In Dunhuang-- Travel advice on Dunhuang

Dunhuang is very far away, but when you come, see and breathe with them, you will know more about faith, ideal and spiritual practice.

-- words are written on the mailed postcard

Dunhuang is a place worth looking at carefully. If you don't go to Jiayuguan, Xinjiang, and Mogao Grottoes only once, you can take a closer look at Dunhuang within 4 or 5 days. The following itinerary is arranged according to 4 days (depending on personal circumstances, it can also be extended to 5 or 6 days, such as going to visit the Mogao Grottoes twice). The specific suggestions are as follows: day 1: Mogao Grottoes

it is recommended to take a day to take a closer look, including the Dunhuang Grottoes Art Preservation Center opposite the Mogao Grottoes.

there are two forms of regular visits to the Mogao Grottoes: explanation grottoes and manual grottoes. The explanation of the grottoes is a conventional method, that is, the commentator leads each set of 20-25 people to open the door one by one with the key to visit 8 to 10 grottoes. Because of the small number of people, this kind of explanation is more meticulous, and you can ask questions at any time.

Manual grottoes are arranged during the peak season because there are too many visitors, so you can't open the door one by one with the keys. Every day, 15 caves are opened regularly to have a look. 1/2 to 1/3 caves may need to line up outside the door. Because there are too many people, you can't talk in the grottoes for too long, but in this way, you can see more caves. In addition to regular visits, if it is a professional group, that is, if it is a researcher or special guest, you can see more caves. But you need a letter of introduction and other related procedures.

Mogao Grottoes are now open on signs, including 96 grottoes (nine-story pagodas with golden face Buddha), 130 grottoes (similar to 96 grottoes, the green-faced giant Buddha shown in many photos), 148 grottoes (Sakyamuni Nirvana, coffin-shaped grottoes), and other small and medium-sized caves at random. Some of the caves that are particularly precious and in need of protection have now been designated as special grottoes and are subject to an extra charge. For example, Cave 158 (the most famous statue of Nirvana in the Mid-Tang Dynasty, with a circle of murals and dizzy ink bones), Cave 45 (in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, in which painted sculptures often appear in all kinds of photos, according to Sakyamuni, Ananda, Jiaye, a pair of Bodhisattvas, a pair of Heavenly Kings), 200 each; and thousands more.

Dunhuang Grottoes Art Conservation Center is a cultural relic display and exhibition center dominated by Mogao Grottoes. There are four contents worth looking at carefully:

the rarest thing is the copying and restoration of eight grottoes, which is in the same form as the "prosperous Age and Light-Dunhuang Art Exhibition" exhibited in the National Art Museum of China in 2008. it is a real scene of caves built in a small house, and some copies have been made since the 1960s and 1970s, imitated by Duan Wenjie, Gao Tai, Ouyang Lin, and so on. Because it is a copy, there is light in the room so that we can see more clearly and take pictures.

the second is the introduction and multimedia display of the Zen grottoes and monk grottoes in the northern part of the Mogao Grottoes. There are many cultural relics, such as Chinese characters, Uighur, Tibetan, and other scriptures in the monks' grottoes, daily necessities, and so on. There are also video materials (the North District is not open, so you can only see the video materials).

the third is the film "guarding Dunhuang" (20 minutes, systematic review of the protection of the Mogao Grottoes), "the Story of Prince Satan" (a painting analysis of the story of Prince Saha in Cave 254 of the Mogao Grottoes). The report film of the research topic of the Dunhuang Research Institute), as well as the image materials of the North District mentioned just now.

IV is a permanent exhibition. This year's exhibition is an exhibition of statues of Tibetan Buddhism.

[TIPS]

1. There are fewer people in the morning than in the afternoon, and tickets are closed at 5 p.m.

2. & nbsp; can stay inside if you want to see more grottoes and listen to the next group of tourists.

3. & nbsp; explains that during the opening of the grottoes, if you want to go again another day, you can go to the dispatch room on the right of the ticket office to ask which caves are open on the second or third day, and then plan your itinerary.

4. & nbsp; can consider bringing its flashlight, the kind with bright white light, which can be sold in small shops in Dunhuang and outside the Mogao Grottoes. But don't take too many pictures in the caves.

5. & nbsp; Dunhuang Grottoes Art Preservation Center may take 2 hours, and the time should be planned.

6. & there is no place to eat in the nbsp; Mogao Grottoes. If you want to soak for a day, bring your lunch.

7. & nbsp; Mogao Grottoes are forbidden to take pictures, not even in the corridors outside the grottoes.

8. & nbsp; recommend September and October in the off-season with few people and cheap tickets (80 in the off-season and 160 in the peak season)

9. & after the nbsp; visit, you can go to the Mogao Grottoes post office on the right-hand side of the ticket office to buy postcards and send them to yourself and your friends, and don't forget to ask them to bear the commemorative stamp of the Mogao Grottoes. The post office closes at 05:30.

10. & there is a bus going to the gate of Dunhuang Hotel in downtown nbsp, every half an hour, eight taels of silver. There are seats available about 15 minutes early. The return bus can wait at the place where you get off, and it will run every half an hour. Charter a bus to 40.

the next day: Yulin Grottoes

Dunhuang Grottoes, but are often neglected.

Yulin Grottoes is located in Guangzhou (Anxi), 160 kilometers away from Dunhuang. The murals are far better preserved than the Mogao Grottoes. The age of the grottoes cannot be tested. Mainly murals, a few statues. Most of the murals are from the Middle Tang, Xixia, and Song dynasties. In addition to the prominent clans of the Central Plains, there are Bodhisattva statues of Tibetan esoteric Buddhism, and the ink bone halo staining techniques of the five dynasties are also well preserved. The most famous are the two Water Moon Guanyin in Cave 2 and the Puxian change and Manjushri change in Cave 3.

the Yulin Grottoes are open on a protective trial. No more publicity is done, and people will see them when they come. The annual reception is about 10,000. A total of 42 caves are located on the cliffs on the east and west sides of the Tashi River. The conditions on the east coast are not mature and there is no bridge. Therefore, it is not open; 11 caves in the West Bank and 7 caves are open. The tour is led by explanation, about 1 hour at a time. Due to the small number of people, the commentator spoke in detail and could talk more. The famous Caves 2 and 25 are not open. However, Cave 2 of Shuiyue Guanyin belongs to the special grottoes, with an additional charge of 100 per visit.

I prefer the explanation of Yulin Grottoes. Meticulous and serious, and unlike the princess commentators in the Mogao Grottoes, they are high above.

[TIPS]

1. There is no direct train from Dunhuang to Yulin Grottoes. Because the route is too long, there are no travel agencies to organize groups, so they have to charter their cars, with prices ranging from 400 to 800. You can consider a reliable taxi, the price is cheaper; you can also charter a car in the Dunhuang car rental company, the price is expensive, but the safety is more guaranteed.

2. The ticket is 30, but unlike the Mogao Grottoes, you can stay for a day if you want to see it again. Yulin Grottoes must buy a new ticket if you want to see it again.

3. You can consider taking a look at the Special Grottoes. Yulin Grottoes are cheaper than Mogao Grottoes, and the content is not inferior.

4. There are few places to eat on the road, and there are only a few small restaurants in Luoyang town, so it is still recommended to bring your lunch.

5. If you have plenty of time, you can also go to Luoyang City and East Thousand Buddha Caves.

6. You also need to bring a flashlight.

7. No pictures.

the third day: West Thousand Buddha Caves, Yangguan, Yumenguan, Han Great Wall, Yadan geomorphology

this day will be rather tiring, but since they are all on the same line (Dunhuang "West Line"), let's be tired. There are many scenic spots on the west line, so you can go there either by tour or by chartered car. They are all accompanied by the local tour group of 150, but the larger travel agencies are better protected. Recommend CITS. Car charter bargaining, 500-800.

it is recommended to go to Yadan first, and then see other things on the way back.

the Yadan landform is the farthest, 160km, about three hours by car, so it is recommended to leave at 6 or 7 a.m. and arrive at Yadan at around 10:00 with a ticket of 50. After entering the door, choose the sightseeing bus or off-road vehicle to enter. It is not recommended to run away. If you take the sightseeing bus for an hour and a half, you will watch it in the car most of the time, and stop at four places such as "Peacock" and "Fleet out to Sea" to let tourists get off to take pictures.

Yumenguan, Yangguan, and the Great Wall of the Han Dynasty are all better places to exist in poetry. A real visit is enough in half an hour, looking at the mound and thinking about the desolation of no old people and the endless spring breeze.

the nearest to Dunhuang is the West Thousand Buddha Cave, which is located on the cliff on the north bank of the Dunhuang Mother River-Dang River Valley. It is the last stop of the ancient Silk Road west out of Yangguan. Most of the providers are ordinary local people and businessmen and monks passing through here. The protective trial is open, with 5 out of 19 holes and 20 tickets. The time is earlier than the Mogao Grottoes. There are many grottoes with herringbone top and central column. There are grottoes of the Northern Wei Dynasty and the Northern Zhou Dynasty. It is not as beautiful as the Mogao Grottoes, but it is a different kind of scenery. After seeing the grottoes, you can go to the north to have a look at the beach of the Dang River. it is very open, and your heart is open when you see it.

[TIPS]

1. Be sure to bring lunch. Except for the hot and not very fresh restaurant in Yadan Geopark, there is no other place to eat.

2. Be sure to bring enough water, three or four bottles each.

3. Pay attention to sunscreen. The wind is strong and the sun umbrella is not as good as a shade scarf and hat.

4. When you stop and move freely in Yadan, don't walk very far alone, the direction is more difficult to grasp.

5. Don't climb Yadan, it's easy to get loose in some places.

6. You can't take pictures in the West Thousand Buddha Cave, you should also bring a flashlight.

Day 4: Mingsha Mountain, Crescent Spring, Lei Yin Temple, downtown Dunhuang

needless to say, the only suggestion is not to go in the afternoon in summer. Morning or evening is fine. Some people come out of the Mogao Grottoes at 5 pm and go straight to the Crescent Spring to save time.

Leiyin Temple, located to the west of Dunhuang City, is the little Leiyin Temple in Journey to the West, but this address was rebuilt later. The place where local Buddhist believers often go to offer sacrifices to Buddhists is in Dunhuang. The temple is not big, so you can see it in half an hour if you hurry. The No. 3 bus can be reached with a coin or two.

set aside half a day or one night to walk around the city of Dunhuang and have a look at the life here. The city is small and most places can be reached within half an hour. Tourists most often go to the Shazhou market on Yangguanzhong Road, where they eat, drink, and shop, and the night market barbecue is more developed; there are more residential areas on Mingshan Road and Shazhou North Road, and the municipal government is also nearby, so you can take a look at their lives. The dormitory area of the Dunhuang Academy is also at the end of Mingshan Road; to the west of the city, there is a newly built water park near the West Bridge, which is the water of the Dang River. It gets dark late in Dunhuang, so there are still a lot of people in the streets at 10:00 in the evening, especially during the peak tourist season.

in fact, after returning to the city a few days ago, if you are not too tired, you can also take a stroll around the city.

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1. About traffic

if possible, try to confirm the itinerary more than a month and a half in advance, and there may be a discount on air tickets. There is almost no discount if you book a flight one month in advance. Train tickets are also tight, so you need to play all kinds of magical powers if you want to find a sleeper.

2. About time:

the best time is September and October, the temperature is not too high, and there are not many visitors. And autumn fruit is good. Even if it is the National Day holiday, there are fewer people than in July and August.

the second choice in July and August. During the busiest season in Dunhuang, everything is hot, but watching the Mogao Grottoes may also be noisy.

May again, a person not much but windy, there is the possibility of being favored by sand and dust.

3. About climate

Dunhuang climate is dry and sunny, it is recommended to bring water spray and more than 50 times sunscreen, large sunglasses. You can prepare gunpowder or herbal tea as the main drink.

4. About accommodation:

the tourist reception capacity of Dunhuang is very strong, and the hotel is very standard. Hotels with more than 3 stars found on Ctrip and other websites can rest assured to check-in. The off-season is about 1 pound cheaper than the peak season.

it is strongly recommended to live on Mingshan Road. It is very convenient to eat.

5. About diet:

mainly pasta. The food is monotonous, so be prepared psychologically. It is not recommended to eat in the Shazhou market except barbecue: expensive, unpalatable, monopoly on outsiders. Mingshan Road is more concentrated where local people eat. "Dunhuang ramen", "red pepper" dumplings and "Sichuan restaurant" are all good.

as for Dunhuang's famous eating donkey meat yellow noodles, Shunzhang donkey meat yellow noodle restaurant at the gate of Xidaqiao Farmers' Market is the most authentic and old shop. Can drink glass bottle yogurt, double brand, sweet. Local ginger beer can be drunk, similar to fruit beer.

6. About the purchase of books:

the most professional bookstore is "Stone Room Shuxuan", which is located in the Shazhou market, on the west side. The only bookstore in China focusing on Dunhuang Studies began in 1985. The two-story building, with Dunhuang Studies and Northwest folklore books, calligraphy, and paintings, has statues as the main business scope. The boss used to be an employee of Dunhuang Research Institute. There is also an online store on Kong.com. There is almost no discount. All kinds of basic Dunhuang books found in tourist attractions and roadside stalls can also be found here. If you are not familiar with it, you can ask the boss to recommend a book.

other bookstores in Dunhuang can be ignored.

there are also a small number of books in the souvenir shop next to Cave 130 in the Mogao Grottoes. There is a Dunhuang Grottoes jointly edited by the Dunhuang Research Institute and the London Museum, published in 2010, in chronological order, including the more classic grottoes of various periods in Dunhuang, and also related to the content of Buddhism. This book is sold only in this place, but not in other bookstores. It is recommended to buy plain cover, 250 taels of silver; hardcover content is the same, 600 taels. But the problem now is that the book has only been printed once, the Chinese paperback has long been out of stock, and there is only an English version left. Therefore, it is a question to spend 250 to study Buddhism in English, 600 to read in your mother tongue, or to give up by mistake. Of course, if you encounter Chinese paperback reprinting and publishing, you must not hesitate to take it down.

7. About shopping:

you can do it in the Shazhou market. Recommend the lithograph of the Dunhuang painted sculpture in the west of the market, the boss surnamed Ma, the main wholesale, good quality, complete painting; girls can buy algae well patterns of large and small scarves, can be given to others for their use, it is indeed cheaper than Taobao; dried fruit or something, just buy it by the side of the road.

8. The legend of "the Mogao Grottoes will never open again"

is just a legend. The correct solution is to build a new museum near the Mogao Grottoes and restore the grottoes with digital technology. in the future, we will first visit the museum to understand the basic contents of the grottoes, and then go into the grottoes to see them for two or three minutes. this shortens the time spent in the grottoes. If the Mogao Grottoes are at full capacity, the recovery cycle of one grotto is as long as seven days, while that of Yulin Grottoes is two days. Shortening the visit time is conducive to better protection. However, whether we will be able to see so many real caves in the future has not been determined, and some caves may continue to be opened for additional fees selectively in the form of special grottoes.

finally, all this will not happen until two years later. So if you want to see the Mogao Grottoes in this state, go as soon as possible, dear ones!