Dunhuang and Yadan National Geological Park tour

Dunhuang is located in western Gansu, an oasis in the vast Gobi Desert. Previously one of the important and strategic cities on the famous Silk Road, it contains over 2,000 years of history. Dunhuang is one of the frontier towns established around 104 BC, serving as a fortification to protect against invading tribes. Centuries later, Dunhuang was the main communication post between ancient China and the rest of the world. Christian and Jewish artifacts have been found in the area, showing the variety of travelers who made the journey along the Silk Road. Its style has fascinated travelers for ages. The Thousand Buddha Grottoes (or Mogao Caves) to the southeast of the city are a precious treasure trove of Buddhist art. There are exquisite wall paintings and statuary. Head northwest from Mogao Caves to the Great Wall at Yumen Pass and the Great Wall at Yang Pass to see the remnants of the Han Dynasty Great Wall, which were left behind in these famous mountain passes. Dunhuang's natural landscape is extremely worth seeing and enjoying. The wondrously multicolored Danxia Landform is a favorite place among photography lovers.

The Great Wall of the Han Dynasty, the longest one in history, once spanned over 6,214 miles (10,000 kilometers) across deserts, grasslands, mountains, rivers, and plains in north China. It consisted of an outer wall and an inner wall. Today, relics have been found in Yumen and Dunhuang in Gansu Province, Hohhot, Baotou, and Bayannur in Inner Mongolia, Chengde in Hebei Province, and Fuxin in Liaoning Province. The wall was built at several periods of time, and varies in its pattern. In general, beacon towers and fortresses were built first. Then, the defensive wall was added when necessary. In some places, only beacon towers and forts could be found. The wall was made of local materials. The sandy soil, reeds, and branches of rose willows and Euphrates poplars were placed layer upon layer, making the wall solid and sound. A trench was formed outside the wall after the sandy soil was removed. The trench was then filled with fine sand in order to be able to check the footprints of those who passed the fortifications.

Yumen Pass or Jade Gate or Pass of the Jade Gate, is the name of a pass of the Great Wall located west of Dunhuang in today's Gansu Province of China. During the Han dynasty, this was a pass through which the Silk Road passed, and was the one road connecting Central Asia with East Asia (China), the former called the Western Regions. Just to the south was the Yangguan pass, which was also an important point on the Silk Road. Travellers to 'The Western Regions' left China through the famous Yumenguan, or 'Jade Gate Frontier-post,' named for the many jade caravans that passed through it. The original Jade Gate was erected by Emperor Wudi (Emperor Wu of Han) soon after 121 BCE and its ruins may still be seen about 80 kilometres (50 mi) to the northwest of Dunhuang which was, until the 6th century, the final outpost of Chinese territory for caravans on their long caravan journeys to India, Parthia, and the Roman Empire.

Located about 180-kilometer northwest of Dunhuang City, Yadan National Geological Park occupies an area of about 398 square kilometers and is the largest one of Yardang Landform found so far. It is also called Devil City in that you will hear the sound just like the devil screaming when the strong wind goes through the desert. In 2006, Chinese Tourist Administration listed Yadan Geopark in 4A level scenic areas and then it became a science base, education base and geological heritage. Because of its featured landform, scenes of many films and advertisement were shot here. The vast expanse of Gobi Desert view united with magic Yardang landforms makes this park become a mysterious resort for popularizing geoscience knowledge, relaxation as well as expedition.