Mingsha Mountain ~ Crescent Spring in Dunhuang is known as one of the three wonders of Dunhuang. I have always been longing for this legendary wonder, and this trip to the northwest just fulfilled my dream.
We started from Jiayuguan and arrived at Mingsha Mountain ~ Crescent Spring after five hours' drive.
The scenic spot is very big, and there are many shops renting ancient costumes at the entrance of the scenic spot. In order to leave a beautiful picture by the crescent spring in the future, everyone we went with rented a set.
When we read the poem "Drunk in the sand on the edge of Yue Quan, thousands of sands and springs are colorless", the beautiful scenery in front of us instantly filled our eyes.
I took a deep breath and immediately held my breath for fear of disturbing this rare painting.
On the way to Mingsha Mountain, there is a pavilion on the right. The long wooden trestle can be reached, and the reeds and Achnatherum splendens on both sides of the trestle sway with the wind, rising and falling from time to time. It seems to be telling the legendary story that happened here to the past tourists.
Desert, blue sky, green crescent spring, and a group of tourists riding camels not far away. No matter which angle you look at, it presents a picture of people living in harmony with nature.
Seen from a distance, Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring are like a couple who love each other. You hug me and I snuggle up to you.
Is the clear crescent spring stubbornly attached to quicksand because it loves it deeply, and has been flowing quietly in this boundless desert for thousands of years?
When our sight is getting closer and closer, two huge sand dunes standing in front of us occupy our sight instantly.
The whole Mingsha Mountain looks crystal clear, spotless under the sunlight, and the shapes of the Mingsha Mountain are various. Some are like pyramids, angular and towering; Some are like rivers, connected by bends.
If people slide down the mountain, the sand under their feet will rumble. Climb over the footprints of the sand mountain, and there will be no trace the next day.
According to historical records, Mingsha Mountain has been formed for more than 3000 years.
According to legend, Mingsha Mountain is the treasure house of the Jade Emperor. In order to stop those greedy treasure hunters, the Jade Emperor specially ordered Taibai Venus to be buried with yellow sand. So it is empty, so it makes a "cry" sound.
Some sisters who went with us have climbed halfway up the mountain and taken pictures there. Some people plan to climb to the top of the mountain and overlook the whole scenic spot.
2.
We walked slowly barefoot on Mingsha Mountain. Near the top of the mountain, a gust of wind blew and almost blew off my sun hat. We simply don't climb, sit down and look back at the crescent spring at the foot of the mountain.
She is like a crescent moon, with the clear green water, sleeping quietly around Mingsha Mountain.
Since ancient times, no one can explain this world wonder of "mountain spring, sand water and mountain". According to people's imagination, Mingsha Mountain is high and steep. When the wind blows, it will definitely drown the crescent spring at the foot of the mountain.
But throughout the ages, "Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring" have always been interdependent and harmonious.
I remember when I was in junior high school, I read a legend about Crescent Moon Spring:
"Tang Sanzang west to learn from the scriptures, must pass through Dunhuang. There is yellow sand all over the sky, no water and no food. Bai, who had been with Tang Priest, also died on the road.
Just as the Tang Priest was dying, it happened to be seen by Guanyin Bodhisattva. In order to save the Tang Priest, she dropped a drop of golden water in the golden bottle. It became a crescent-shaped spring. "
Spring is in quicksand, the drought is not over, the breeze is blowing and the blue waves are rippling. The water reflects Mingsha Mountain, which is surrounded by crescent spring. This beautiful scenery has attracted countless tourists to visit.
Before we had time to climb the top of Mingsha Mountain, we didn't go to several pavilions around Crescent Spring. It's five o'clock in the afternoon again, and the tour guide's phone call came, so we had to leave with regret.
It takes at least one day to have fun here.
As the tour bus goes further and further, Mingsha Mountain is gradually blurred in our sight, and only Tian Zhen's "Crescent Moon Spring" echoes in our ears for a long time:
"On the other side of the day, far, far away.
There is a beautiful crescent spring, which is the mirror of the sky and the eye of the desert.
A paradise bathed in stars, I walked through the crescent spring that year.
Since then, the soul has been dreaming ... "
3.
While we were still immersed in the picture of Crescent Moon Spring, the tour guide began to tell the story of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, which was the finale of this trip.
The next day, when we visited the Mogao Grottoes, we watched a large indoor sitcom "Look at Dunhuang again" in the evening.
When we followed the guide into a gravel-paved slope, we made several big turns before reaching the hall.
The delicate yellow sand paved T-shaped platform avenue and the intentional Silk Road. Those who have made contributions to the historical and cultural road of Dunhuang are coming to us one by one.
Time seems to have taken us through thousands of years ago, from Zhang Qian, who was sent to the western regions, to Princess Xiangfu, from Xuanzang, who became a monk, to Kumarajiva, Zhang Yichao and poet Wang Wei. ...
Travel-stained, they crossed the Silk Road and the Yellow Sand, bringing their stories back to Dunhuang in the Millennium.
While everyone is still immersed in this historical picture, the second act slowly opens.
There are many boxes this time. Every box looks heavy and feels full of treasures.
Just when everyone was surprised, a bright light hit the Taoist king who sold national treasures for silver.
His face is full of pain, and he is telling people: "I haven't had a quiet day since I found the Tibetan Sutra Cave."
Facing the reviled by the world, he begged, repented and cried to the bodhisattva on the wall. ...
But I am a vast country, so many treasures have been lost overseas, and it is unfair to blame all the historical mistakes on a Taoist priest.
4.
Seeing the scene in front, I found that many tourists around me were crying and the atmosphere became dignified.
With heartache, we came to the fourth scene, and this time visitors can sit down and watch.
In the picture of yellow sand all over the sky and desert marching. Zhang Yichao sent ten envoys to Chang 'an to report to the court on reopening the Silk Road.
It's a long way, a long way. Some of the messengers were buried by yellow sand, while others froze to death and starved to death on the way.
In the end, only one person arrived in Chang' an, and it was a narrow escape ... how tragic!
"How long is a year, a moment?
How long is a life, a moment?
How long is a thousand years, an instant?
Spring came and winter came, and a thousand years passed ... "
Finally, the plot slowly came to an end in the dialogue between a young scholar and the poet Wang Wei.
5.
Mogao Grottoes, commonly known as "Thousand Buddha Cave", is located more than 20 kilometers southeast of Dunhuang City. Bathe in the desert with Mingsha Mountain and sleep in the sunshine and bright moon with Crescent Spring.
People who have been to the Mogao Grottoes say, "The sooner you go, the better. You should take a look less.
The water exhaled by people and the sunlight transmitted in will damage the murals and sculptures in the cave. I'm really worried that this world cultural heritage will disappear one day. "
This scenic spot, which witnessed the prosperity of Dunhuang, is only open in the morning and restricted every day.
It is located at the waist of an inconspicuous khaki mountain range. When you enter the Mogao Grottoes, the first thing you see is the majestic and towering Hong Ting.
It is about nine stories high. It is built on the mountain and magnificent, especially in the caves. Its number is Cave 96, which is a must-see place to visit the Mogao Grottoes.
Following the footsteps of the commentator, we slowly walked into this world-famous art treasure house. There are 735 large and small caves in Mogao Grottoes, some of which are well preserved, some of which have been damaged and are being repaired.
The most far-reaching influence is the cave 130. According to the stone carving at the door:
This cave was dug in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, and it looks like a giant Buddha cave with a roof. Maitreya is 26 meters high and covered with a bucket roof. There are two bright windows on the east wall, and a niche is opened on the south and north walls of the tunnel.
The Buddha statue is majestic, also known as the "Nanda statue". The weight is second only to the 96th hole (north elephant).
Every mural in the cave is wonderful and colorful. Cave ceiling murals are also called "thousand Buddha paintings".
Every Buddha statue is lifelike, sitting or lying down. When we admired the wisdom of the ancients, the commentator added, "Dunhuang murals and statues are made of natural mineral pigments, which are ground from ores and have bright and heavy colors."
Those peaceful and peaceful Buddha statues, those free and easy flying, those thousand hands sitting on Guanyin, all make people sigh and indulge.
Even the lotus square brick at the foot is a treasure for thousands of years. ...
"A cave will last a lifetime, a cave will last a dynasty, and a painting will tell a story." The sweat of those hard workers and the painstaking efforts of those craftsmen and painters have created today's world-famous artistic treasures.
Here, we seem to see that generations of unknown craftsmen have exhausted their body temperature and warmed the compassion of the Bodhisattva.
Let this place radiate the light of faith and wisdom forever.