My last week in Dunhuang
I have toured Dunhuang on my own last week. Here I want to share my experience on Dunhuang transportation.
1. Train station to Downtown area
After you get out of the train station there will be lots of taxi drivers and people with their own cars asking you to take their cars to downtown with 10 yuan to 20 yuan RMB. But I do suggest you not take their offer. Reasons are: first, the price is rather high; second, they will definitely take you to have meal in the restaurants which give their backhander; third, they will persuade you to buy service of those Travel Agencies without officially issued license.
The best way from Train station to downtown is city transportation bus. However, you still need to keep alert even though you are already on the bus. I have met a ¡°warm-hearted¡± passenger who spoke good English on the bus. At first he pretended to be complaisant towards me by introducing me the scenery spots in Dunhuang, but later he was trying to beguile me into going with him. As a foreigner who has first time been to such a huge strange country without knowing anybody, I was nearly about to believe his words and go with him if there was not for a kind gentleman who exposed his lie in the last minute. With the help of this gentleman I got off the bus at downtown. What scared me most was that after I have gone into a travel agency for some info about the Dunhuang tour, that liar even hided in a mini-bus watching me¡­. What I have learnt from this is that you should always keep conscious and never take in strangers¡¯ words. Ask the staff of formal company if you have any question or need any help.
2. Downtown area to Mogao Grottoes, Echoing-Sand Dune and Crescent Lake
Mogao Grottoes is very near to Dunhuang downtown area, so you don¡¯t have to rent a car or follow a tour group. Take a transportation bus to there and about half a day is enough to visit this spot. As for Echoing-Sand Dune and Crescent Lake, they are in the same place and you can tour the three spots in a day if you are energetic enough. The suggested tour order is Mogao Grottoes, back to city, then Echoing-Sand Dune and Crescent Lake.
3. Downtown area to the Baizikeli Thousand Buddha Cave, Dunhuang ancient city, Yumenguan, Yangguan, Yadan landform.
Usually you can tour these five spots in a day by renting a car or following a tour group because their location is in a line. Here one thing you should pay attention is that before you pay you¡¯d better carefully double check how many spots they will arrange for you, because very often the travel agency would only take you to three spots even though they have promised you five. Of all the five spots, the Baizikeli Thousand Buddha Cave is similar to Mogao Grottoes but not as significant and gorgeous as the latter. Dunhuang ancient city is an artificial spot. What will take you much time are Yadan landform and Yangguan.
Hope my experience would be a help to your tour in Dunhuang.

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