Category Archives: Silk-Road Highlights

Longmen Grottoes

Compared with Yungang Grottoes and Mogao Grottoes, the biggest feature of Longmen Grottoes should be that it is regarded as the royal Grottoes of the Tang Dynasty. In particular, the statue of the Lushena Buddha made by Wu Zetian is full and round, with a wavy hairline on the top of the head, and double brows like a new moon, which are attached to a pair of clear eyes, and are gazing slightly below. Featuring high straight nose and small mouth, it is showing a peaceful smile. Both ears are long and slightly sag, and the lower jaw is round and slightly forward, to make it harmonious. Standing under the image of Buddha, you will feel calm and gentle.

Compared with Yungang Grottoes, the scale of the Longmen Grottoes is obviously larger. At the same time, because of the river winds on both sides of the Yi River, the weeping willows fly gently, and the environment here is obviously better. However, the overall protection of the Longmen Grottoes is not good. Compared with the traffic limit measures of the Mogao Grottoes, there is no restriction on the traffic to the Longmen Grottoes. On the contrary, the plank road for tourists to visit is quite close to the stone sarcophagus, and some small Buddha statues are even brightly touched by the tourists, which has very great effect on the Yungang Grottoes.

Standing in front of such a grotto, it is actually a tribute to the ancients. They may not have the modern mechanical power, but relying on their own devotion to faith, day after day, year after day, on this cliff, they open up the confession of this life and the hope of the afterlife.

If you don’t ask for explanations, it is suggested that you can listen to pocket guides, and listen to them all the way. It is still a very good way to visit, otherwise you can’t see anything, and it doesn’t mean much.

Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park

Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park is the only Danxia landform and colored hill complex in China. It is rated as one of the seven most beautiful Danxia landforms in China by China National Geographic. It mainly consists of two scenic spots, Bingou Danxia and Qicai Danxia, which are composed of red gravel, sandstone and mudstone. The unique hilly hills are colorful and magnificent. This is also the location of Zhang Yimou’s “Three Guns Surprise”, Jiang Wen’s “The Sun Also Rises” and the TV series “Detective Di Renjie”. In addition, it is also a paradise for photographers. In the scenic area, many photographers are shooting around with big cameras. If you still visit it the next day, when you buy the ticket, do remember tell the ticket seller that you should cover the seal of the next day, otherwise you will need to buy the ticket again the next day.

Official telephone number of Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park: 0936-5678118; 0936-5520699

Time reference for visiting: more than 3 hours

How to go to the Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park:

There is a shuttle bus from Zhangye West Bus Station to Danxia Park. The fare is 15 yuan/person. The operating frequency is per bus every hour from 9:00 to12:00 a.m., one bus on 15:30, 16:30. Linze Danxia is entered by the west entrance, and Sunan Danxia is entered at the east entrance.

In the Linze management area, there are four sightseeing stations in the scenic area, and the fare is 20 yuan/person.

Tickets: Ordinary ticket: 74 RMB during Monday – Sunday from January 1st – December 31st.

Opening hours:

06:00-18:00 during Monday – Sunday from April 11 – May

05:30-19:00 during Monday – Sunday from May 5th – August 31st

06:30-18:00 during Monday – Sunday from September 1st – October 31st

07:00-17:00 during Monday – Sunday from November 1st – December 31st
Tips: The scenic spot will adjust the opening time according to the changes of the season, which is subject to the announcement on the day of the scenic spot.

Danxia’s travel experience is very good, and there are few people, and it is no at mess, and even though this is the 4A scenic spot, in fact, and the experience is almost the same as many 5A scenic spot. And it is worthy your visit.

Mogao Caves

Mogao Caves is also known as the Thousand Buddha Cave, and the scenic area consists of the Mogao Grottoes Digital Exhibition Center and the Mogao Grottoes. It has a large number of murals, grottoes, cultural relics, etc. It is a world-famous Buddhist art destination.

Mogao Cave is the preferred place to play in Dunhuang, when you make a trip there, first of all, you need watch the movie in the exhibition center to understand the history of Buddhism in Dunhuang for thousands of years, then take a shuttle bus to see the vast and rich grotto and mural art.

Inside the cave, there are Buddha statues, flying heavens, music, fairies, etc. There are of sittings statues which are up to nine stories in height and small bodhisattvas of more than ten centimeters. They are numerous and varied in shape and can be explained one by one during your trip there.

Now under the three-dangerous mountain opposite the Mogao Grottoes, some of the original large caves have been copied, making your trip there more colorful in the Mogao Grottoes.

Official telephone number of Mogao Caves: 0937-882500;0937-8869060

Visiting time for reference: one day

How to go to the Mogao Caves:

You can take a taxi directly in the city, or take the No. 12 bus to the Mogao Grottoes Digital Exhibition Center in front of the Silk Road Yiyuan Hotel.

Ticket:

Mogao Grottoes Tour Ticket: 200 RMB; Foreign Language Tickets: 220 RMB (from Monday to Sunday during May 1st – October 31st)

Mogao Grottoes Tour Ticket: 100 RMB; Foreign Language Tickets: 120 RMB (from Monday to Sunday during November 1st – April 30th of the following year)

Tips:

The digital display center ticket is 50 yuan.

Foreign language tickets include the 20-yuan foreign language explanation fee.

Opening hours:

08:00-18:00 (from Monday to Sunday during May 1st – October 31st)

09:00-17:30 (from Monday to Sunday during November 1st – April 30th of the following year)