh weather condition. 

                                          

Some cultivated large farms

 

The short bus break was necessary for physiological needs and stretching. Also great opportunity for taking close-up photos of the beautiful desert flora.

Beautiful desert flora

                                          

 Lunch                                   

Mingsa Mountain and Crescent Moon Lake

These are major tourist spot for visitors to Dunhuang. Mingsa Mountain is a sand mountain range about 40km in length with average height of 100m. The main feature of this mountain is that of sand echoes during strong wind. We heard none during the trip.

                                           

Crescent Late is shaped like a crescent moon and sits in an oasis surrounded by sand dunes. The lake has never dried up and its beauty is entrancing.

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Many outdoor activities are available at this scenic park. One of which we enjoyed was camel riding.

 

We stayed in Dunhuang and visited the Dunhuang Shazhou Night Market.