Dunhuang, Silk Road, CHINA
Airing Date: Sep 6th, 2004
Of all the travellers on the Silk Road, the most famous was Marco Polo. He left Venice with his father when he was 17 and finally arrived in Beijing four years later.
He then stayed in China for 20 years and became a great favourite at the court of the Mongol emperor, Kublai Khan. He was also the first European to record all that he saw in the mysterious east.
Dunhuang has mountainous rolling sand dunes which Marco travelled through around 1274. He named these desert dunes the 'rumbling sands', however the locals more often refer to them as 'Ming Cha', the singing sands.
Every summer, over a thousand people come up here and slide down at the same time, creating a sound like the rumble of thunder. Situated right in the middle of the dunes is the Crescent Moon Lake, which has never dried up in more than 2000 years.
From the sand dunes to the city gates of Dunhuang you'll experience a complete change in pace, with flourishing markets selling everything you could possibly need. Two thousand years ago, Dunhuang marked the western border of China, however, for travellers like Marco Polo, it was the first glimpse of cultures they had never experienced before.
Huge caravans would come in from the west with up to 1000 camels and stop off at the 'caravanserias', which were like truck stops. The merchants and monks coming over from the west would trade ideas and cultures with the soldiers and travellers from the town. This marked a significant point where China met the rest of the world.
Despite travelling in a country where the culture and the traditions are very different, it seems you can always find something in common with people. A game of pool or a cold beer is never too far away, and it's a great way to bond with the locals.
China has a lot of interesting activities happening, and it's a safe country to travel around. Almost every town has night markets where people come to eat and shop. The Chinese serve up the majority of the animal kingdom! You may be offered anything from pigeon breast, ox toe sinew, camel to donkey - but don't worry, chicken can always be found on the menu.
From Dunhuang, the next part of the Silk Road takes you 700 kilometres to Turpan, an overnight train trip away.
The facts
China Southern Airlines can fly you to China. Return airfares from Melbourne and Sydney to Beijing through Guangzhou start from $1280.
Contact your travel agent or China Southern Airlines
Sydney: 02 9233 9788
Melbourne: 03 8676 0088
Email: res@cs-air.com.au
Travel Indochina can organise trips along the Silk Road. A 19-day Silk Road small group journey starts from $3834 per person twin share. Price includes transfers, guides, drivers, and breakfast.
Travel Indochina
Tel: 1300 365 355
Suggested reading material: Lonely Planet
Prices correct at 06/09/04
