Singing Sand Dunes (Mingsha Shan)

While these dunes are located along the ancient Silk Road, a visit will keep you grounded in the present. Besides walking up and down the dunes, you can ride ATVs or camels, and take helicopter flights or hot-air balloons over them. Don’t plan on a serene experience, as it’s highly touristy. Visitors are only allowed on a small fraction of the dunes themselves, so you can still see the vast expanse of surrounding sand, and be grateful you’re not lost in it.

• Make sure to take plenty of water because it can get hot, and there’s not much shade. Sunscreen is a must as well.

• Get your cameras ready for the camel crossing traffic lights.

• There are places to buy snacks on-site.

• You can camp, but the campsite is densely populated and can be pretty noisy with karaoke and fireworks.

Mingsha Shan is easy to get to from Dunhuang. Just take the road that goes straight out there, called Mingsha Road. If you don’t have a car, take a public bus from town, or a free minibus from Dunhuang Airport or Dunhuang Train Station. Taking a taxi is another way to go—the drive is about 15 minutes.

The Singing Sand Dunes are open throughout the year, but the best times to visit are summer and fall. In the spring, you might encounter a sand storm, and in the winter, it’s pretty cold. (Remember to bring sun protection whenever you go, since the sun is intense.) In warm seasons, aim for an early afternoon visit, when temps get cooler and before crowds visit, which is usually around 5pm.

Since you’re on the Silk Road, try some traditional hearty food that’s meant to keep you sustained on your journey. Try some yellow noodles with donkey meat, hand-pulled wide noodles with curried and spiced mutton, and mutton soup, and snack on handfuls of dried fruits, made from the sweet produce found in the desert oases.