Singing Sand Dunes

Introducing Singing Sand Dunes
Singing Sand Dunes is named Mingsha Mountain in Chinese. This sand mountain range stretches from the cliff where the Mogao Caves is located, to the Danghe Dam on the west. It is about 40km in length, 20km in width, and 100m in average height. The highest altitude is 1650m. The Singing Sand Dunes is has been well known for its wonderful landscape: “Mountain and spring coexist, sand and water are in harmony.” It is honored as One Must-See Beyond the Great Wall.

Singing Sand Dunes Fast Facts
• Chinese Name: Mingshashan 鸣沙山
• Best Time to Visit: April to October
• Recommended Visiting Hours: About 3 to 4 hours
• Things to Do: Photography, Nature, Sand, Hiking
• Opening Hours: 06:00-19:30
• Entrance Fee: ¥110 from May to Oct; ¥55 from Nov to Apr
• Address: Dunhuang, Jiuquan, Gansu Province

What to expect at Singing Sand Dunes

In ancient times, Singing Sand Dunes was also called Shajiao Mountain, also known as dune Holy Sand Mountain. When tourists climb the mountain, the sand roars with the foot falling, hence Singing Sand Mountain. The sand dunes are composed of tinny hyaline sands of five different colors – red, yellow, blue, white and black, and winds its way up and down showing different shapes. Some of the sand dunes stand like a golden pyramid, some lie as the fish scale, some wave like a snake. When a strong wind blows, you can hear loud sound like roaring made by the moving sands. While when light wind blows, the sand echoes like some gentle sound of orchestral music. Scientists have revealed the secrets of the Singing Sand Dunes that collision between sand grains cause the motions of the grains to become synchronized. The outer layer of the dune vibrates like the cone of a loudspeaker. The particular note depends primarily on the size of the grains.

For thousands of years, the sand has surrounded the spring, and the spring has reflected the Singing Sand Dunes, like a crystal jade inlaid in the valley of the Singing Sand Dunes. “The sand sings when the wind blows; the spring reflects the moon clearly.” This kind of geomorphological feature — “Mountain and spring coexist, sand and water are in harmony” — is nothing other than a wonder.

How to get to Singing Sand Dunes
• Take bus No. 3 to Crescent Lake and you will see the mountain.
• Take a taxi to Singing Sand Dunes from downtown (about 10 mins).

Additional travel advice on Singing Sand Dunes
• The entrance ticket is for Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Lake, which is valid for three days. Visitors shall record their fingerprints at the exit before finishing the first visit. Then they can enter and exit the scenic area freely within three days.
• It is recommended to visit the mountain early in the morning or during the sunset as the temperature goes high in daytime.
• Please take care when participating in the activities such as camel riding, sand sliding, etc.