CHANGLUOHOU·BEEF PATTY WITH ALLIUM MONGOLICUM

I waited in line for a long time before I bought it. It was worth the wait. It was very fragrant and delicious.

Accommodation: I recommend staying near the night market. We ate there every night; there were all sorts of snacks, perfect for solo diners. Dunhuang city is small, so getting around is easy. DAY: Shazhou Night Market. After arriving in Dunhuang by plane, there's an airport shuttle bus to the city center. Delicious and famous snacks are concentrated in the central part of the night market. You can search for "Shazhou Food Station" to avoid getting lost. Highly recommend Changluohou Sha Scallion Beef Pancake! The apricot tea is delicious, sweet and sour (personally, I feel that apricot tea from different shops is pretty much the same, just with different levels of sweetness). DAY: Mogao Grottoes → Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake Transportation: You can take a bus to Mogao Grottoes. The city center-Mogao Grottoes-airport-train station loop (see Figure 2) costs only 5 yuan. It's located opposite the Silk Road Yiyuan Hotel. There's no direct bus from Mogao Grottoes to Mingsha Mountain. You can return to the city center for lunch and then take a taxi to and from Mingsha Mountain (only about ten yuan). Go to Mogao Grottoes early! Even on weekdays, it's still very crowded. There are queues to enter, queues to watch movies, and queues for guided tours at Mogao Grottoes. I never expected visiting the Mogao Grottoes to be so incredibly tiring. After the guided tour and a quick look at other grottoes, I was completely exhausted. Also, arriving too late means missing the reservation time for special grottoes (11 AM - 2 PM). Crescent Lake is a must-see; the vast reed beds are especially beautiful. The distances between attractions on the West and East routes are quite long, so I recommend joining a tour group or hiring a car. DAY Dunhuang West Route: Silk Road Heritage City (man-made attraction, optional) → Western Thousand Buddha Caves → Yangguan Pass → Yumenguan Pass → Yadan Devil City → Stargazing We departed at 8 AM and didn't return to the hotel until after 10 PM. Early to rise and late to fall, we saw the sunrise, sunset, and starry sky in one day. (Sunrise is around 8 AM in autumn.) Pay attention to the weather; choose a sunny day to go. You can see a perfect sunset at Yadan Devil City, and a sky full of stars at night. There are free high-powered telescopes available, and you can even see Saturn's rings. DAY: Dunhuang East Route: Western Jin Dynasty Mural Tomb → Suoyang City (optional) → Yulin Caves → Sculptures along the way. Compared to the West Route, the East Route is much easier. We still depart at 8 am and arrived at the hotel around 7 pm. When visiting Yulin Caves, be sure to see the special caves!! The regular caves are somewhat average. I booked a day tour for both the East and West routes through the app, Tianyou Travel Agency. There was no mandatory spending, and you could choose to visit each attraction or not. The experience was quite good, with no hidden traps.

🌅 Dunhuang 5-Day 4-Night In-Depth Travel Guide (Budget 5500 RMB) ✨ Highlights The dual awe-inspiring grandeur of the desert and the ancient Buddhist caves Immersive cultural experiences (clay tablet painting, mural copying) Off-the-beaten-path experiences (desert stargazing camping, Yulin Caves special grottoes) 📅 Itinerary Day 1: First Encounter with Dunhuang | Shazhou Night Talk Afternoon: Arrive at Dunhuang Airport/Railway Station, take a taxi to the city center (30 RMB/taxi at the airport, 20 RMB at the train station) Accommodation: Dunhuang Mountain Villa or similar boutique hotel (approximately 400 RMB/night, breakfast included) Evening: Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake (entrance fee 110 RMB, valid for three days) Experiences: Camel riding (100 RMB/person), Sand Dune sunset (entry before 8:30 PM) Evening: Shazhou Night Market Must-eat: Donkey meat noodles, apricot juice, red willow roasted meat (60 RMB per person) Recommended: Li Guangji apricot tea, Changluohou scallion beef pancake Day 2: Pilgrimage to the Buddhist Kingdom | Mogao Grottoes In-Depth Tour Full Day: Mogao Grottoes (Category A ticket 238 RMB, advance booking required 1 month) Morning: Film screening at the Digital Center + guided tour of 8 regular grottoes (stay close to the guide) Lunch: Simple lunch at the grottoes (40 RMB per person) or bring your own food Afternoon: Special grotto visit (optional, 150-200 RMB/grotto, recommended grottoes 45/57/158) Evening: "Encounter Dunhuang Again" performance (298 RMB, immersive experience, optional) Dinner: Jingyuan Ga Liu lamb (80 RMB per person) Day 3: Border Memories | Yangguan Yadan Morning: Yangguan Ruins (Entrance fee 60 RMB including sightseeing bus) Experience: Passage document ceremony, distant view of the beacon tower, walk along Yangguan Avenue Lunch: Farmhouse restaurant (mutton stew with flatbread, 50 RMB per person) Afternoon: Dunhuang Yadan Geological Park (Entrance fee 120 RMB including sightseeing bus) Highlights: The most spectacular sights at sunset are "Golden Lion Welcoming Guests" and "Peacock Standing Tall" Tips: Take an off-road vehicle into the southern area (400 RMB/vehicle, can be shared) Evening: Desert camping base (approximately 300 RMB/person, includes dinner, bonfire, and stargazing) Day 4: Cultural Immersion | Exploring Yulin Caves Full Day: Yulin Caves + Suoyang City (Chartered car approx. 500 RMB/car, can be shared) Morning: Yulin Caves (Entrance fee 40 RMB, 4 special caves total 550 RMB) Must-see: Cave 25 (the pinnacle of Tang Dynasty murals), Cave 3 (Manjushri Transformation) Lunch: Lunch in Guazhou (40 RMB per person) Afternoon: Suoyang City Ruins (Entrance fee 70 RMB) + Earth Child Sculpture (Free) Return to Dunhuang city, experience clay tablet painting (Intangible Cultural Heritage Center, 120 RMB/person) Day 5: Dunhuang Relics | Farewell Morning: Dunhuang Museum (Free, reservation required) + Leiyin Temple Tip: The museum has a replica of Cave 45, making up for not seeing the Mogao Caves. Lunch: Daji Braised Donkey Meat Noodles (50 RMB per person) Afternoon: Coffee and souvenirs at Dunhuang Bookstore (picture book recommendations) Evening: Return trip depending on flight/train schedule 💰 Budget Breakdown (Per Person) Item | Cost Major Transportation (Round-trip Airfare/Train) 2000 RMB (Off-peak Season Estimation) Local Transportation (Chartered Car + Taxi) 600 RMB (Sharing is cheaper) Accommodation (4 Nights) 1600 RMB (Four-Star Standard) Tickets & Experiences 1200 RMB (Including Special Caves and Performances) Food & Drinks 500 RMB Others (Shopping, Emergency) 600 RMB Total Approximately 5500 RMB 💡 Money-Saving Tips Transportation: Fly to Lanzhou and transfer to train (30% saving), taxi fare in Dunhuang city starts at 5 RMB. Tickets: Discounts available with student ID/teacher ID/journalist ID; free admission to Mogao Caves on your birthday. Accommodation: Choose a guesthouse in Crescent Lake Village (200 RMB/night, walking distance to Mingsha Mountain). Sharing: Group carpooling through Xiaohongshu/hotels (150 RMB per person for the Yadan route). 🎒 Pre-trip Preparations Clothing: Sunscreen clothing, sunglasses, face towel, light down jacket (large temperature difference between day and night) Equipment: Sandproof phone case, wet wipes, lip balm, high SPF sunscreen Cultural Preparation: Watch the documentary "Dunhuang" to learn about the background of the murals Photography: Bring a tripod to photograph the starry sky; protect your lens from sand. ⚠️ Important Notes Photography is strictly prohibited at Mogao Grottoes. Tickets for special grottoes require on-site queuing. Choose a reputable desert camping site to avoid low-price traps. The Yardang landforms are windy and dusty; take precautions if visiting in the afternoon. Respect the grotto culture; do not touch the murals. 🌟 Hidden Activities Desert Dinner: Customized dinner at the back of Mingsha Mountain (300 RMB/person, reservation required) Mural Copying: Experience at the Mogao Grottoes Research Center (180 RMB/2 hours) Stargazing Trip: Desert stargazing photography workshop with instructor (200 RMB/person) Tracing the Silk Road: Hike a section of the Han Dynasty Great Wall (free, requires local guidance) 🍽️ Food Map Type | Recommendation | Average Price Hardcore: Braised Lamb with Flatbread, Whole Roasted Lamb 80 RMB Snacks: Mixed Sauce, Fried Rice Cake 25 RMB Desserts: Apricot Juice, Dunhuang Yogurt 15 RMB Souvenirs: Dried Apricots from Li Guang, Luminous Cup From 100 RMB This itinerary balances classic and niche experiences, allowing for a deep cultural experience within your budget. For a more economical option, you can reduce the number of special caves and performances, saving 800-1000 RMB. The best time to travel to Dunhuang is April-June and September-October (avoiding the summer heat and winter cold). It is recommended to book Mogao Grottoes tickets and unique accommodations 30 days in advance. #DunhuangTravelGuide #MingshaMountainCrescentSpringDunhuangMogaoGrottoes