Dunhuang | Just returned from Mingsha Mountain, here are some tips you need to know

Visiting Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake in the off-season is so great! Free admission, fewer people, and snow-covered scenery! The site is quite complex, so check out these tips: 🎫 [Tickets] Tickets are free until February 28, but you still need to make a reservation. The east and west gates are closed in the off-season, so you can only enter through the middle gate. Taxi drivers know this. You can make a reservation for one of three time slots: 7:30–10:00, 10:00–16:00, or 16:00–18:00. Enter with your ID card. ⚠️ Mingsha Mountain is a 20-minute drive from the Mogao Caves. You can visit the Mogao Caves before 3 pm and Mingsha Mountain after 3 pm without missing the sunset. 🎒 [What to bring] [One] Shoe covers: You must buy these, or your shoes will be full of sand. They cost CNY 20 to rent at the scenic area, or you can buy them online in advance for CNY 5–6. There are also people selling them at the entrance. They ask for CNY 20, but you can haggle them down to CNY 5. Some of them are picked out of the trash. [Two] Dust covers: Most phones and cameras are dustproof, but you can buy a dust cover if you want to be extra careful. [Three] Sunglasses: These are great for photos and protecting your eyes from the sand. 🔁 [Itinerary] Middle gate ticket check ➡️ P2 Mingyue Square ➡️ Camel ride ➡️ Crescent Lake ➡️ Climb the sand dunes ➡️ Mingsha Mountain summit for a view of Crescent Lake ➡️ Watch the sunset ➡️ Leave 💰 [Activity costs] 🚙 Sightseeing bus: CNY 10 one way, ❌ not necessary, it's only 1.5 km from the middle gate to Crescent Lake. 🐫 Camel ride: CNY 100, ✅ a must-do, the 40-minute ride is a lot of fun, see P18 for the route. Staff will take photos with your phone for CNY 20, but don't expect high quality. This is optional. 🛝 Sandboarding: CNY 40, ⭕️ optional. 🏍️ Off-road motorcycle: CNY 150, ⭕️ optional. 🚗 Off-road vehicle: CNY 300/450, ⭕️ optional. 🥾 [Climbing routes] This is the most physically demanding part. There are four routes up the mountain, from left to right: Route [One]: Closest to Mingyue Square, with wooden steps Route [Two]: Highest and longest, with the best view, with wooden steps Route [Three]: Shortest and gentlest, closest to Crescent Lake, with wooden steps Route [Four]: Close to Crescent Lake, but with rope ladders, so you need to use your hands and feet ⚠️ I went up route 3, then walked across to the top of route 2. Pace yourself when climbing. I thought it would be easy, so I started jogging, but I was exhausted after less than a fifth of the way. 📝 [Notes] 🚾 Toilets: There are no toilets on the mountain, so go before you start climbing. 💡 Lights: Crescent Lake lights up at night, so you can stay on the mountain a little longer if you want to see it. 🚌 Bus: The scenic area is served by Dunhuang Bus 3, which takes 20 minutes to reach the city center (9 stops). 📷 [Photo spots] P2: Mingyue Square archway + people + distant sand dunes P3: Mingsha Mountain boulder + camels + distant sand dunes P5: Sand after the archway, camels + distant sand dunes P12: Mingsha Mountain summit with Crescent Lake P16: Camels and traffic lights P17: Road + people + distant sand dunes