Gansu - Dunhuang Hiking Tours

Dunhuang01 : Hiking to Yardang National Geopark

There is a Ghost City, also known as Yardang National Geopark or Yardang National Geological Park, in the vast desert along the world's oldest cross-border trade route, the Silk Road. It boasts the largest Yardang landform discovered to date. Since its mysterious veil was uncovered, it has attracted numerous tourists from all around the world.

The geopark is in the northwest of Dunhuang, Gansu Province, and borders Lop Nur Lake in the west. Located at the intersection of Gansu and Xinjiang, it is about 100 miles (160 kilometers) from downtown. This area was once at the bottom of the sea and was then raised to the current level, exposed to wind erosion. Covering an area of about 130 square miles (337 square kilometers), the peculiar surrounding sand hills look like deserted castles, injecting a sense of mystery to this area, and that's why people call it Ghost City. Two other sites worth visiting along the way to the geopark are Yangguan Pass and Yumenguan Pass.

The easiest way to get around is to hire a car or taxi, but please remember to agree to a price first. CNY 300 to 400 for a day is acceptable. You can also ask for help with bargaining and obtaining a taxi from your hotel or local travel agencies. Road conditions there are generally fine, except for a short stretch near Yumenguan which is unpaved.

It is about one hour's drive from the city center to Yumenguan Pass, where you can see sites of the Great Wall built during the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD). If you wish to take in the sunrise over the ruins, then make sure you leave early in the morning. About two thousand years ago, Yumenguan Pass was one of two critical defense positions protecting the state from western invasion. At that time, anyone walking along the Silk Road in and out of the central plain had to pass this fortress. You have to pay a road toll when getting through this area, which also serves as the entrance fee to Yumenguan Pass and two nearby sites: the discontinuous and dilapidated Han Great Wall ramparts and Hecang Fortress, an old munitions storage site. You may like to spend a little time here wandering around and taking pictures. However, the highlight of today's hiking tour is the next stop: Yardang National Geopark.

After about another hour's drive, you will arrive at Yardang National Geopark, whose entrance fee is CNY 50. The park is too large for visitors to complete the trip on foot. There are sightseeing buses taking you around and the ticket price is CNY 70. The Ghost City is divided into southern and northern districts and both are genuinely breathtaking. Isolated sand hills are scattered randomly in different shapes among the vast desert, ranging from 13-16 feet (4-5 meters), to more than 70 feet (21 meters) in height, and from dozens of meters to hundreds of meters in length and width. Some resemble ivory towers, while others look like hay stacks. You will also find 'city walls', 'streets', 'multi-storied buildings', 'squares', and 'sculptures' inside the park. Many famous buildings of the world can find their silhouettes here, such as the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, the Potala Palace in Tibet, the Arab Mosque and the pyramids in Egypt. Many tourists say that being in the geopark is almost like visiting a magnificent museum of architecture. If there is still time left, you may choose to rent a 4WD jeep to explore the area further. Make sure you prepare enough water and snacks for this stretch of the trip, as there is only one small restaurant and the food is notoriously expensive. 

The next stop is Yangguan Pass, also known as the Southern Pass, originally built by Han Emperor Wu (156 – 87 BC) as the other most important pass besides the Yumenguan Pass.

Then, after a journey of nearly two hours, head back to Dunhuang in the evening.

Dunhuang 02: Dunhuang - Mogao Caves - Crescent Lake - Western Thousand Buddha Caves - Yangguan Pass - Yumenguan Pass

First, you will spend one day visiting the Mogao Caves and the Crescent Lake. The Mogao Caves is about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southeast of Dunhuang City, extending 1,900 yards (1,737 meters) along the cliff. Rich in Buddhist murals and painted clay sculptures, it is the largest place in the world to take in Buddhist art. After visiting the caves, you can hike the Crescent Lake, which looks like a blue new moon embedded in the desert. There are minibuses at Dunhuang Railway Station taking you to the two scenic areas. Or you can hire a taxi for a fare of around CNY 40. During the drive, you will pass by Leiyin Temple, the largest and most important place in Dunhuang to hold Buddhist activities. After you finish the first day's tour, we suggest you go back downtown and stay one night there.

The next day, we suggest you charter a minibus to go along this hiking route: Western Thousand Buddha Caves - Yangguan Pass - Yumenguan Pass, for a fee of about CNY 150. The Western Thousand Buddha Caves, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the city proper, show grottos with murals and sculptures. Although not very large, it has stayed there for over 1,000 years, even longer than the Mogao Caves. 20 miles west is the remains of the Yangguan Pass, a vital stop along the Silk Road, while the Yumenguan Pass is the other access to the western regions of China.

Dunhuang03 : Dunhuang - Lop Nor

Dunhuang is close to the eastern edge of Lop Nor Lake. It is never easy to trek across the Lop Nor area, as you will need to trek through a vast desert. Camels, antelopes, wild rabbits, and foxes can often be seen. You will pass by many attractions, like the Great Wall remains from the Han Dynasty, Yumenguan Pass, Sanlongsha Yardang Landform, and the Wild Camel Valley.

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