Breaking the Camel's Back
at Mingsha Shan (鸣沙山) and Yueyaquan (月牙泉), DUNHUANG
June 2012

A camel stop

Mingsha Shan (鸣沙山) and Yueyaquan (月牙泉), also known respectively as Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake is located in Dunhuang; in fact, Crescent Lake is encircled by Mingsha Shan.

One can climb to the ridge of the sand dune by foot, or if one prefers on the back of a camel. The 3-km camel ride cost CNY 100, not including rental of the "phua choo kang" colored boots for an extra CNY 10.

The entrance to Mingsha shan

Here are some pictures of the camel ride...

Our target: the sand ridge up there

First, the "phua choo kang" look-alike boots

Wear your shoes and just cover it up with these "boots"; they are indeed very useful for ensuring that sand does not get into your shoes.

The paddock

Choose your camel ..

I choosed this one ... was it because of

her pair of mesmerizing eyes?

and away we go ...

sailing through the sand dunes

Ship of the desert ...

Here's a shot of my mesmerizing-eyed but

almost-bald camel with it's handler...

... still a long way to go ...

... here we are ...at the top of the ridge ...

The camels get to rest after a back-breaking trip

According to the handler, each handler and the camels are allowed to make only one trip a day; each handler takes care of 5-6 camels.

time for small camel chat before the trip back

the sand-buster boots/covering

on the way back to Crescent Lake

each handler is allowed 5 camels

Crescent Lake. Looks like a crescent moon which has fallen onto the sand in Gobi desert.

Crescent Lake is an oasis

a building beside the lake

another view of Crescent Lake

Crystal clear water on the lake

It was quite exhilarating to ride the camels and we were a bit lucky during that morning because it was drizzling very slightly, and hence it was quite cool. If you intend to ride the camels, then it is advisable to go to Mingsha shan as early as possible.

However, if you missed the camel ride or if you are adversed to torturing riding a camel, then I think the next best alternative is riding on this camel fence around Crescent Lake ... ;)

a camel fence surrounding Crescent Lake

As usual, to round up the trip, we try to find some local dishes to partake of, and hence the camel donkey meat and some greens ...

donkey meat...

greens ...

and this.

The admission fee covering both Minsha shan and Yueyaquan is CNY 120. From Dunhuang, one can take a taxi or bus to the gate of Mingsha shan which is just 5 km away (taxi about CNY15 and bus CNY2 albeit much slower). We took a taxi there and the return trip was by the slow relaxing local bus.