natural wonder
Crescent Moon Spring, Dunhuang
A crescent-shaped oasis lake surrounded by towering Mingsha sand dunes on the edge of the Gobi Desert, a Silk Road landmark for over 2,000 years.
6 km · about 10 min drive
Gansu, China · Asia
Shazhou is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Dunhuang, 6km from Crescent Moon Spring, Dunhuang.
Shazhou is a town located in Gansu, China. With a population of 0, it is an important destination in Asia.
On a road trip, Shazhou sits in China, where you drive on the right. It's in the Asia/Shanghai time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Shazhou to your route.
Dunhuang () is a county-level city in northwestern Gansu Province, Western China. According to the 2010 Chinese census, the city has a population of 186,027, though 2019 estimates put the city's population at about 191,800. Known as Sachu, it was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road and is best known for the nearbyRead more
Mogao Caves.
Dunhuang is situated in an oasis containing Crescent Lake and the Singing Sand Dunes. Dunhuang commands a strategic position at the crossroads of the ancient Southern Silk Route and the main road leading from India via Lhasa to Mongolia and southern Siberia, and also controls the entrance to the narrow Hexi Corridor, which leads straight to the heart of the north Chinese plains and the ancient capitals of Chang'an (today known as Xi'an) and Luoyang.
Administratively, the county-level city of Dunhuang is part of the prefecture-level city of Jiuquan. Historically, the city and/or its surrounding region has also been known by the names Shazhou (prefecture of sand) or Guazhou (prefecture of melons). In the modern era, the two alternative names have been assigned respectively to Shazhou zhen (Shazhou town) which serves as Dunhuang's seat of government, and to the neighboring Guazhou County.
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Shazhou offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Shazhou is located in Gansu, China, Asia. The coordinates are 40.1380 latitude, 94.6623 longitude.
Shazhou has a population of approximately 0 people, making it a town in China.
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Essential numbers in China
Foreign driving licences and IDPs are not recognised: a temporary Chinese licence is required.
Full driving guide for China2 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
A crescent-shaped oasis lake surrounded by towering Mingsha sand dunes on the edge of the Gobi Desert, a Silk Road landmark for over 2,000 years.
6 km · about 10 min drive
ancient ruins
A UNESCO complex of 492 Buddhist cave temples containing 45,000 square meters of murals and over 2,000 sculptures spanning a millennium of art.
16 km · about 20 min drive
Other places to explore near Shazhou.
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