Mogao Caves and Dunhuang

Hooked up with Toru and Atsushi to share a mini bus to the grotto, not bad value at 20Y for the return trip. There is a shuttle bus that goes from the city to the train station and then to Mogao, I'm not sure of the cost but expect it to be in the order of 5Y each way. Stops for the bus are clearly displayed in Chinese and English around the city.
The caves are an incredible attraction and have been preserved pretty well with some restoration and reinforcement along the face of the cliff that in no way detracts from the interiors. It's 80Y for Chinese tourists and 100Y for foreigners, the extra being to pay for the guides in English or Japanese. Zhang just told the ticket seller that we all spoke Chinese so we all got in for 80Y and listened to the guide in Chinese. Those are OFF SEASON prices, high season prices are DOUBLE. Cameras are forbidden and are supposed to be handed in at a holding station along with large bags, however once inside the enclosure I spotted several domestic tourists openly brandishing cameras and one with his phone taking pics inside the caves.
I'll refrain from going into detail about the history of the caves but will just leave it with the statement that the fact they escaped the attentions of the Red Guard in the Cultural Revolution is something to be thankful for. The mini bus makes a stop at a “Minerals Exhibition” on the way back to town where you'll be pressed into buying highly over priced trinkets with the promise of a discount, just for you.
Dunhuang is a really nice, sleepy little city of about 100,000, with wide sidewalks in good condition, good roads without excessive traffic and it's quiet. The night market in the off season is not much but still offers a good selection fresh and dried fruits, small restaurants as well as the usual tourist souvenirs that you simply can't go home without.
In the same street as the long distance bus station, Mingshan Road, are a collection of internet cafe's with English menus and reasonably priced Chinese and Western food and drink. Hotels along this stretch range in the 60 to 200 Yuan price range, the more you pay the cleaner the room. Charley Jong's Cafe also offers a “Backpacker Lodge” a bit out of town near the Mingsha Sand dunes, they are also the place to go if you want to go on a camel trek into the dunes, 300Yuan per person per day.
Ph:13893763029 http://blog.sina.com.cn/juckljpyqsz E-mail:dhzhzh@163.com