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Best Things to Do
Top 50 Best Things to Do near Subei [2025]
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Mingsha Mountain And Crescent Spring
4.6
/5
28600 reviews
8.9
From £11.41
Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring | 66.3 km from downtown
Phone +86400118-3388
Address: 6 km south of Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-5 hours
Highlights:
Sand dunes and springs: A desert oasis
Desert dunes & spring coexistence
Saved by 666 users21201 positive reviews
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Amidst the vast expanse of Northwest China, Crescent Lake in Dunhuang shines like a dazzling pearl, exuding a unique and captivating charm. It's definitely worth a visit.
The Crescent Lake Scenic Area in Mingsha Mountain is a national 5A-level scenic spot, integrating sightseeing, vacation, and leisure activities. Here, sand dunes and springs coexist, creating a harmonious symbiosis, earning it the reputation of "one of the most breathtaking scenery in the frontier."
Crescent Lake is its greatest attraction. Shaped like a crescent, it measures nearly 100 meters from north to south and about 25 meters from east to west. The spring is deep in the east and shallow in the west, reaching a maximum depth of approximately 5 meters. Since the Han Dynasty, it has been one of the "Eight Scenic Spots of Dunhuang," and was formerly known as the "Sand Well" or "Medicine Spring." For thousands of years, the sand dunes surrounding the spring have remained unburied. This exceptionally rare occurrence in the arid desert, where the water remains neither turbid nor dry, is truly remarkable. The water is cool, clear, and sweet, never overflowing despite prolonged rain or drought. Despite frequent winds and sandstorms, the spring still ripples with clear water and gurgles with a gentle gurgling sound. The surrounding mountains are towering, and the valley, shaped like a crescent, mirrors the spring's shape. When the wind blows, the sand flows upwards rather than downwards. Unique aerodynamic principles allow the sand mountains and spring water to coexist harmoniously, creating this marvelous natural spectacle.
Singing Sand Mountain is equally breathtaking. Named for the sound made by the moving sand, the mountain is composed of fine sand in five colors: red, yellow, green, black, and white. It stretches 40 kilometers from east to west and approximately 20 kilometers from north to south, with its main peak at an elevation of 1,715 meters. On clear days, or when someone slides down the mountain, a sound is heard, ranging from the softest to the heaviest, like thunder.
In addition, the scenic area boasts attractions such as Crescent Lake, the Ancient Willows at Moon Spring, and the ruins of the Medicine King Temple, each imbued with the charm of history. Here, you can climb Singing Sand Mountain to overlook Crescent Lake, admire the sunset, and experience the desolate vastness of the Northwest Desert. You can also explore its mysterious legends and appreciate the unique charm of the interweaving of nature and humanity. Crescent Moon Lake in Dunhuang is a visual and spiritual feast not to be missed.
[Scenery]
I recommend visiting Mingsha Mountain in the morning, or in the morning and evening. We entered the scenic area in the morning and did everything we wanted to do. Camel rides are free, with no lines and no one ahead of you. Desert buggies are free to drive without lines or rushing, and there's no one taking photos in the Crescent Lake construction area. The only downside is the heat, but it's not a big deal if you're well-protected, and the temperature isn't particularly cold at night.
After 7 PM, I went back to Mingsha Mountain to take my kids on a photoshoot. I finally saw the camel caravan that attacked Loulan and the desert, which looked like it was covered in human figures from afar, surrounded by a crowd of people.
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Mogao Caves
4.4
/5
10118 reviews
8.3
From £26.75
Based on 892 reviews
59.3 km from downtown
Phone +864008333715
Address: Yangguan Avenue, Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
Highlights:
Guided tour of select grottoes
Watch two 20-minute Mogao films
Saved by 509 users5535 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The tour is definitely worth it as a foreigner. The movies come with a translator and are fine, if I could I would skip. But the tour at the caves as a non Chinese speaker means you get your own semi private tour (me and one other). Going into different caves than the large group tours that everyone else has to go to. Very enjoyable to be one of 3 people in these old caves enjoying the history.
It was quite shocking. I saw what I had seen in books in reality. I booked the ticket a month in advance. It was a normal ticket. I watched 8 caves and 2 videos. There were professional explanations. It was a pity that I didn't go up to the ninth floor to see the Buddha. It was very good. I will come again next time.
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Guan City of Jiayuguan
4.5
/5
14663 reviews
8.2
From £11.20
Based on 172 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8609376396110
Address: Jiayuguan, Gansu, China, 735100
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-4 hours
Highlights:
Watch ancient military drills
Ancient military drills in season
Saved by 121 users10181 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The Jiayuguan Scenic Area has an underground parking garage, which is especially important in the summer. If you drive in, you don't have to worry about getting in the car and getting out of the car. There are many restaurants at the entrance of the scenic area, making it convenient and offering a wide variety of options. The shuttle bus to the entrance is quite a distance, and in the scorching sun, it's recommended to take it.
Well, it's a 5A-level scenic spot after all. If you are interested in history, it's worth a visit. If you don't know much about history, you can ask a tour guide to play.
No.
4
Chaerhan Salt Lake
4.7
/5
2552 reviews
8.1
From £10.16
Based on 15 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8618309798669
Address: Chaerhan Town, Golmud City, Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
20-mile salt bridge across lake
Spectacular salt crystals & unique landscape
2230 positive reviews10K views in last month
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This is a must-see attraction! We took the scenic bus to the innermost part for 15 yuan per person and started taking photos. It was absolutely beautiful. We were lucky enough to have a sunny day with no clouds. We had a blast.
The salt lake is quite large, and the shuttle bus ride from the scenic area gate takes over 10 minutes. The scenery is quite beautiful, and the lake water is a turquoise green. You can also take an electric car after arriving at the scenic area, which saves you from walking. If you want to take more photos, you can walk around.
No.
5
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Wu Su Te (Water) Yadan Geological Park
4.5
/5
3531 reviews
8.0
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8613909778220
Address: Dunhuang, Jiuquan, Gansu, China, 736200
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
Highlights:
360° view of Yadan Lake
Castle-like formations on water
Saved by 108 users3064 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
It is recommended to go out when the weather is good, otherwise the photos will be dark. I only had an hour and a half to play, so I went to Golden Beach and West Sea Fleet. I couldn't take the same effect without a drone. However, there are rocks on the side of Turtle Mountain that you can climb up, and the photos will be slightly better.
Some people say it's not worth going, that I wasn't amazed or impressed, and that the drive is long. But it's undeniably unique. There's only a speedboat for 160 yuan for 10 minutes, no boat trips. Feeding the seagulls costs 20 yuan for 10 small fish.
No.
6
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Emerald Lake
4.4
/5
779 reviews
7.8
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8609777775888
Address: Dachaidan Town, Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Saved by 117 users658 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Emerald Lake lives up to its reputation. The lakes, large and small, are so clear and transparent that the salt layers at the bottom can be clearly seen through the water. The inner layer of the Emerald Lake is turquoise blue, the outer layer is milky blue, and some areas have olive green and beeswax colors. It is a dazzling array of colors. Through the water, the salt layers at the bottom can be clearly seen.
The train has ample capacity. Even though it rained heavily, we didn't get annoyed by the long wait. The staff were friendly, but the train's boarding and alighting routes could be improved to make it more orderly. Also, the announcements in the restrooms at the exit of the train were grammatically incorrect for the children, so this could be considered for improvement.
No.
7
Encore Dunhuang
4.3
/5
2960 reviews
7.4
From £32.97
Dunhuang Airport/Dunhuang Railway Station | 72.7 km from downtown
Phone +864001829777
Address: West side of the digital center of Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1.5 hours
Highlights:
Desert theater near Mogao Caves
Silk Road stories at Mogao Caves
2210 positive reviews10K views in last month
Verified user reviews
High cost-effectiveness, service quality exceeded expectations, highly recommended to friends who come here for tourism.
The hotel has good sound insulation, quiet and undisturbed at night, ensuring a good rest environment.
The hotel has beautiful green environment and fresh air, suitable for relaxation and leisure
The whole performance had no main plot, and I felt lonely. The first act was like a catwalk of ancient people. The second act was about Taoist Wang, which was a bit of a storyline. The third act was short and the space was small, dividing the audience into many groups. The audience was so panicked that they didn't know where to go or where to look. In the fourth act, there were finally seats... It felt chaotic, and the audience ran around like monkeys... This was my first time experiencing such a performance, and after watching it, I felt like I was watching a poetry recitation
No.
8
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Yangguan Pass Relic tourism District
4.5
/5
2587 reviews
7.2
From £5.19
Based on 59 reviews
84.1 km from downtown
Phone +8609378833089
Address: Yangguan Scenic Spot, Yangguan Town, Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Gobi views & distant mountains
Spectacular ancient beacon tower ruins
1549 positive reviews10K views in last month
Verified user reviews
The Yangguan Scenic Area is not big, and it is very sunny in the summer, so you should be prepared to wear sunscreen when visiting. There are not many places to eat in the scenic area, only one Dicos, and it is at the scenic area price.
The experience was particularly good in the scenic area, especially the fruit stall behind the battery car. I bought a watermelon for more than 10 yuan and almost couldn't finish it. The prices in the scenic area are well controlled. I bought a 58 study package and experienced archery and fire-making, which was also quite fun. My husband is more interested in cultural relics. It's just that we played in Yangguan for a long time and didn't have time to go to Yumenguan.
No.
9
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Site of Yumen Pass
4.4
/5
2152 reviews
7.1
Based on 117 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8609378821984
Address: Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City, Gansu
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Hara Lake's reed spectacle
Gobi's Hala Lake & reeds
1052 positive reviews10K views in last month
Verified user reviews
Strolling through the Yumen Pass Scenic Area feels like stepping into a thick historical book, where every grain of sand tells a story stretching back thousands of years. This is more than just a simple historical site; it bears witness to the Han Dynasty's expansion into the Western Regions and serves as a crucial pass on the Silk Road. The desolate phrase, "Why should the Qiang flute blame the willows, for the spring breeze never reaches Yumen Pass," finds its most vivid expression here.
Among the ruins, one can imagine the bustling trade and travel, the clatter of camel bells, and the steadfastness of the soldiers guarding the border, guarding their country. The rammed earth walls beneath one's feet, weathered by wind and sand, still stand stubbornly, silently embodying the significance of the "pass"—not only a geographical barrier but also a hub for cultural exchange. Standing before the ruins, the weight of history washes over one, inspiring awe and reverence for the past of this land. Such a scenic spot is worth a visit for anyone seeking history.
Perhaps due to the lack of tourists, the facilities are a bit lacking.
The scenic area guides require you to take the scenic bus with other tourists to multiple locations, which takes a long time and costs 300 yuan. We tried to find someone to share the tour with us but couldn't find one. In the end, even though we didn't manage to join them, we still hired the guide, which was well worth it.
I personally love Yumen Pass and would love to visit again someday.
No.
10
Dunhuang Yardang National Geopark
4.6
/5
2782 reviews
7.1
From £6.02
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8609375900110
Address: About 180 kilometers northwest of Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Stunning Yardang views & perspectives
Wind-eroded formations & ship-like hills
Saved by 115 users1252 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
I came here to see the Yardang landforms and was truly astonished. While some iconic Yardangs are man-made creations, the various bizarre shapes truly convey the traces of change over thousands of years.
The overall experience was good. The bus ride was long, but there were many buses, so we didn't have to wait too long. It was also convenient for traveling with elderly people, and we stopped occasionally to take photos and check in, leaving plenty of time.
The only drawback was that the onboard guide's microphone wasn't loud enough, so it was still a bit difficult to concentrate on the explanation, or it was a bit unclear. For most people, the introduction to the Yardangs is still worth hearing, so I hope this aspect can be improved.
Also, we noticed someone climbing over the fence and entering the Yardang area. I hope everyone will consciously protect the land and mountains of our country and refrain from such unethical behavior.
I came here to see the Yardang landforms and was truly astonished. While some iconic Yardangs are man-made creations, the various bizarre shapes truly convey the traces of change over thousands of years.
The overall experience was good. The bus ride was long, but there were many buses, so we didn't have to wait too long. It was also convenient for traveling with elderly people, and we stopped occasionally to take photos and check in, leaving plenty of time.
The only drawback was that the onboard guide's microphone wasn't loud enough, so it was still a bit difficult to concentrate on the explanation, or it was a bit unclear. For most people, the introduction to the Yardangs is still worth hearing, so I hope this aspect can be improved.
Also, we noticed someone climbing over the fence and entering the Yardang area. I hope everyone will consciously protect the land and mountains of our country and refrain from such unethical behavior.
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