The economy of Dunhuang, being a part of Northwestern Gansu surrounded by Mountains & Deserts, is mainly based on Mining & Extraction of Minerals, especially Rare Earth Elements. And in the above Mineral Exhibition, we see locally crafted Dunhuang gems, jades & souvenirs. 

Well, we’ll be departing Dunhuang after Dinner to go back to the Deluxe Oriental Express Train to travel to our next destination along the Silk Road of China……………… 

When I first saw this below dish, I thought “WOW we’re having Fish balls tonight!!” How wonderful cos I love Fish balls!! But to my much dismay – NOPE!! they’re but only Flour balls haha!!

This below Steamed White Chicken ganished with Spring Onions is the most special dish of tonight as it gives me much delights & joy cos it tastes like the Hainanese Chicken (which I love!) back home in Singapore!

I’m now back at the Souvenirs Shop (of the Chinese Artist whom I bought T-shirts from) at Dunhuang International Hotel………………

I’ve a most wonderful stay at Dunhuang International Hotel where I had pretty delicious Chinese Cuisines & very good service from its staffs, plus most fantastic tours of this beautiful Desert Oasis located here along the Silk Road of China……………

Now, I’m more than eager to go back to the Deluxe Oriental Express Train for our overnight stay till we arrive at our new destination tomorrow!

Mogao means “High Up in the Desert” – & the Cave Openings in Mogao Grottoes are stacked 5 Storeys High, with some reaching up to 50 meters!!

Mogao Crottoes (Mogao Ku or Thousand Buddha Caves, or Caves of The Thousand Buddhas) was built when a Monk, named Le Zun, witnessed onsite a Vision of Thousand Buddhas under Showers of Golden Rays – Le Zun believed this was a Sacred Place for Buddhists, so he collected money from all around & cut the first Grotto!!

This news spread fast & passing-by Merchants & Travellers through Dunhuang, which is a Desert Oasis strategically located at religious & cultural crossroads on the Silk Road of China in Gansu, all donated money for the Grottoes’ Construction, in hope of a Safe Journey……………..

Soon, many Buddhist Monks collected Scriptures from the West while many Pilgrims passing through Dunhuang painted Buddha Murals inside the Caves of Mogao Grottoes!!

The Cave Murals (or Paintings) & architecture served as aids to the Buddhist mediation, as visual representations of the Quest for Enlightenment – as mnemonic devices, & as teaching tools to inform illiterate Chinese about Buddhist beliefs & stories………….

Below pics show the dried-up Dang River from where the Mogao Grottoes (Mogao Ku or Thousand Buddha Caves) set into a Cliff on its North River Bank here at Dunhuang along the Silk Road of China :

Now, we’re still a short distance away from this Bridge over Dang River to the Mogao Grottoes (Mogao Ku or Thousand Buddha Caves) :

Here’re my Brother-in-law Ah Hia & Me standing infront of the Mogao Grottoes (Mogao Ku or Thousand Buddha Caves) :

And here’s a pic of our Silk Road Tour Group holding a Green Banner that reads “Warming Welcome China Express Travel (S) Pte Ltd” outside the Mogao Grottoes :

Below is my Mogao Grottoes Addmission Ticket in the form of a Buddha Mural Painting found inside one of the 735 caves (in the Mogao Grottoes) where we’ll be visiting real soon :

WHOA was I taken aback & amazed at how beautifully painted the Buddha Murals & Sculptures are inside the many Caves of the Mogao Grottoes (Mogao Ku or Thousand Buddha Caves), with some of the Paintings in 3D forms too!!

In fact, some of the earlier Paintings are of Indian Buddhist Art since Buddhist Art has its origins in India, while more recent Artworks depict all walks of life & activities in a local Chinese setting……………..

There’re 16 Caverns over 800 square meters of Murals, & more than 2000 painted Clay Statues among the 735 Caves. Some of the Caverns were made in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), & others in the Wei Dynasty (386-534). However some have collasped & only 10 of the 16 Caverns are open to Tourists today!

And cos photography was not allowed during my visit into the Mogao Grottoes, I’ve hereby included some pics of beautiful Buddha Murals & Sculptures (some of which are already old & blurred) that I found on the Internet :

Whew Mogao Grottoes (Mogao Ku or Thousand Buddha Caves) are the most fascinating Caves I’ve seen in all my Travelling thus far!! It’s indeed a most important “MUST-See” place for everyone visiting Dunhuang!!

This above locally handmade Embroidered Dunhuang Kitchen Apron is similar to the one I’ve got last night from Dunhuang Night Market (or “Shazhou Market“), but this one’s got a pic of a Camel on it which I simply adore since I’ve really fallen in love with Camels from my Camel Riding at Mingsha Shan (Echoing-Sand Mountain) earlier today!!

Best of all, I found the most amazing Mogao Grottoes Poker Playing Cards – in the form of 54 different Murals & Sculptures (found inside the Caves) on 54 different Cards in the Set :

I’m now visiting the following Dunhuang Mogao Ku Cultural Relics & Art Gallery to get more insights into the Mogao Grottoes, as well as enjoy some cool Aircon away from the heat in walking up & down during my earlier visit to the Caves :

Now, let me show you 2 Portraits of my Silk Road Tour Group taken here at the Mogao Grottoes (Thousand Buddha Caves) by a local Chinese Photographer :

Well, this above 1st Portrait does look exactly the same as featured earlier (taken with my own Camera) – but I usually purchase whatever pics were taken of Me during Travelling especially in China out of pityness for the local Chinese who are usually pretty poor people………….

There’s actually a real huge air-conditioned Souvenirs Shop behind these above Shops where I was trying to look for a Chinese designed Shirt for my Dad – but none too handsome enough that caught my eyes!!

Anyway, I’m now looking at the Mogao Grottoes (Mogao Ku or Thousand Buddha Caves) from the Carpark where our Dunhuang local Coach is parked, infront of the dried-up Dang River :

Here’s Me standing infront of the Mogao Grottoes (Thousand Buddha Caves) across the dried-up Dang River – behind the lovely Desert plants :

It’s such a gorgeous view from where I’m standing here that I can’t stop snaping pics…………….

A last pic of Me standing in the Carpark of the Mogao Grottoes (Thousand Buddha Caves) with a gorgeous backdrop of stunning Desert Mountains before we leave this most beautiful place here in Dunhuang…………..

What a truely amazing experience I just had in visiting the magnificent Mogao Grottoes (Mogao Ku or Thousand Buddha Caves)!! Remember you must all come here when you visit Dunhuang here in the Silk Road of China!!

Yeah Yeah I know these Camel Droppings look real disgusting but still I’m showing u cos I think they’re real cool snapshots heheh!! Besides, how often do we get to see Camel’s Poo like these!!

Ahahha I really love this huge deserted Mingsha Shan (Echoing-Sand Mountain) & how much joy & loads of fun it’s brought me these few hours of Camel Riding & Sightseeing around this beautiful place!!

What a most wonderful tour of the Desert Oasis of Dunhung here along the Silk Road of China I just experienced!! And by now I’ve really fallen in love with Camels!!

Many of my Tour mates opted out of Camel Riding upon our arrival here at Mingsha Shan (Echoing-Sand Mountain), cos they were either afraid to ride them or think of them as real sticky & smelly animals! So they rode on these above Desert Buggies on tours around the Desert place (but not to the Peak of the Mountain!) & Crescent Moon Spring!

Yeah I do love riding Buggy, but I’d rather ride the Camels cos they’re such sweethearts & it was so fun & most enjoyable travelling on the Desert sands!!

Well, below are Portraits of Me Camel Riding at Mingsha Shan (Echoing-Sand Mountain) in Paper-formed Frames designed with numerous Places of Interests of Dunhuang – taken by the local Chinese Photographer, while we were Camel Riding to the Top of the Desert Mountain!

And here’s a Portrait of my Brother-in-law Ah Hia Camel Riding with Me behind him :

Here’s a large Black Marble Tablet with Chinese Inscriptions on the establishment of Mingsha Shan (Echoing-Sand Mountain) as a National Scenic Spot by the Chinese Government on the 10th of January, 1994 :

And just outside of Mingsha Shan (Echoing-Sand Mountain) are Souvenir Shops selling loads of Camels!!

Too bad I’ve got no time at all to shop here cos I was helping my Brother-in-law to choose his huge Camel – the exact same type just as the one I bought at Dunhuang Night Market (or “Shazhou Market“) last night!

But it’s ok, cos I’ve already got my most precious World Souvenirs from this wonderful Desert haven of Dunhuang - & they’re completely free at no cost at all to me heheh :

Heheh what rare Souvenirs I just got myself above!!

And not forgetting the Camel’s Hair which I plucked from my Camel during my last Camel Rides at Mingsha Shan (Echoing-Sand Mountain) – but strangely & very sadly, I actually lost it on the way back to the Hotel…………..guess it was meant not to leave its beautiful Desert home out there!!

Thanks so much to our 4th Auntie (whom we call “Si Kor” in dialect Hokkien), we get to taste & enjoy this so yummy yummy Chinese Roasted Sweet Potato prepared by a local Dunhuang Chinese woman seller!!

But it’s such a huge piece there’s still so much leftovers……………

Our Tour group will be leaving Dunhuang this evening for our next destination along the Silk Road of China, & now we’re leaving Dunhuang International Hotel awaiting our Lunch, before we set off for our afternoon tours of yet more interesting places here in beautiful Desert Oasis of Dunhuang……………..

The following are Dunhuang Souvenir T-Shirts (all painted by the above Chinese Artist) on sales inside his Souvenirs Shop – & in the last minute I bought yet another beautifully painted Kuan Yin (or “Goddess of Mercy“) T-Shirt for myself (which I’d actually ordered last night!) :

Heheh thought I snap a few pics of my White Mask stained with my Lipstick Color!!

Thank goodness I’d this on, plus my Orange Shoes Covers & Blue-plastic Camera Cover cos it could be real sandy with blowing wind while Camel Riding on the Deserts of Mingsha Shan (Echoing-Sand Mountain)……………..

Hahah this last Soup Dish was kinda horrible tasting cos it was so sticky!! But for the earlier dishes they were all pretty yummy yummy especially the Roasted Duck & most special Huge Red Dates!!

Now my stomach’s full & I’m all ready for our next exciting Tour of Dunhuang!!

I’m back from Sandboarding from the Peak of Mingsha Shan (Echoing-Sand Mountain)……………

We soon set off Camel Riding downhill – this time my Brother-in-law Ah Hia & I swapped Camels so that I’m now in the Lead with Ah Hia on the 2nd behind Me…………

I begin snaping more pics of the beautiful Camels before visiting Crescent Moon Spring (or “Yue Ya Quan” in Chinese)……………

Oh Dear can’t imagine we just ate Camel Hooves here in Dunhuang yesterday!!! Poor Camels!! I think I still prefer riding on them then eating their Hooves!!

There’s also a Story about the Crescent Lake :

In the Western Han Dynasty, a GENERAL Li Guang, together with a Group of Soldiers, captured a Powerful & Swift Horse from Dawan (a Western State of China)……………

When passing through the Echoing-Sand Mountain upon their return, the Soldiers became too thirsty to continue their March – GENERAL Li Guang drew his Sword & Thrust into the side of the Mountain, causing the Water to Spring forth, so formed the Lake!

And while here, Tourists can continue Sandboarding down the fine Dunes surrounding Crescent Moon Spring……………

To our most pleasant surprises, besides the Desert Sands, Crescent Moon Spring is surrounded by many beautiful Desert Plants & Flowers – making Me all so excited!!

A beautiful type of Desert Flowers – these lovely Purple Perennials fill the Desert Land here……………….

Now we see a large spread of pretty Pink Desert Flowers against more Desert Sands……………

Yet another lovely spread of bright Yellow Desert Flowers consisting of Blooms from the Sunflower family such as Brittlebush……………..

And of course I can’t resist anymore but start having pics of these gorgeous blooms…………….

WHOA I’ve always been in love with the purple Lavender fields & always wanted to see them & be photographed in the midst of them…………..now these Purple Perennials Desert Flowers are equally gorgeous to my eyes & of course I can’t help but be featured continuously with them hahah!!

More Desert Plants & Blooms surrounding Crescent Moon Spring (Yue Ya Quan)……………

As we walk towards the exit/entrance of the Crescent Moon Spring – we see these Desert Plants-formed Chinese Words – “Mingsha Shan Yue Ya Quan Welcomes You” meaning “Echoing-Sand Mountain Crescent Moon Spring Welcomes You” – really cool!!

Continuing in my walk towards our waiting Camels…………….I marvel at how splendidly Nature formed Crescent Moon Spring in the midst of this huge Desert here at Mingsha Shan (Echoing-Sand Mountain) in Dunhuang – & surrounded by such many beautiful Desert Plants & Flowers & much fine Desert Sands……………

And I’m so glad I got to see them all!!

I’m now having Chinese Buffet Breakfast in Dunhuang International Hotel Restaurant where we stayed for a night yesterday upon arriving from Jiayuguan in the Silk Road of China :

I’m back here outside the Souvenirs Shop at Dunhuang International Hotel watching the Chinese Artist (from whom I bought my 2 Dunhuang T-shirts yesterday!) painting Souvenir T-shirts…………..

Mingsha Shan (or “Echoing-Sand Mountain”) Admission Ticket :

With my above Admission Ticket & led by our Chinese Tour Guide Xiao Ma, we enter the famous Minsha Shan (or “Echoing-Sand Mountain“) – listed as a National Scenic Spot – here in Dunhuang…………

Crescent Moon Spring is another Scenic Spot here at Mingsha Shan (or “Echoing-Sand Mountain“) where we’ll be visiting after our Camel Riding & Sandboarding…………..

Why is Mingsha Shan (or “Echoing-Sand Mountain“) called as it is? Why, here’s its story :

When a Strong Wind blows on the Mingsha Shan, the fast shifting Sand Roars, when the Wind is a little more than a Light Breeze, the Sand produces Dulcet Sounds akin to Music – Some say that the Sand is Singing, while to others it’s like an Echo, & this is how the Mountain gets its name – “Echoing-Sand Mountain“……………..

WHOA there’re many Camels for Hire here!! Camels are the most important animals for Transportations in Ancient Silk Road, & they’re considered Prides of the Deserts!!

I’m extremely excited cos here’s my chance of riding a Camel on the Desert!! YES YES after buying Toy Camels & tasting Camel Hooves while travelling along the Silk Road of China, I’m happy I’m getting into Camel Riding now heheh!!

Below pics show Me holding onto the Saddle Handle of my Camel while taking snapshots of my Camel as it trudges slowly on the Desert sand…………….

We’ve just arrived here at the Top of Mingsha Shan (Echoing-Sand Mountain)………….

Actually, later we’d also be sandboarding down from the Peak of Mingsha Shan (Echoing-Sand Mountain) heheh!! Below’s the Signboard written with Chinese Instructions on Safety for Sandboarding :

And here’s my Sandboarding Ticket, which costs me 10RMB (inclusive in the walk up the Peak!) :

While walking up to the Peak of Mingsha Shan (Echoing-Sand Mountain), I stop & turn around to take some pics…………….

Thankful & Grateful to Tour mate Auntie Ah Hoon & above stranger Tourist Little Lady in Pink Cab – who both helped me greatly by simply lending me their warm hands & encouraging me as I climbed up to the Peak here at Mingsha Shan (Echoing-Sand Mountain)………….

The bare steep Wooden Steps on which we climbed up has nothing but only desert sands on its both sides & both my legs were practically shaking & I was feeling helpless cos I had nothing to grip onto to ease my serious height phobia – luckily for me Auntie Ah Hoon & the Little Lady were there for me!!

Feeling real happy & enjoying my tour of the Deserts here……………

And now I’m just waiting for my brother-in-law Ah Hia to be back here with me before we return to our resting Camels……………

I enjoyed my Camel Riding earlier up here to the Top of Mingsha Shan (Echoing-Sand Mountain) so much I can’t wait to be on it again to travel downhill to our next scenic Spot – Crescent Moon Spring!!