The White Horse Pagoda (baima ta) was
originally built in 386 AD. Legend has it that some 1350 years ago, a
prominent monk was riding to Japan to spread Buddhism.
On route, his horse dropped dead at
Dunhaung. He was so disconsolate that he buried the horse and
built a pagoda in memory of it.
After numerous renovations, this
nine-story, 12-meter-tall and seven-meter-in-diameter pagoda has
become one of the major tourist magnets in Dunhuang.
---
To the Top
The
Yang Pass (Yangguan), also known as the Southern Pass, sits 75
kilometres southwest of Dunhuang, originally built by Emperor Wu
in the Hang Dynasty as one of the two most important
passes protecting Dunhuang from invasion from the west (the other pass
is the Yumen
Pass.
Toa certain extent, in modern times,
Yangguan has been ruined with great sections buried in the shifting
sands. During its heyday, this system of beacon towers and walls
marked the western border of the Chinese Empire, although it seems
slightly difficult to imagine this today. There are now hardly any
walls in sight, with the only visible sections being the foundations
of some of the walls. To the south of the mound is an expanse
containing millions of pieces of broken tile over an area of
twenty square kilometers, some of the last remaining evidence of civilization
here.
How to get there: The trip to
Yangguan takes about 2 to 3 hours and hiring a minibus may cost around
RM180.
---
To the Top
The
Yumen Pass, 101 kilometers northwest of Dunhuang, was once one of two
critical defensive passes protecting Dunhuang from invasion from the
West about two thousand years ago. At that time, anyone in China
wishing to take the Silk Road west (or east into China through
Dunhuang) had to pass through this spot. Those familiar with ancient
Chinese poetry, may recall a poem written by the renowned Tang Dynasty
poet, Wang Zhihuan, describing the unique scenery and atmosphere here.
The pass has also been known as Little
Square City, named after a rare square piece of jade that was sent
from the west to the Han emperor. Today, there are two gates at the
western and northern sides of the pass built with yellow clay. Owing
to severe erosion, some parts of the walls have collapsed, forming
huge holes. On the northern side, there is a road leading west towards
the ancient village of Hechang (15km away), which used to be the
granary for the pass garrison.
How to get there: The journey to
the Yumen Pass requires an entire day as the route is not well marked.
To hire a minibus or other vehicle should cost around RMB500 for the
day.
---
To the Top
Sightseeing
Index
