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Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake

Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake are essentially at the same area. They located 6 kilometers (3.73 miles) south of Dunhuang city, Gansu Province.
The Echoing-Sand Dune is five kilometers away from the city of Dunhuang, offers superb picture-book desert scenery. As you approach you become aware that the sand has many colors ranging from red to yellow, green, black and white. The dune, surrounded by rolling ridges and precipitous cliffs, reaches a relative height of 250 meters.
Crescent Lake is located in the arms of Echoing-Sand Mountain. It appears its clear and beautiful quietly. These two attractions offer picturesque desert scenery.

Crescent Lake Dunhuang
While most tourists are willing to climb the mountain, the ascent is not easy. As you step forward to climb up, the rolling sands pull you back half steps; you must use both your hands and feet to make progress. When you reach the mountaintop, a charming sight presents itself. Sliding down the mountain is exciting, worth the work of reaching the higher levels. The stunning sunset in this scenic spot is your reward.

Seen from afar, the mountain is just like a golden dragon winding its way over the horizon. On days when a strong wind blows, the fast shifting sand roars; but when the wind is little more than a light breeze, the sand produces gentle, dulcet sounds akin to music. It is the same when you are sliding down the mountainside. At first, the sand under your feet just whispers; but the further you slide, the louder the sound until it reaches a crescendo like thunder or a drum beat. Some say that the sand is singing, while to others it is like an echo and this is how the mountain gets its name.

The climb to the top of the dunes is sweaty work, but the dramatic view back across the rolling desert sands towards the oasis makes the effort worthwhile. To get to the top, visitors can ride bicycles or hire a taxi. Camel rides can also be arranged by local travel services. Descending the dunes is quite simple - slide down the dune to the sound of "rumbling sands" or the sound of thunder or a drum-roll as the wind sweeps across the sands. The thunder-like sound produced when sliding down along the sands is tremendous!

Encircled by the mountain, there is Crescent Lake so called because of its shape. The water in the lake is so pure and sweet that it looks like an emerald set in the sand. Many of the visitors who have made their way down the mountain like to drink from the lake. According to historical record, the lake has been in existence for hundreds of years without ever being buried by the sand; it is really a geological wonder.
There is also a story about the lake. In the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC- 24), a general called Li Guang, together with a group of soldiers, captured a powerful and swift horse from Dawan, a western state of China at that time. When passing the Echoing-Sand Mountain upon their return, the soldiers became too thirsty to continue their march. General Li drew his sword and thrust it into the side of the mountain causing water to spring forth and so formed the lake.