National Parks of China
Overview
| Designation | National Park of China (third batch) |
| Province | Gansu |
| Latitude, longitude | 40.09, 94.67 Google Maps |
| Themes | Desert, Sand Dune, Spring, Lake, Yardangs & earth forests, Night sky & aurora, Viewpoints & photography |
About
The Mingsha (“Singing Sand”) Dunes lie 5 km south of Dunhuang; the highest point is 1,715 m. They take their name from the sound the sand makes as it shifts. The dunes are built of drifting sand in five colours: red, yellow, green, white and black.
Crescent Spring (Yueyaquan) lies at the foot of the dunes and is named for its shape, like a new moon.
It is in the third batch of national parks of China (national scenic areas) named by the State Council in 1994.
Nearby
| World Heritage | Mogao Caves 13 km, Xuanquanzhi 59 km, Yumen Pass 74 km, Suoyang City 131 km |
| AAAA attractions | Yangguan Scenic Area 55 km |
| Historic cities | Dunhuang 6 km |
| Historical sites | Mogao Caves (including the Western Thousand-Buddha Caves) 13 km |