13 Facts About Dunhuang

1.

Dunhuang is a county-level city in Northwestern Gansu Province, Western China.

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2.

Dunhuang was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road and is best known for the nearby Mogao Caves.

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3.

Dunhuang is situated in an oasis containing Crescent Lake and Mingsha Shan, named after the sound of the wind whipping off the dunes, the singing sand phenomenon.

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4.

Dunhuang was one of the four frontier garrison towns established by the Emperor Wu after the defeat of the Xiongnu, and the Chinese built fortifications at Dunhuang and sent settlers there.

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5.

The name Dunhuang, meaning "Blazing Beacon", refers to the beacons lit to warn of attacks by marauding nomadic tribes.

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6.

Dunhuang was the intersection city of all three main silk routes during this time.

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7.

Dunhuang was conquered in 1227 by the Mongols, who sacked and destroyed the town, and the rebuilt town became part of the Mongol Empire in the wake of Kublai Khan's conquest of China under the Yuan dynasty.

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8.

Dunhuang went into a steep decline after the Chinese trade with the outside world became dominated by Southern sea-routes, and the Silk Road was officially abandoned during the Ming dynasty.

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9.

In 1988, Dunhuang was elevated from county to county-level city status.

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10.

Dunhuang Night Market is a night market held on the main thoroughfare, Dong Dajie, in the city centre of Dunhuang, popular with tourists during the summer months.

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11.

Dunhuang is served by China National Highway 215 and Dunhuang Mogao International Airport,.

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12.

Dunhuang Station is located northeast of town, near the airport.

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13.

Railway from Dunhuang was extended south into Qinghai, connecting Dunhuang to Subei, Mahai and Yinmaxia on the Qingzang railway.

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