The air crackles with anticipation as a festive buzz echoes through an ancient city.
Forget the winter chill — the desert oasis of Dunhuang, jewel of Northwest China's Gansu province, and gateway to the Silk Road, is ablaze with light and life.
As the Chinese New Year approaches, Dunhuang is celebrating in spectacular style with a dazzling Lantern Festival, offering an immersive journey into the heart of its ancient glory. Just like the scene described in the Old Book of Tang, an official dynastic history of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), horses and carriages flow like dragons, merchants gather like clouds; for the Lantern Festival's exhibits of lanterns, Chang'an (modern-day Xi'an and the capital of the Tang Dynasty) ranks first, with Dunhuang second.
Imagine strolling beneath a canopy of stars, the scent of spiced lamb and sweet apricots mingling with the sound of traditional melodies. This isn't just a night market; it's a time-traveling adventure that transcends centuries.
Originally a small, spontaneous street market in the city, the Dunhuang Night Market has blossomed into a sprawling 130,000-square-meter nightlife hub, attracting tourists from around the world, particularly due to the fame of the nearby Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, according to Wang Jingwei, the market's general manager.
Last month, the market introduced its first-ever lantern festival, inspired by Dunhuang's rich cultural tapestry. The event features 22 large-scale themed lantern displays and more than 1,200 unique decorative lanterns.
Supported by cutting-edge technology, figures and elements from the renowned Mogao murals, such as the flying apsara and nine-colored deer, normally static, are brought to life. Among the highlights are an imposing 15-meter-tall flying horse and a 9-meter-tall gourd, which symbolizes good fortune and prosperity.
The lantern festival also offers interactive experiences via a special "silver ticket" — limited to 100,000 in number and each featuring Dunhuang artwork.
The tickets serve as both souvenirs and passes to a range of fun activities. People dressed in costumes, such as graceful musicians and treasure-bearing merchants, hand out tickets that allow visitors to participate in quizzes and role-playing games, as well as redeem cultural gifts unique to the city.
Food, though, is the main draw of the night market. From pancakes packed with tender beef and seasoned with the unique flavor of shacong, a wild herb native to the region, to Hu-style lamb stew with flatbread, a dish with deep historical roots dating back to when Central Asian influences first settled in the area, the night fair offers a diverse array of flavors. All that can be washed down with a refreshing glass of apricot peel water, a libation rich in local flavor.
The night market is also a living museum, bringing the rich heritage of the city and the ancient Silk Road to life through a mixture of art, performances and craftsmanship, such as young artisans demonstrating ancient local clay sculpting.
"You'll see streets lined with lanterns that echo the ancient glow of the Mogao Caves, while the air fills with music and the enticing smells of street food. It's a great setting for first-time explorers to experience the city's unique blend of cultures," said Wang, the general manager.
The night market's new additions have also generated a fair amount of buzz on social media. Posts on Xiaohongshu, or RedNote, about the Dunhuang Night Market have received over 18.8 million views.
Tourism to the city has grown significantly in recent years. According to Wang, in 2025, Dunhuang welcomed more than 5.26 million tourists, a year-on-year increase of 30 percent. Among the visitors, the number of international tourists exceeded 400,000.
Making it easy for more overseas visitors to enjoy the delights of the night market and other attractions in and around the city, the newly launched China Bound mini program offers a dedicated Dunhuang city page. Currently, users can win tickets to some of the timeless dramatic productions showcasing the region's rich cultural heritage. The Dunhuang Cultural Tourism Group is offering 100 tickets to users leaving comments and reviews about their experiences in Dunhuang.
Tips for visitors
An oasis of wonder
What: Lantern Festival at the Dunhuang Night Market
When: 7 pm to 12 am daily until March 31. Free entry.
Where: No 447, Yangguan Zhonglu, Shazhou district, Dunhuang, Gansu province
Visitors can win tickets to Dynamic Dunhuang or Encore Dunhuang by leaving comments or reviews on our newly launched China Bound mini program, available on both Alipay and WeChat. A total of 100 tickets are being offered.
chennan@chinadaily.com.cn
