Mingsha Sand Dunes

Mingsha Shan — "Echoing Sand Mountain" — is a dramatic crescent of golden and reddish dunes rising up to 250 metres immediately south of Dunhuang city. The dunes produce an eerie booming sound when wind or sliding sand sets them vibrating, a phenomenon that gave the mountain its name and has mystified travellers since the Han Dynasty. Visitors can climb to the ridgeline by foot or camel for panoramic views over the desert and the green oasis below; sandboarding and dune-surfing are popular at the steeper faces. The site is open until midnight during summer, when the colours shift from gold to amber to violet as the sun descends. At the base of the dunes lies the jewel-like Crescent Moon Lake, making the two sites a natural pairing. Best visited in late afternoon or early evening when temperatures are lower and the low-angle light is most photogenic.