GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT DUNHUANG
Throughout Dunhuang’s history of over two thousand years, it has always served as a critical gateway leading to the west due to its unique geographical location at the juncture of Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang.
Dunhuang was first established as a prefecture,it was a commercial bub on the road from Chang’an, the capital of the Han Dynasty, to the west and the center of the traffic network between the north and the south entering central China.
The Han royal princes such as Xi Jun and Jia You who were married off to Xiongnu kings regarded Dunhuang as home.
It was also the gate of protocol to meet the kings from western states,calling on the Han emperor.It was also home to officials who were sent to the west in exile.
In 400, Border defence official Li Gao established a political power called Xiliang in Dunhuang. He expanded his territory and attached great importance to agriculture and education.Great numbers of scholars and artists came from central China.
They showed outstanding achievements in classical studies and arts. Dunhuang was the first place that came to know Indian Buddhism whose teachings and tenets served as a tranquilizer to the people who were tired of long wars and social disturbances.
Buddhism became a prevailing religion in Dunhuang for more than a thousand years. Mogao Grottoes When our “King of the Desert” entered the city proper of Dunhuang in the evening, we looked at the southeast and saw clouds rising from the Sanwei Mountain and heard strains of ancient music.
The Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Dunhuang Grottoes or the “Thousand Buddha Grottoes”, is located on the western cliffs of the Singing Sands Mountains. Being one of the four most well-known grottoes, it is one of the most complete collections of Buddhist frescoes and sculpture from a period ranging over ten dynasties.
PLACES TO VISIT IN DUNHUANG
Crescent Moon Spring/Singing Sand Mountains Mogao Grottoes The Ancient City of Dunhuang
Western Thousand-Buddha Caves
Singing Sand Dunes
White Horse Pagoda Yang Pass Yumen Pass
DUNHUANG LOCAL CUISINES
Dunhuang food revolves around wheat flour noodles as the main staple of the local diet. Noodles are served with lamb, chicken, or beef. On the other hand, Dunhuang Rang Pizi has long been one of the most popular dishes in the city. These noodles are actually made from pea flour and are clear, white, cool and slippery . The noodles are seasoned with hot peppers for a cool, yet spicy feel that is just perfect for desert weather (as least that’s what the locals would say!).
Shazhou Night Market is one of the best places in Dunhuang to try authentic Dunhuang specialties. Virtually all of the very best of Dunhuang’s northwestern cuisine can be found here: Saozi Noodle, stuffed bread and even mutton kebabs. In addition, you will also have opportunity to sample Huanghe sweet melons, grapes and Hami melons.
DUNHUANG SHOPPING – LOCAL SPECIALITY
TRANSPORTATION OF DUNHUANG
To travel to Dunhuang, you can fly from Beijing, Lanzhou (Gansu), and Urumqi (Xinjiang), or you can take a train from Urumqi or Lanzhou to Liuyuan and then take a bus to Dunhuang. Liuyuan is 130km from Dunhuang.
By plane:
Dunhuang Airport is 13km east of the city. It has direct flights from Lanzhou, Xi’an, Beijing, Urumqi and other cities, although there are not many flights each week. Buses from the CAAC offices (09473-22389) on Dong Dajie near the Dunhuang Hotel.
By train:
Dunhuang City does not have a railway station. It relies on the Liuyuan Train Station 130km to the north for its rail traffic, all that is required is catching a bus from Liuyuan to Dunhuang. Daily, 16 trains stop at the Liuyuan Station and connect Liuyuan (and Dunhuang) with Shanghai, Beijing West Station, Xi’an, Chengdu, Lanzhou, Urumqi and many other destinations can be reached from Liuyuan.
By road:
Buses to and from Lanzhou, Xi’an, Hami, Turpan, Urumqi and other cities can be taken in Dunhuang. The bus station is on Dingzi Lu in central south Dunhuang.
City transport:
Minibuses run along fixed routes throughout Dunhuang. Taxis are also quite available and convenient. If you’d like to rent or hire vehicles for traveling around the area, then ask at your hotel or a local travel agency for options.
CLIMATE IN DUNHUANG
The best time to visit Dunhuang and the ancient Silk Road is from May through October.
In the depths of Inland China, Dunhuang has a very dry climate. It has three special characteristics. The first is lots of direct sunshine. The second is little rainfall. The annual average rainfall here is only 39.9 mm. The rainfall in summer is 63.9 percent of annual rainfall while winter rainfall is only 7.5 percent. Therefore, evaporation can be a problem in this climate. The third is the climate’s four distinct seasons. Winter and summer have huge temperature differences (annual temperature difference reaches 34 degrees). Lastly, sand storms can be a problem in the Dunhuang , with the wind sometimes reaching speeds of 3m/sec.
Dunhuang Weather
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average High
Temperature (Celsius) -1.7 4.3 13.3 21.1 26.7 31.0 32.8 32.0 26.5 18.8 8.1 0.2
Average Low
Temperature (Celsius) -15.6 -11.3 -3.4 3.9 9.3 13.5 16.1 14.8 8.2 0.4 -6.0 -12.9
