Crescent
Moon Lake
 Crescent
Moon Spring is 6km south of Dunhuang in
the Singing Sands Mountains and is quite
literally an oasis in the desert. The Spring's
name derives from the crescent moon shape
the small pool of spring water has taken
between two large sand dunes. Although the
area is very dry, the pool doesn't dry up
as one might expect.
The Singing Sand Mountains are
famous for the sounds the wind makes when
blowing over the dunes. Also, the sand is
said to be rather noisy when tread upon.
The dunes are also famous for their size,
some reaching 100m or more, relatively stable
despite the fact that the dunes beyond the
mountains shift frequently. Also, the sands
are said to regain form overnight if tread
upon the day before.
Activities in the dunes include
camel riding (RMB30-50, but bargain!), dune
paragliding (RMB20, Foreigners are asked
to pay RMB50, don't!), sand sledding (RMB10).
Climbing the dunes is tiring and especially
sweaty in the summer. There are wooden stairs
to the top of the dunes for a small fee.
Most people visit the dunes in the evening
so as to avoid the hot sun!
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