Things to do in  Western China

Mogao Caves, or the Caves of a Thousand Buddhas, are located southeast of Dunhuang, nestled into the cliffs above the Dachuan River. The temple caves are covered with preserved Buddhist frescoes and sculptures, most likely made by monks, pilgrims, and traders who stayed here while making journeys or pilgrimages along the Silk road, created over a period of 1,000 years.

Pretend you’re traveling back in time along the ancient Silk Road while you hike up and down the sweeping golden sand dunes of Mingsha Shan. When enough sand blows off the top of the dunes in an avalanche, it sounds as if they are singing, or groaning, which is how they got the name of Singing Sand Dunes.