Gansu province: Maiji Mountain Grottoes, Singing Sand Mountains and Crescent Moon Spring

Maiji Mountain Grottoes

Maiji Mountain scenic area is located in Tianshui, Gansu province and includes many tourist attractions, such as Maiji Mountain Grottoes, Immortal Cliff (Xianren Ya) and Stone Gate (Shi Men).

Maiji Mountain Grottoes, first constructed in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), consists of 221 caves, 10,632 clay sculptures and stone carvings, and delicate frescoes covering 1,300 square meters.

The Maiji Mountain Grottoes are distinct from the other three as they feature exquisite sculptures and are known as the "Oriental Sculpture Museum” for their numerous grottoes, beautiful statues and long history.

Singing Sand Mountains and Crescent Moon Spring

Crescent Moon Spring scenic area, in Gansu province’s Dunhuang, is a national 5A-level scenic area. Located 5 kilometers south of Dunhuang in the Singing Sand (Mingsha) Mountains, the scenic area is quite literally an oasis in the desert. The spring’s name derives from the crescent moon shape of the small pool between two large sand dunes.

The Singing Sand Mountains are famous for the sounds the wind makes when blowing over the dunes. Also, the sand is said to be noisy when you walk on it. The dunes are also famous for their size, some reaching 100 meters or more, and their stability despite the fact that the dunes beyond the mountains shift frequently.