Yueya spring is located at the northern foot of Mingsha mountain, 5km south of Dunhuang City, Gansu Province. Since ancient times, it has been famous for the wonderful landscape of "coexistence of mountain and spring, coexistence of sand and water", known as "one of the most beautiful scenery outside the Great Wall", and designated as a national key scenic spot in 1994.
Yueya spring is located at the northern foot of Mingsha mountain, surrounded by Mingsha mountain. It is 300 meters long from east to west, 50 meters wide from north to south, and about 5 meters deep. The shape of the spring is like a crescent moon, so it is called Yueya spring. In ancient times, it was called "Shajing", also known as "Yaoquan". It was once falsely said that "wowa pool" was named "Yueya spring" in Qing Dynasty. It covers an area of 0.88 hectares, with an average water depth of about 3 meters. The water is sweet and clear as a mirror. The spring is surrounded by Mingsha mountain, but it is not covered by quicksand. It is always rippling blue waves, clear to the bottom, long rain does not overflow, and long drought does not dry up. The spring is filled with stars and grass, iron fish and waves. The scenery is very beautiful. The magic of it is that quicksand can never fill the spring.
Crescent Spring
Crescent spring < I (English: Crescent Lake) < / I located in crescent spring scenic area, formerly known as Shajing, commonly known as Yaoquan, is located at the northern foot of Mingsha mountain, 5km southwest of Dunhuang City, Gansu Province.
Yueya spring is nearly 100 meters long from north to South and 25 meters wide from east to west. The spring is about 5 meters deep in the East and shallow in the West. It is as curved as a crescent moon. Therefore, it is named "the first spring in the desert". It has been one of the "eight Dunhuang sceneries" since the Han Dynasty. It was listed as a national scenic spot in 1994.
In Yueya spring, there are Eupatorium and CHAROPHYTES. On the south bank, there are dense reeds, surrounded by quicksand. Although there is strong wind, the spring is not covered by sand. Because "the spring reflects the moon and is free of dust", "the ancient sand does not fill the spring, and the spring does not dry up", it has become a wonder. Mingsha mountain and Yueya spring are twin sisters in the desert and Gobi. "Mountains sing with spirit, and water is beautiful with spirit.". It has the feeling of "the pleasant nature of Mingsha mountain and the heart washing by crescent spring".
Yueya spring is one of the most outstanding natural landscapes in Dunhuang. It is famous for its "desert wonder" and "one of the most beautiful scenery outside the Great Wall". The crescent spring, the nine storey building of Mogao Grottoes and the artistic landscape of Mogao Grottoes are the "three wonders" in the south of Dunhuang City, and become the tourist attractions that people in China and even the world yearn for.