Menu:
Dunhuang
The oasis town of Dunhuang is located at the periphery of the Gobi desert, in the west of the modern-day Chinese province of Gansu. In spite of its tumultuous political history, Dunhuang flourished. It was in a productive region famous for its melons and grapes particularly and since it became the foremost staging post for merchants and for missionary preachers and followers of Buddhism and other religions. The town was established by Emperor Wudi of the Han dynasty in 111 BC as one of the four garrison commands which guaranteed Chinese influence over the trade routes to the western areas.
All through Dunhuang's history of more than two thousand years, it has at all times performed as a vital access to the west due to its distinctive geographical position at the junction of Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang. Consequently, a number of emperors during Chinese history have upgraded these western defenses. Nonetheless, Dunhuang was in addition a provincial cultural hub of sorts. The Mogao Grottoes also referred to as the Dunhuang Grottoes or the "Thousand Buddha Grottoes", is situated on the western precipices of the Singing Sands Mountains.
As one of the four most famous grottoes, it possesses one of the most comprehensive compilations of Buddhist frescoes as well as sculpture from a period stretching more than ten dynasties. The national, historical city of Dunhuang is a renowned tourist city famed for the Mogao Caves. It is positioned in the shared boundary of Gansu Province, Qinghai Province as well as Xinjiang Province.
Important Part of Silk Road
- Dunhuang, in ancient times known as 'Sha Zhou' or gorgeous desert oasis, was the center of middle and eastern silk routes in primeval times.
- The city milestone is a striking statue, the inspiration for which is acquired from the mural in Mogao Caves, a holy place devoted to the culture as well as arts of Dunhuang.
- From Mt.Qilian in the south, Mt. Mazong in the north in addition to the desert from east to west, the landscape of Dunhuang City is a diminishing basin-plain from west to northeast, elevated in the north and south, and dwindling in the middle.
- The western cities of China, particularly those in the desert, are distinguished for their sandstorms.
In primeval times, Dunhuang was the hub of commerce between China and its western neighbors. During the period, it was the most westerly border military garrison in China. With trade prospering down the Silk Road, Dunhuang was impelled to become the most open region in global commerce in Chinese history. It offered the lone entrance westward for the Chinese Empire and eastward for western nationalities. At present, Dunhuang is an archetypal tourist city, sparkling and attractive. Due to its marvelous stone caves, tourism has become a crucial industry in Dunhuang City.