Day 5 of the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop, Heidu Mountain

When visiting Mangya, you must check in at this hidden gem—Heidu Mountain. This black mountain range is like a natural ink painting, and it’s even more atmospheric on cloudy days! Every shot with a Fuji camera looks like a masterpiece 📸 🚶‍♀️Trip Highlights: 1️⃣ Heidu Mountain: The entire mountain is pitch black, resembling a traditional ink painting. It’s recommended to wear solid color or black clothes for better photos! 📍Address: Mangya City, Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, open 8:20 AM - 8:00 PM (last entry at 6:40 PM) ps: You need to take a shuttle bus for half an hour to enter the park, costing 60 yuan. The famous Yanzhi Mountain is about 1 km from the Heidu Mountain park entrance, and you’ll need another shuttle to get there~ 2️⃣ Aksai Oil Town: The filming location of the Nine-Story Demon Tower. On the way to Dunhuang, you’ll pass this abandoned industrial-style town, perfect for shooting vintage-style photos. 3️⃣ Silk Road Heritage City: A great place to learn about the history of the Silk Road. The architecture is very distinctive, resembling ancient Roman style. 4️⃣ Shazhou Night Market: If you stay in Dunhuang at night, you must visit this market. It offers a variety of local snacks and handicrafts. ps: Don’t forget to bargain hard on prices 😄 📸Photo Tips: - Heidu Mountain is best for wearing solid black or white clothes - Photos taken on cloudy days look more stunning than on sunny days - It’s recommended to visit between 4-6 PM for the softest light 🍢Food Recommendations: Dunhuang’s donkey meat yellow noodles, apricot skin water, and lamb stew pancakes are must-tries! The barbecue at Shazhou Night Market is also excellent~ 🏨Accommodation Suggestions: Dunhuang has many cost-effective hotels. It’s best to stay near the night market. Recommended: Dunhuang Yuanmengyuan Hotel, very close to Mingsha Mountain, convenient for watching the sunrise the next day.