The oasis town of Dunhuang is located in the western end of the Hexi Corridor and near the interchange point of ancient Silk Road, which started from Xian in China to the Mediterranean, not just for merchandise, but also for ideas - religious, cultural and artistic purposes. By the 4th century AD, the Silk Road had brought Dunhuang both commercial prosperity and a growing Buddhist community.
As the landform and surrounded by high mountains(Mt. Qilian in the south, Mt. Mazong in the north), Dunhuang has the typical continental climate with big temperature difference in summer and winter, as well as the unique scenery of the western cities of China, the sandstorms, need tourists to protect themselves with glasses, hats and gauze kerchief, etc.
Today, Dunhuang is a typical tourist city. Because of its splendid stone caves, tourism has become an indispensable industry to Dunhuang City, such as
Mogao Grottos, Crescent Moon Spring and Echoing Sand Dune are all the dreamed destinations to persons who want to find and experience the exotic customs since the ancient times. Dunhuang truly reveals something of the multi-cultural history of west China.