Echoing Sand Mountain, also called Mingshashan 鸣沙山 in Chinese, located on the Silk Road, is one of the top eight attractions in Dunhuang and one of the Four Great Singing Sands of China. It is said that the current site where Echoing Sand Mountain locates was once a fertile oasis in the ancient time. When there is the wild wind, the sands will be blown up and loud sound, hence the name.
Like its name indicates, the Crescent Spring Lake is in a natural shape of a half-moon and was commonly considered one of the top eight attractions in Dunhuang together with the Echoing Sand Mountain early in Western Han Dynasty.
Although water and fire have always been incompatible, Crescent Spring is peacefully situated among this sandy mountain. Crescent Spring is located at the foot of Mingsha Mountain, surrounded by sand dunes. Due to its terrain, when the wind blows, the sand does not flow down the mountain, but up the mountain. Therefore, Crescent Spring is never buried by sand and is known as the "Eye of the Desert".
The mountain of Mingsha Mountain is formed by the accumulation of quicksand, and from a distance, the sand dunes rise and fall, creating a magnificent sight. It is recommended to arrange the sightseeing in the afternoon, which can not only avoid the scorching heat in the desert at noon, but also climb to the top of the mountain to admire the distant sand sea and the crescent spring below, and watch the beautiful sunset at sunset.
Things to do
The scenic area currently offers a variety of recreational activities, such as camel riding, sand skating, grass skating, desert motorcycles, archery, helicopter tours, etc. Among them, camel riding and sand skating are more popular among tourists and worth experiencing.
Desert Camping
You can choose to camp in the Desert from late April to mid-October to enjoy the best of the sunset, sunrise and starry sky. The camping base is located at the back of Mountain. The camping base will send a car to pick you up in the urban area after you sign up for camping. Desert BBQ and Buffet Hot Pot are offered as dinner during the camping.
Sand Sliding
Slide down from the top of dunes with a sand board to experience speed and passion, and listen to how the sands echo and move in winds. You will experience the Sand Sliding activity during the evening around 20:30 when the dust has cooled off from the heat of the daytime.
Desert Motorcycle Riding
Riding a motorcycle to traverse the up-and-down rolling dunes is the most exciting activity in the Desert. You will ride from the foot of Echoing Mountain to get to the top of the Mountain to enjoy the vastness and beauty of the Desert, then ride the same way back. Please note: The actual price for the activities may be subject to change in different seasons.
Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise and sunset are fabulous here. Travelers need to climb to the top of Mountain before 6:00 AM to catch the sunrise. It would help if you got to the park early because it costs a lot of time and energy to climb the sand mountain. The western sandhill near Crescent Lake is the best location for watching the sunrise. Sunset usually happens later here, especially in summer days. It comes around 20:30 – 21:00. Travelers typically get into the park around 17:00 because the air and sands temperature is very high, and the sunlight is extreme.
Camel Riding
It is a very spectacular experience to ride on a tall and marching forward the dunes, which is what the ancient travelers did on the Silk Road. The camel riding site is located inside the scenic area, which means you have to purchase a ticket to get in the picturesque area first if you want to ride a camel.
Travel Tips
Address: Mingshan Road, Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City
Telephone: 0937-8883388
Opening Hours: 1/1-11/23 05:00-20:30; 11/24-12/31 07:30-18:00
admission ticket: CNY 55