The Province of Gansu is the key state of silk road journey after Han Dynasty. The unearthed artifacts disclosed the thousand years history of Hexi Corridor (河西走廊). Great volume of cultural relics like Buddhist scripts, murals, sculptures, found at grottoes, temples, pagoda, in places like Dunhuang, Zhangye, reflected the golden era of Buddhism in western and eastern Asia. The Wooden Tower in Zhangye was constructed in 582 AD and its centuries old Great Buddha Temple possess large quantity of Buddhist relics, documents and wide collection of Buddhist Scripts. Zhangye today is an essential place for research on Buddhist history. The tomb, copper galloping horse, carts, cows, people unearthed at Wuwei Han Grave and the printed bricks, copper wares found at 1400 yrs tomb at Jiuguan, bring forth the social and daily life style of people during that era. At olden time, Gansu was considered western frontier where nomads gathered. Dunhuang, Zhangye, Jiuguan and Weiwu were the four cities first built during Han Dynasty. Han races moved in bringing along their living skills. Nomads started growing crops and Hans started loving horses. More and more people were attracted to shift into this different yet harmonious society later during war time. Long period of large migrants from different areas developing into a mixed tribal culture, made the west side of Huang River (so called Hexi) grow into glory and prosperity.
There was a well inside the tomb and people throw down money to seek for luck.
The prestige bronze galloping horse, unearthed at a general's tomb in Wuwei city, is one of the finest and most marvelous cultural relics of Chinese. It is of high value in art, science and historical research. Bronze horses, carts, followers and the tomb's inner building reflecting the life style and living of a general in Han Dynasty. Its a great discovery for scholars who make research on history of Han Dynasty in Hexi Corridor.
The imitation of ancient city in Wuwei
Mingsha mountain （鸣沙山） is made up from accumulation of different colored sands and being uplifted to form shape by the night wind. The scenic spot remains as it is from years to years, without changes.
Troop of camel riders with special orange sand-walking shoes ready to explore into the top part of Mingsha mountains.
Hundreds of camels while waiting to service the guests has become the main character snap shot.
Crescent-shaped spring （月牙泉), 30mx20mx5m in depth, is circled by Mingsha mountain and sand. It was a great miracle that for centuries, the clear blueish water never dried up by the high evaporation of desert heat nor covered up by sand storm.
Mingsha mountain （鸣沙山）is known and named by the natural echo of nature. Sliding down from mountain side is a way to experience the thundering sound made by the quicksands.
Mogao Grotto (莫高窟) also known as Grotto of Thousand Buddhas, was constructed at year 366. It is located at Dunhuang, west of Gansu Hexi Corridor. Until today, it still maintains and reserves huge numbers of grottoes in different shapes and kinds, excavated from nearly 1800 years ago inclusive of 700+ murals, 45,000+ sq.m. of color painted sculptures, 2000+ wooden grotto frame and treasure collections of Buddhist Scripts, arts and ancient documents etc. This is an excellent human culture relics of the world.
Entrance to Mogao Grotto.
The painted clay Bodhisattva sculpture and colorful flying Devi in the murals at one of the cave, show no much sign of fading, still vivid and brilliant.
Buddha's nirvana statue with the 72 disciples mourning murals. The Buddha's graceful look in contrast to the sad feeling expression of the disciples still can be seen clearly (photographing prohibited).
Stupa are type of pagoda where monks' body or ash were kept after they died and cremation. The stupa built nearby the site of Mogoa Grottoes are beautiful though they might be of recent structures.
We had a great time with great food in this village restaurant, where we were entertained by Chinese traditional music and by the end, we were in the performance with our joker leader and brought high the atmosphere for all foreign tourists dinning inside.
Great view of scenery at the village resort house where we stayed near Dunhuang.
Moonlight cups (夜光杯) are one of the most interesting souvenir from Gansu. The kind of marble material used for the items produced by the local manufacturers are able to illuminate lights at night.
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