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"I've heard a lot about a land that, despite its sunny and windy weather, holds immense cultural and historical value. And that is Gansu." As someone passionate about learning about the Silk Road, travel blogger Nguyen Quoc Thai has always dreamed of having the opportunity to visit Gansu (China) to see and touch the remnants of one of the most important trade routes of the past.
With many famous landmarks such as Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, and the first section of the Great Wall of China, Gansu was one of the destinations that Quoc Thai set out to visit. After three years of the pandemic, as things gradually stabilized, he was finally able to fulfill his long-held dream of visiting Gansu.
As someone fascinated by the Silk Road, Quoc Thai had the opportunity to visit Gansu province.
Some destinations in Gansu
Mogao Caves
"The Mogao Caves are one of Dunhuang's most famous attractions, and no tour group should miss them. At first, I thought it would be the most boring place because I had no concept of visiting Buddhist caves. But I was wrong; the Mogao Caves are more worthwhile than I imagined," Mr. Thai shared.
Architecture at the Mogao Caves
The Mogao Caves are a system of 492 temples located in Donghuang, Gansu, China, about 25 km southeast of the city center. Known as the Thousand Buddha Caves or Dunhuang, this is not a collection of actual caves, but rather a unique collection of rock carvings.
This place houses the world's largest and only perfectly preserved collection of Buddhist art. The Mogao Caves are globally renowned for their sculptures and murals depicting Buddhist art, reflecting the artistic traditions of thousands of years.
"Most historical sites and scenic spots in Gansu require tickets. The entrance fee to Mogao Caves is 268 yuan (approximately 886,000 VND), which includes 180 yuan for the eight cave entrance and 68 yuan for two films: a historical film and a 360-degree film about the caves in the Mogao Caves system. However, the 110 yuan tickets sell out quickly, and are not specifically for foreigners," he added.
Currently, only about 80 caves are open to visitors, while the rest are under maintenance. The number of caves and the number of caves that are open will vary depending on the site management board.
The Mogao Caves have long been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site because each cave contains numerous murals and Buddhist statues that have been preserved for thousands of years.
A corner of the Mogao Caves – home to the world's largest and only perfectly preserved collection of Buddhist art.
Minh Sa Son - Nguyet Nha Tuyen
According to Quoc Thai, these two places are actually in the same area. However, because the area is very large, it is called by two names: Minh Sa Son and Nguyet Nha Tuyen. Nguyet Nha Tuyen is a natural crescent-shaped lake surrounded by the Gobi Desert. This part of the desert makes a sound when the wind blows, hence the name Minh Sa Son.
If you visit in the summer, you'll see crowds of tourists from all over. The Mingsha Mountain area offers a variety of activities, from sandboarding and desert helicopter tours to paragliding and camel riding.
Images of camel riding at Mingsha Mountain.
"Visitors should come here in the afternoon instead of the morning. Around 5 to 6 pm is ideal, as the weather is less hot then, and you can watch the sunset and take photos of Crescent Moon Spring at night when the lights come on. To see a beautiful sunset, you have to climb the sand dunes for about 30 minutes, which is quite tiring. You can use a weather app to time your climb to coincide with sunset. Because everyone is climbing the sand dunes to watch, you might have to wait for the person in front of you to catch up before you can go. However, the sunset is truly spectacular and not to be missed. I'm absolutely captivated by the sunset in Dunhuang," said Mr. Thai.
The sun sets at 10 PM at Crescent Moon Spring.
Move
There are now many ways to get to Dunhuang. Previously, before high-speed trains existed, the journey took dozens of hours. Now, travel is much easier; tourists can take high-speed trains to Dunhuang from Xi'an, Xining, or Lanzhou. The journey takes 6-8 hours, but it's much better than a regular train which takes 13-14 hours. Flight and train tickets can be purchased on Trip and paid for with Visa/Mastercard.
Accommodation, food, and weather information.
Summer in Gansu is always a vibrant tourist season, attracting a large number of visitors from all over. The area is known for its diverse range of accommodation options; however, due to the peak tourist season, booking at least a month in advance is essential to avoid the situation of rooms being fully booked.
Although morning temperatures remain quite pleasant, from noon to afternoon, temperatures rise sharply to 39-40 degrees Celsius. Tourists should remember to bring sunscreen, long-sleeved shirts, jackets, sunglasses, and hats to protect their health and avoid heatstroke.
Gansu's nightlife is quite vibrant.
Moon Crescent Spring lights up at night.
Life in Gansu is quite slow-paced; the day truly begins around 9 or 10 a.m. and ends at 1 a.m. when it gets really dark. Nightlife in Gansu and Dunhuang is vibrant, with restaurants and eateries often open until 2 a.m. Tourists can enjoy local specialties and experience the nightlife. Speaking to Travellive, Mr. Thai added: "People here wake up late and go to bed late. Nightlife really starts at 10 p.m., so eating a late-night meal here is considered like having dinner."
The people of Dunhuang, like those in other cities, are approachable and very hospitable, readily offering guests a refreshing glass of peach juice – a Dunhuang specialty – even if they don't know them. In Gansu, tourists shouldn't miss dishes like hand-pulled yellow noodles served with donkey meat, the famous Lanzhou beef noodles, or a whole plate of steamed chicken – all are delicious.
The land where "the sun never sleeps"
In a conversation with Travellive, Quoc Thai mentioned Dunhuang many times, and it was also the place he was most impressed with on this trip. "I had previously read a lot about an oasis in the middle of the desert, where thousands of merchant caravans passed through and stopped every day. The beauty of Dunhuang was described as a fairyland in the arid desert with Ming Sha Mountain, Crescent Moon Spring – a natural lake that has existed for a long time but is hidden beneath the sand dunes of the Gobi Desert. Or even the Mogao Caves, a witness to the flourishing and decline of Dunhuang-style Buddhism in particular and the reputation of this region in general."
Tourists often dress up as Dunhuang Flying Angels for photos here.
Dunhuang's beauty is described as a fairyland in the middle of a barren desert.
At Dunhuang - Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring, he experienced what it means for the "sun never sleeps" as he watched the sunset over the Gobi Desert, where the sun didn't set until 10:30 PM. He will also never forget the amazement of seeing firsthand the images, patterns, and motifs of the Apsara fairies flying over the Mogao Caves, a site with a history spanning nearly a thousand years. Even more special was the sight of the seven-colored rainbow mountains shimmering in the early morning sunlight – one of the few places in the world where this unique landscape can be witnessed. Every experience there was surreal and unforgettable for him.
Here are some impressive photos from the trip:
Jiayuguan is a city gate located at the westernmost end of the Great Wall of China during the Ming Dynasty.
Jiayuguan - one of the main passes of the Great Wall of China.
Thất Thái Đan Hà platform 1
Thất Thái Đan Hà platform 4 - also the place where the seven colors are most clearly visible and beautiful.
Here are some tips for traveling to Gansu:
1. Summer temperatures are very high, while winter is very cold, so it's necessary to research carefully to prepare warm clothing, sunscreen, and long-sleeved jackets. In summer, the sun sets very late, around 10 PM, so daytime hours are longer than nighttime hours.
2. Almost no one in Gansu speaks English, but you can use translation software to communicate with them.
3. It's best to depart for destinations early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid heat shock. For beautiful, uncrowded photos, you should go in the summer.
4. You can use Alipay or cash. Avoid using very large denominations of cash as you may not have enough change.
5. Fruits in Dunhuang in particular and Gansu in general are quite delicious and sweet, especially grapes, cantaloupe, and watermelon, which are specialties of the region. You can buy dried nuts, dried peaches, raisins, and dried apples as souvenirs.
