A crater on Mars was named after Dunhuang, a city at the crossroads of the famous Silk Road founded in 111 BC by Emperor Wudi of the Han dynasty. This city in Gansu Province might have hit big time during the ancient times, but today, none of its literal meaning, "to flourish and prosper," can hardly be traced except for several sites that are still worthy of praise such as the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mogao Caves, a 4th-century treasure trove of exquisite Buddhist art and manuscripts; and the popular Mingshashan-Yuevaquan National Park or Echoing-Sound Mountain, a camel-rider's paradise for its "singing" sand dunes and central oasis, Cresent Lake or Crescent Moon Spring.
Flights are available in Beijing to reach Dunhuang, which has its own airport and bus and train terminals that connect to some of China's other major cities. Every summer (June to October), the town comes alive with Summer of Dunhuang Variety show, where singing and dancing are performed following the centuries-old Silk Road traditions.
Every winter (January to March), the Echoing-Sound Mountain's desert turns into a snow-sledding Winter Wonderland, while every night, a downtown market spreads out a vast quilt of stalls selling souvenirs, lamb and mushroom skewers, dried fruits and nuts, and yoghurt drinks. All-year-round, the pagoda near Crecent Lake boasts of beautiful Han Chinese architecture. Nearby is the White Horse Pagoda, a Han dynasty heirloom built by an Indian monk in honor of his horse that died while bringing him back to India.