Dunhuang is a city in the Gansu province of China situated right on the edge of the Gobi Desert. This was our first time in a proper desert, and we were excited to see some camels and sand dunes. Joined by our pack of Silk Road friends we visited some ancient ruins of the Great Wall of China. It was interesting imagining ancient Chinese guards manning these desolate outposts at the edge of a vast desert. They considered anything West from there the edge of the world.

We had to fulfill our need for camels and sand dunes and Dunhuang had just the place for it. Known as Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring, this place is beautiful and also truly crazy in the way Chinese tourist spots tend to be. Picture a picturesque oasis nestled between towering sand dunes. Then picture thousands of tourists covering said dunes and an endless line of camels walking a loop through the dunes, sand buggies driving on pre-built tracks and a nighttime desert concert with drone shows and dancing. It was full on, but the majority Chinese crowd was in such good spirits, and they danced and sang their hearts out to the music as the sun set over the sand dunes on the edge of the Gobi desert.