Gansu, to which Dunhuang belongs, is one of China’s most unusual shaped provinces. It is long and narrow, with two bulbous extremities and it appears to arc around neighbouring Qinghai. This distinctive form has been shaped by the dramatic geography of the region. Gansu is wedged between the two elevated plains, the Tibetan Plateau to the West and Loess Plateau to the East. The south of the province, which the Yellow River flows through, is generally mountainous whereas the north is far flatter. The vast majority of this landlocked territory rests over 1000 metres above sea level. The Hexi Corridor, a natural land passage and ancient trade route, runs for a thousand kilometres from the provincial capital Lanzhou in the south to the Jade Gate near Dunhuang.

Dunhuang is located at the northwest of the province, geographically closer to Xinjiang than the administrative centre in Lanzhou.

The city is fed by the Dang River, which originates in the Shule South Mountains in Qinghai Province. The Dang might not seem like much of waterway but it is a vital lifeline making Dunhuang habitable in a largely inhospitable region. The city is lined by sand-tolerant vegetation planted to protect Dunhuang from desertification. 

As one might expect of a desert, people don’t come to Dunhuang for the flora and fauna. However, there are a few animals to watch out for including rare wild camels.

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