I rode a camel in the Gobi Desert and my phone died from the heat. Best day ever.
My friend from Argentina went to Dunhuang. Not the city — the desert around it.She rode a camel. She watched the sunset over sand dunes. Her phone overheated and shut down.
She didn't care.
Where is Dunhuang?
A small city in Gansu Province, on the edge of the Gobi Desert. It was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road.
Population: 200,000. Tourists: millions per year.
The camel ride:
At Mingsha Mountain (鸣沙山) — the "Singing Sand Dunes."
She paid ¥100 for a 40-minute camel ride. The camel was named "Xiaohei" (Little Black). It was grumpy. It farted a lot.
The guide walked alongside, leading a string of 5 camels. He didn't speak English. He hummed a tune.
The sand dunes rose on both sides like golden waves. The sun was setting. The sky turned orange, then purple, then black.
The Mogao Caves:
The main reason people come to Dunhuang. 735 Buddhist cave temples carved into a cliff. 1,000+ years of art.
• Ticket: ¥238 (includes guided tour of 8 caves)
• Must book in advance — daily visitor limits
• Photography is forbidden inside (the flash damages the murals)
• The "Special Caves" (特窟) cost extra (¥150-200 each) but are worth it for art lovers
The night market:
Dunhuang's Shazhou Night Market (沙洲夜市) is famous:
• Lamb skewers with cumin
• Niangpi (酿皮) — cold wheat noodles with chili and vinegar
• Apricot tea (杏皮茶) — sweet, sour, refreshing
• Camel milk ice cream (yes, really)
The practical stuff:
Getting there:
• Fly from Lanzhou (1.5 hours) or Xi'an (2.5 hours)
• Or take the train — the Lanzhou-Xinjiang high-speed rail stops at Dunhuang
Best time:
• May-June or September-October
• July-August is brutally hot (40°C+) and crowded
• Winter is cold but empty — some attractions have reduced hours
Desert survival:
• Sunscreen SPF 50+. The desert sun is merciless.
• Water. Lots of water.
• Phone overheating is real. Keep it in the shade.
• Sand gets everywhere. Protect your camera.
• Camel rides are bumpy. Wear pants.
Cost:
• 2-day trip: ¥800-1,500 including hotel, tickets, food
• Camel ride: ¥100
• Mogao Caves: ¥238
• Mingsha Mountain: ¥110
My Argentine friend's phone eventually cooled down and turned back on. She had 47 photos of sand, camels, and her own sunburned face.
"I rode a farting camel into the desert. I watched the sun set over sand dunes that looked like an ocean made of gold. My phone died. For two hours, I had no camera, no map, no distraction. Just me, a camel, and 2,000 years of Silk Road history. It was the best day of my trip."
Anyone else been to Dunhuang or the Gobi? Did your phone survive?
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