China - Silk Road 06 - Into the Desert
I grab an afternoon excursion bus on impulse. All I know from the photos on the advertising is that it's a trip into the desert and I'll see sunset out there. No English spoken, but what can go wrong? I don't fancy sitting in the city and not seeing the desert, it's what I came here for after all.
The bus bounces out into the far desert along a rough road for what seemed like an eternity, I was questioning my rationale on taking this tour. After nearly two hours, we arrive at the Yan Dan desert area not long before sunset as a series of thunderclouds roll through. I'm not sure if this is Gobi or Taklamakan Desert - they kind of overlap here.
I didn't have high expectations, just some lookout point to see a sunset I figured. What greeted me was a wild landscape of wind sculpted rock outcrops in an endless sea of shifting sands. The low glowing sun makes for some amazing shapes and colours under the dark clouds.
The rest of the passengers seem content to get off the bus, take a selfie and get back to doom scrolling Weebo. It's easy to wander a short distance and enjoy the scene unfold in some peace and solitude. The vastness of the desert out here is incredible.
If you're ever in Dunhuang, or are looking for a good place to see some Silk Road desert, add Ya Dan to your list.
