A PLACE, A STORY / Dunhuang
Crescent Lake
A crescent-shaped pool rests among the dunes of Mingsha Mountain. Water and sand make an unusually clear visual contrast.
© Laika ac from UK · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Resized and compressed. · Original source · License
© N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Resized and compressed. · Original source · License
Crescent Lake takes its name from its curved outline, set within the dunes of Mingsha Mountain near Dunhuang. The close meeting of water, vegetation and sand makes the oasis easy to recognise, but the smaller changes of colour and shape reward a second look.
Compare the curve of the water with the ridges behind it. Ask a friend which line they followed first. The same landscape can feel very different depending on where your attention begins.
Editorial sources
Editorial review:
Before travelling, check current access, opening times and entry requirements with the relevant official sources.
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}