Guazhou Gobi Sculpture Group | Guide to Visiting the Niche Treasures

| Guide to playing the Niche Treasure. My dears, today I want to share with you a super cool travel destination - the Guazhou Gobi Sculpture Group. There are both stunning works of art and vast Gobi scenery here. It is definitely a niche treasure check-in spot💎!​ Attractions Son of the Earth This giant sculpture of a sleeping baby lying on the Gobi Desert was created by Dong Shubing, a professor at the Sculpture Department of the Academy of Fine Arts at Tsinghua University. The sculpture is 15 meters long, 4.3 meters high and 9 meters wide. It is made of red sandstone and completed using 3D carving technology. It is carved and installed in blocks. It is like a child of Mother Earth, lying quietly in the embrace of the Gobi Desert, blending in with the surrounding environment, giving people a strong visual impact and spiritual shock.​ By combining the image of a baby with rough red sandstone and desert, the designer conveys his thoughts on environmental protection of the earth and awakens everyone's attention to the natural environment. Many people stood by to take pictures. The contrast made the sculpture look even more huge and their own insignificance more apparent. Every shot they took was a blockbuster📸.​ Unbounded 🏛️​ A pure white hollow Tang-style building, 60 meters long, 21 meters high and 40 meters wide. It is modeled on the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty sutra paintings in Cave 25 of the Yulin Grottoes, integrating traditional Chinese architectural style and built with modern building materials - about 6,300 specially customized scaffoldings connected by about 30,000 fasteners.​ As the light changes, "Boundless" presents different charming images in the desert. During the day, sunlight shines through the hollow parts, creating unique light and shadows; in the evening, under the afterglow of the setting sun, the entire sculpture is dyed with a layer of golden color, like a dream castle. Walking into the sculpture, it feels like traveling through time and space, feeling the fusion of ancient and modern art.​ In addition to these two iconic sculptures, there are many other sculptures such as "Gobi Ark", "Han Wu's Pride", "Windtalkers", etc., which together constitute the Guazhou Gobi International Sculpture Art Gallery. Each sculpture has its own unique design concept and story, waiting for everyone to discover and interpret.​ Tickets and opening hours The Gobi International Sculpture Art Gallery, where the Guazhou Gobi Sculpture Group is located, is a free and open scenic spot. Everyone can enter and exit freely and enjoy these works of art. However, please note that there is no fixed opening hours here, but considering safety and light issues, it is recommended to visit during the day, especially between 10 am and 6 pm, when there is plenty of light and better photo effects.​ Transportation Guide Self-driving: If you have the conditions to drive yourself, it is strongly recommended. Starting from Guazhou County, drive southeast along County Road 270 and you will reach the sculpture group about 14-21 kilometers away. Along the way, you can enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Gobi Desert and stop to take photos at any time. The advantage of self-driving is freedom and flexibility, and you can travel at your own pace.​ Charter: If you don’t want to drive yourself, you can also charter a car in Guazhou County. Communicate the itinerary and price with the driver in advance. The round-trip fare is generally around 200-300 yuan (the price is for reference only and the specific price can be negotiated based on actual conditions). Chartering a car can save you the trouble of finding your own way, and the driver will wait outside the scenic area, making it convenient for you to return after the tour.​ Public transportation: There are shuttle buses from Guazhou County to surrounding towns, but there is no direct public transportation to the sculpture group. If you choose public transportation, you need to take a shuttle bus to a nearby town first, and then transfer to a local tricycle or take a taxi to the sculpture group. This is relatively troublesome and not recommended.​ Travel Tips Take photos and check in: The sculptures here are very photogenic, so it is recommended to wear brightly colored clothes, such as red, yellow, etc., which form a sharp contrast with the khaki color of the Gobi Desert and the colors of the sculptures. You can try different shooting angles, such as shooting from a low angle to highlight the height of the sculpture, or walking into the sculpture to capture the light and shadow effects. Don’t forget to bring accessories such as sunglasses and hats, which can not only protect you from the sun but also add a sense of fashion.​ Understand the stories behind the sculptures: Each sculpture contains the designer's ingenuity and ideas. Before visiting, you can learn about the relevant background knowledge through the Internet, books, etc., so that you will have more feelings when appreciating the sculptures. You can also ask a tour guide for explanations on site (if there is a tour guide service), or scan the QR code that may be set up next to the sculpture to get introductory information.​ Pay attention to sun protection and keep warm☀️🧣: The climate in Guazhou is dry and the ultraviolet rays are strong. Even on cloudy days, you must take sun protection measures and bring sunscreen, sun protection clothing, parasols, etc. At the same time, the temperature difference between day and night in the Gobi Desert is large, and the temperature will drop significantly at night. If you plan to stay in the scenic area until the evening, remember to bring a thick coat.​ Bring your own drinking water and food: There are no shops or restaurants in the scenic area, so be sure to bring your own drinking water and some snacks in case of thirst and hunger. In the vast Gobi Desert, it is very important to stay hydrated.​ Recommended nearby attractions Yulin Grottoes: Known as the "sister caves" of Mogao Grottoes, it is located in the Yulin River Canyon, about 70 kilometers south of Guazhou County. The caves were carved on the cliffs on both sides of the canyon. There are 43 existing caves, with more than 5,200 square meters of murals and more than 270 colored sculptures. They have gone through many dynasties and are more than 1,000 years old. They have extremely high historical and artistic value.​ Suoyang City🏰: First built in the Western Jin Dynasty and flourished in the Tang Dynasty, it is located in the Gobi Desert. The most intact military defense system, agricultural irrigation and water conservancy system, military alarm system and urban construction system of ancient China are preserved here. You can also see various relics such as city sites, ancient Buddhist temple ruins, ancient canal systems, ancient reclamation areas, and tomb groups. It makes people feel as if they have traveled back to ancient times and felt the vicissitudes of history.​ The Cultural Industrial Park of the Hometown of the Grass Saint: Located in Guazhou County, it was built to commemorate the "Cursive Saint" Zhang Zhi and promote calligraphy culture. There are Zhang Zhi Memorial Square, Mo Temple, Zhang Zhi Statue, Zhang Zhi Memorial Hall, etc. in the park. Calligraphy lovers should not miss it.​ My dears, the Guazhou Gobi Sculptures are really a great travel destination. They not only have unique artistic charm, but also allow you to appreciate the magnificent scenery of the Northwest. Pack your bags and go on a spontaneous trip🚀!