Monday, April 20, 2015

Sunrise Camel Ride in Dunhuang's Whispering Mountains

                         
5:30 comes very early, particularly in a country that remains in one time, no matter how far you are from Beijing. Here we are bundled up against the 45 degree outdoor early morning temperature and donned with yellow sand boot covers. 
                           
After a couple of miles on our Bactrian 2-humped camels, we make our way to the Resounding Sandune's mountain oasis.  When you climb to the top of the dune, you discover one side is soft, burying your legs knee deep, while the other is as firm as stone. The reward, an amazing breakfast worth getting up before first light. 

Dunhuang in Brief:
- Named Shazhou in ancient times
- 50,000 to 100,000 Ancient population and 190,00 today
- Ethnic demographics - Msjority Han Chinese
- Religious demographics -  for centuries Dunhuang was the center  Budddhism in China.  Today, various religions can be found here. 

 

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