Located at the west end of the "hexi Corridor" in Gansu Province, Dunhuang has a glorious history and culture. Dun - means large, Huang - means prosperous. This large and prospersou ancient town is the center of various ethnical peoples.

DunHuang's history dated back as early as 1,300 B.C. in Neolithic Age. In the late third century B.C. the original inhabitants of the Rouzhi tribe was forced to move westward by another stronger tribe Xiongnu. Then DunHuang was incoorporated into the domain of China, Han Dynasty in 111 B.C. From then on, DunHuang became an important trading and cultural center in Silkroad.

The Magao Grottes, popularly known as the Thousand Buddhas Caves, were built on t he eastern cliff of Mingsha Mountain, 25 kilometres to the south-east of DunHuang city. In 366 A.D. a monk named Yuezun had a vision of the Buddhas over the Sanwei Mountain opposite the cliff of the Mingsha Mountain,so the devout believer set to build the first cave on the cliff. Since then more and more caves have been excavated over a thousand year. The Grottes is the largest in the world and the best preserved treasure-house of Buddhist art, keeping 492 caves, 45,000 sqpare meters of murals, and about 3,000 painted statues.

Located at 5 kilometers south of Dunhuang City, Mingsha Megadune is one of the famous desert wonders in the world. Mingsha Sha consists of typical pyramid sand dunes with rolling ridges and steep crests.