Things to do in Jiuquan

This is extremely important, and I must say it first: don't trust the bookstore's own mini-program for booking a visit at a specific time. The description said there was a 9 PM visit after closing time, but I booked that one. Luckily, my itinerary ended early, and I arrived around 8:30 PM, only to be told they were closing and I should go to the second floor first. Closing time was 9 PM, and I almost missed it! Remember to wear shoe covers once inside. They're in the basket on the right. Put them on before entering. The bookstore is quite spacious, with the second floor being the main attraction, perfect for taking photos.

The museum is located in the city center, very close to the night market. It gets dark quite late in Dunhuang, so after visiting the Mogao Grottoes, it's a good opportunity to review the visit at the museum. Admission is free, just make a reservation. Guided tours are available for a fee. The advantage of the museum is that the exhibits are arranged chronologically, making them clearer. Finally, the souvenir and creative shops are also great to browse; the prices are very reasonable. Don't bother with fridge magnets and other items at the night market; they're much better quality here.

The Shazhou/Dunhuang Night market is clean, cohesively decorated, and conveniently located in the city center! As part of your silk road travels visit this well put together market for delicious food and souvenir buys! 🛍 We bought cashmere wool scarves, magnets, and knick knacks all for great prices. The vendors are not pushy at all! We had a pleasant experience wandering the shops and the vendors were very friendly and accommodating. I'd recommend having alipay or wechat pay set up as this is the most convenient payment method when travelling China but at this market the vendors did accept cash from our fellow tour guide travellers. 🐟 The food court area gives camping vibes. You'll see small camp stools and chairs around small fires. Our tour guide told us that the fish and beef cakes are the most popular. We tried the fish which was yummy and the beefcakes welllll the line was a little too long for us but our fellow tour group travellers said it was delicious and even bought some for the road the next day! 🎐 Since the market was in the city center we explored the shops nearby and then caught a Didi back to our hotel. The night market is worth visiting, probably one of the best I have visited in my travels. 

There is a famous tourist attraction hidden in this Gobi Desert. A baby-like statue has become a popular check-in spot for internet celebrities. It looks like a baby sleeping on the ground. It was designed by a professor from the Tsinghua Academy of Fine Arts and took a year to complete. This lying sculpture is also known as the "Son of the Earth."

If you have kids who love collecting stamps, you should definitely visit the stamp shop. You can comfortably play with your children for two hours. There's food, drinks, and air conditioning. They have a huge selection of stamps and many creative cultural products, which is quite interesting.

Excellent location, user-friendly accessibility The town is adjacent to Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake, about a 5-10 minute walk from the scenic area, saving you the hassle of traveling to and from the city center. It's incredibly convenient for watching the sunset and sunrise. A one-stop shop for dining, accommodation, and shopping, with complete amenities including guesthouses, restaurants, and intangible cultural heritage workshops, offering great value for money.

Jiuquan has had a spring since ancient times. It is said that when General Huo Qubing of the Han Dynasty led his troops to conquer the Xiongnu, he poured the imperial wine into the spring after the victory and drank it with all the soldiers. This is the origin of the name Jiuquan. In fact, Jiuquan is a large park, but because of the Jiuquan spring, it has become a 4A-level scenic spot, which shows the importance of Jiuquan. There are also statues and poems of Li Bai lying drunk in the park, which are also the most famous poems related to Jiuquan. There are also children's playgrounds and restaurants and teahouses in the park. You can also go boating on the lake, which is also an important place for citizens to relax.

我们驾车经过雕塑《大地之子》，不远处就是有名的雕塑《无界》，是清华大学教授董书兵在甘肃瓜州戈壁创作的巨型大地艺术装置，由纯白色钢结构组成，仿似丝路古城遗址的幻影。作品以现代极简风格再现传统建筑轮廓，长60米、高21米，与荒漠环境形成强烈视觉对比，象征文明与自然的永恒对话。作为"戈壁方舟"艺术计划的一部分，它与《大地之子》共同构成瓜州独特的艺术地标，吸引众多游客打卡。免费开放。

It is located at the confluence of the Yellow River and the Huangshui River in Xiaoci Village, Yanguoxia Town, Yongjing County. The entire building faces south and is built on the mountainside. The temples overlap and are known for their concentration, compactness and elegance. The design is based on a central axis, with horizontal symmetry, and gradually extends, rises, and becomes a whole on the flat ground and high platform. The temple looks very solemn, magnificent and imposing. The founding date of Leiyin Temple cannot be verified due to its long history. According to the recollections of the elders in the village in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was first built in the early Tang Dynasty and reached its heyday during the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty. The grandeur of its architecture and the popularity of its incense are incomparable to ordinary temples. It’s a pity that it was destroyed in the subsequent war. The old site of Xing Temple still exists, located in an ancient city 300 meters northwest of the current temple. With the opening of the Party's religious policy, Leiyin Temple began to prepare for reconstruction in 2002. During the construction process, it received strong support from generous donations from all parties. After seven years of gradual construction, it has reached its current scale. Leiyin Temple covers an area of ​​6,478 square meters, with a construction area of ​​963 square meters. The entire building is divided into three levels: The first Located on the flat land in front of the mountain, it consists of the Heavenly King Hall, also known as the "Mountain Gate", and the left and right wing rooms. The Hall of Heavenly Kings is a brick and wood structure with different ridge beasts, a roof covered with green tiles, and a width of three rooms. The lintel of the door reads "Leiyin Temple" in three large gold-plated characters. In front of the temple stands a pair of stone lions, giving people a sense of solemnity and majesty. In the center of the Hall of Heavenly Kings is a big-bellied Maitreya statue with a smiling face, kind and amiable, giving people a sense of intimacy. With his back against the guardian statue of Skanda, and on both sides are standing statues of the Four Heavenly Kings: "Dhritarashtra", "Zhongdudan", "Virtuosity" and "Vaiśravaṇa". Next to the Heavenly King Hall are the east and west wing rooms, which are two-story, brick-concrete, fully enclosed buildings that house the abbot's room, living room, dormitories, etc. Channel 2 Located at the foot of the mountain, there are two classical side halls built on the east and west sides, the "Golden Flower Hall" in the east and the "Guanyin Hall" in the west. The Golden Flower Hall enshrines three seated gods: "Holy Mother of the Nine Heavens", "Fairy of Jinhua" and "Dragon King of Black Pool", all of which are made of bronze and are 2.3 meters high. On both sides, three gods are enshrined in sedan chairs carved from red sandalwood with exquisite craftsmanship. The statues of the gods are cast in bronze, with ingenious and solemn ideas. They are considered to be the best works among all the temples. On the front of the Guanyin Hall are seated statues of Guanyin Bodhisattva, Manjusri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, all of which are 2.3-meter-high bronze statues. Guanyin Bodhisattva sits cross-legged on a lotus, holding a pure bottle filled with nectar in one hand and a willow branch in the other, symbolizing that the nectar is spread all over the world, regardless of spring or autumn. The Bodhisattva of Literature rides on a green lion, has a jade bun on his head, which represents "wisdom", and holds a sword in his hand, which represents the sword of wisdom, thus representing "wisdom and power". Channel 3 Located on the hillside, the Main Hall against the mountain is the main hall of the temple. It has a multi-story structure and a double-eaved hip roof. It is 16 meters high and covers an area of ​​242 square meters. The whole hall has a ridged roof, flying eaves on all four sides, colorful arches, and is majestic and spectacular. On the front of the hall are three 3.3-meter-high bronze Buddha statues, namely Sakyamuni Buddha, Medicine Buddha and Amitabha Buddha. The three giant Buddhas have kind faces and sit on lotus pedestals with Sumeru Vajra pedestals below. They are finely carved with exquisite craftsmanship. On both sides are clay sculptures of the Eighteen Arhats. Some are glaring and performing rituals, subduing dragons and tigers; some are gentle and elegant, reading scriptures; some are gazing in deep thought, pretending to sleep with their chins in their hands; their expressions are different and lifelike.

The museum is clean, quiet, and comfortably air-conditioned. Restrooms, drinking fountains, and seating are conveniently located. Clear signage and maps prevent getting lost. Most admissions are free by reservation, offering great value. Guided tours and audio guides are available; professional guides explain the stories behind the artifacts and patiently answer questions. The souvenir shop is designed to complement the collection, offering unique gifts. A children's study area and reading corner are provided, suitable for families and students. Fun: Immersive historical experience, providing a systematic learning experience of local culture, archaeology, and art, combining education and leisure. Avoiding peak hours allows for quiet, solitary viewing, offering a calming and therapeutic experience, perfect for reflection, photo opportunities, and suitable for all ages.