Dunhuang

Dunhuang (敦煌 市, Dunhuang Shì ) is an ancient oasis town on the Silk Road in Gansu Province in western China. As a county-level city it belongs to the administrative territory of the prefecture-level city of Jiuquan.

Geography

Dunhuang lies at the western end of the Hexi Corridor in the midst of desert areas. The height is 1.100 m. Not far from the city towards the west the Silk Road divides into its northern and southern branch to circumvent the Taklamakan Desert.

Administrative Divisions

Dunhuang has a total area of ​​26,960 km ². At the community level, the administrative area is composed of four large municipalities and six municipalities. These are:

• Greater community Shazhou (沙 州镇), center, seat of the city government;
• Greater community Qili (七里 镇);
• Greater community of Suzhou (肃州 镇);
• Greater community Mogao (莫 高 镇);
• Community Yangjiaqiao (杨家 桥乡);
• Community Guojiabu (郭家 堡乡);
• Community Lüjiabu (吕家 堡乡);
• Community Zhuanqukou (转 渠 口 乡);
• Community Huangqu (黄 渠 乡);
• Community Nanhu (南湖 乡).

Ethnic structure of the population Dunhuang (2000)

At the census in the year 2000 187.578 people were counted in Dunhuang ( population density 6.96 inhabitants / km ²).

History

Already in the year 111 BC, Dunhuang was founded by Emperor Wudi of the Western Han Dynasty. Due to its location on the ancient Silk Road, it played a significant role in the cultural and trade with the West as the most important Chinese knot point of this trade route. Thus, Buddhism spread from Dunhuang in China. In the year 366 the construction of the Mogao Grottoes was started and continued until the 14th century.

Attractions

• 25 km southeast of Dunhuang are the Buddhist Mogao Grottoes;
• 5 km to the south is an area of ​​up to 300 m high reverberation ends sand dunes ( Mingsha Shan);
• And before the Yueya Quan ( " Crescent Moon Lake ", literally " crescent - source "), a threatened by the sand acting waterhole.