Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake
鸣沙山月牙泉
A wonder where desert and spring water have coexisted for a thousand years. Climb the dunes for sunset, ride a camel, or go sandboarding. It's Dunhuang's most photogenic spot.
Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake lie 5 km south of Dunhuang city. Mingsha Mountain is a dune mountain stretching 40 km east to west. Crescent Lake is a crescent-shaped spring nestled among the dunes, which has never run dry in a thousand years, earning it the nickname 'the Number One Spring of the Desert.'
How to enjoy it: Enter through the north gate and take a camel ride (about 100 yuan per person, around 1 hour to circle the dunes), the most classic experience in Dunhuang. Then climb the dune, which has wooden ladders and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to reach the top, to watch the sunset and take in the full view of Crescent Lake. You can also go sandboarding, ride a sand buggy, or take a helicopter. From about June to October, the 'Thousand-Person Starry Night Concert' takes place every evening, with visitors on the dunes watching the stars and singing together. It requires a separate ticket.
Tickets cost 110 yuan. Facial recognition lets you re-enter multiple times within three days, so many visitors come at dawn to see the sunrise and return in the evening for the sunset. Shoe covers can be rented at the entrance for about 15 yuan to keep sand out of your shoes.
The best time to enter is about two hours before sunset. Sunset is around 9 pm in summer and around 6 pm in winter. Note: the sand gets scorching during the day, and the UV is strong, so avoid climbing at noon. The dunes are windy, so protect your camera lens from sand. For camel rides, queue at the official pick-up points and don't follow private touts.
Opening hours
Peak season 05:30–21:30; off-season 07:30–19:30
Nearby sights
- Leiyin Temple
- Dunhuang Grand Show
- Dunhuang Museum
- White Horse Pagoda
- Dunhuang Night Market
- Reverse-Pipa Statue & Danghe Riverside
- Dunhuang Music & Dance Immersive Show
- Encore Dunhuang