Located
6 kilometers (3.73
miles) south of Dunhuang
city, Echoing-Sand
Mountain (also called
sand dunes of Mingsha)
offers best picture-book
desert scenery. The
dune, surrounded by
rolling ridges and
precipitous cliffs,
reaches a relative
height of 250 meters
(820 feet).
The climb to the top of
the dunes is sweaty
work, but the dramatic
view back across the
rolling desert sands
towards the oasis makes
the effort worthwhile.
Visitors can ride
bicycles, hire a taxi
and camel rides usually
can be arrange by local
travel services. The
descent is quite simple
- slide down. "Rumbling
sands" - a sound like
thunder or a drum-roll
as the wind sweeps
across them. When you
slide down along the
sands, the thunder-like
sound is really
fantastic! It has legend
that in ancient time a
Chinese general had his
army camped in the dunes
beside the Crescent
Lake. Noise from the
encampment attracted the
enemy, who attacked in
the dead of night. The
Han army beat their war
drums to call the troops
to arms. Suddenly, in
the middle of the
battle, a fierce wind
blew up, filling the sky
with sand and burying
both armies. This is
why, to this day, the
wind blows across the
sand’s surface to the
roll of war drums. |