Some 70km southwest of Dunhuang is the Yang Pass. It was first built by Wudi emperor in Han Dynasty. Here, Han Dynasty beacon towers marked the caravan route westwards and warned of advancing invaders, but what remains has now largely disappeared under the shifting sands. Nowaday, the nearby area has been developed to the largest grape farm in the region.

98km northwest of Dunhuang, the Yumen Pass is also a well-known spot at the ancient Silk Road. Caravans heading out of China would travel up the Gansu corridor to Dunhuang, the Yumen Pass was the starting point of the road which ran across the north of what is now Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and the Yang Pass was the start of the route which cut through the south of the region.

Dunhuang Photo Gallery