China Silk Road Travel Part 24: An Amazing Desert Experience At Echoing Sand Dunes, Dunhuang

The Echoing Sand Dunes of Dunhuang is a fun place to visit. Located just 5 km from the city of Dunhuang, this desert with mega dunes has lots of activities to offer. But why "Echoing"? The sand is said to produce echoes or sound when the wind blows or when one glides through it.

The dunes are visible from the city and like Kumtag, this is another desert that merges with the town.

This place has been turned into a park with a beautiful entrance where entrance fees and tickets for fun activities can be purchased.

There are a few things one can do here.

1. Hike up the dunes on foot

Hiking a sand dune is no easy task. The sand being soft and fine will cause your feet to sink the moment you put your weight on it. While climbing a mountain is hard for me, climbing a sand dune is many times harder. Anyway the panting was worthwhile and the experience an amazing one.

The task is made easier for hikers by placing stairs in a line up to the ridge.

Waliking on the ridge of a dune.

Shoe covers are available for rent at CNY50. We did fine without them as what we needed to do was to shake off the sand from our shoes when we left the place.

2. Take A Camel Ride Up The Dunes.

An easier option to climb the dune is on camel backs and we certainly had fun doing that. 

3. Take a desert buggie or jeep up the dunes.

This option is too easy and let's leave it for the aged or unadventurous lot.

4. Have fun with your shadows

The sun is strong and can cast dark, tall shadows over the place you trod. I had fun playing with my own shadows.

5. Visit The Crescent Lake

The Crescent Lake is an oasis lake located at the edge of Echoing Sand Dune. A short buggy ride will take you to this place.

6.Enjoy the beauty of the desert.

Clear blues skies, artistic curves, an amazing scenery.

8. Others Activities Which We did Not Do

   Paragliding and helicopter rides over the dunes are among other 

   activities for visitors to catch a bird's eye view of the dunes.

It was a fun day at the Echoing sand Dunes but too bad, we didn't hear any echoes that day.


China Silk Road Tour Related Posts: 
Part 1: Overview
Part 2: Daming Palace National Heritage Park
Part 3: Hancheng Lake
Part 4: I Stayed In Howard Johnson Ginwa Plaza, Xian
Part 5: Xinjiang Where The People Speaks Mandarin With A Funny Accent
Part 6: Heavenly Lake
Part 7: Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar
Part 8: Hooray! 2 Nights In Cinda Hoi Tak Hotel, Urumqi
Part 9: Glimpses Of Turpan (Xinjiang)
Part 10: Karez Well
Part 11: The Ruins Of Jiohe
Part 12: The Grape Valley Of Turpan
Part 13: Nothing Comes Free!
Part 14: Emin Minaret
Part 15: Flaming Mountain
Part 16: Tuyugou Canyon
Part 17: Mazar Village Of Tuyugou Valley
Part 18: Kumtag Desert
Part 19: Turpan Maixi Laipu Hotel Review
Part 20: Xinjiang Cuisine
Part 21: The Journey To Hami
Part 22: Hami Hotel Block 6 Photo Review
Part 23 : Glimpses Of Dunhuang (Photo Gallery)
Part 25: A Camel Ride At Echoing Sand Dunes
Part 26: An Oasis Of Flowers At Echoing Sand Dunes
Part 27: Crescent Lake
Part 28: Mogao Grottoes
Part 29: Dunhuang Fuguo Hotel Photo Review
Part 30: Jiayuguan pass
Part 31: Jiuquan Park
Part 32: 1 Night In Jiuquan Hotel
Part 33: Glimpses Of Jiuquan
Part 34: Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park
Part 35: My Journey From Jiuquan Into Zhangye
Part 36: Giang Buddha Temple, Zhangye
Part 37: Power Mansion Hotel, Zhangye
Part 38: The Journey Into Wuwei
Part 39: Leitei Tomb Of The Han Dynasty
Part 40: Glimpses Of Langzhou
Part 41: Langzhou Waterwheel Garden
Part 42: Only 8 Hours In Langzhou Legend Hotel
Part 43: Huaqing Hotspring
Part 44: Terracotta Warriors
Part 45: Shaanxi Sunshine Grand Theatre