Dunhuang, located in the meeting point of Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang, is
world famous for its brilliant and profound culture. It is the best stop of the
Silk Road in Gansu and is the gateway to Xinjiang and the area beyond. In the
past the ancient caravans from central China to the Western Region stopped at
Dunhuang to replenish before they went into the Taklimakan Desert. The caravans
coming out of the desert from the other end also stopped there before they
continued eastward into central China.