Inside a 2,000 year old oasis in the desert of China

Located on the ancient Silk Road, Nguyet Nha Tuyen Lake is a 2,000 year old natural wonder in the middle of the Gobi desert in China.

Picture 1 of Inside a 2,000 year old oasis in the desert of China
The Tuyen Nha Nguyet is
located in a desert near Dunhuang City, Gansu Province, China. This semicircular lake is thought to have appeared 2,000 years ago.

Picture 2 of Inside a 2,000 year old oasis in the desert of China
The lake is 218m long and 54m wide. The water level in the lake ranged over the years, from 7.5 m 50 years ago to 0.9 m in the early 1990s. In 2006, local authorities added more water to the lake.

Picture 3 of Inside a 2,000 year old oasis in the desert of China
The oasis is located on the ancient Silk Road and is now a tourist attraction in China.

Picture 4 of Inside a 2,000 year old oasis in the desert of China
In addition to Nguyet Nha Tuyen Lake, visitors can explore ancient buildings in an oasis in the desert.

Picture 5 of Inside a 2,000 year old oasis in the desert of China
The oasis is surrounded by towering sand dunes in the Gobi desert.

Picture 6 of Inside a 2,000 year old oasis in the desert of China
Located in the low-lying sand and lower than the surrounding sand dunes, the semi-chapel is less evaporated and does not run dry for 2,000 years.

Picture 7 of Inside a 2,000 year old oasis in the desert of China
Everyday, Nguyet Nha Tuyen lake welcomes a large number of visitors from Dunhuang city.

Picture 8 of Inside a 2,000 year old oasis in the desert of China
Visitors are free to explore the natural lake as well as the surrounding ancient buildings.

Picture 9 of Inside a 2,000 year old oasis in the desert of China
The buildings at Nguyet Nha Tuyen are stunningly illuminated when night falls.

Picture 10 of Inside a 2,000 year old oasis in the desert of China
The traditional way to reach Nguyet Nha Tuyen lake is by camel. This is also the easiest way to explore the Gobi desert.

Picture 11 of Inside a 2,000 year old oasis in the desert of China
The fields of flowers and green grass in the middle of the desert are supplied with water from Nguyet Nha Tuyen lake.

Picture 12 of Inside a 2,000 year old oasis in the desert of China
Next to Nguyet Nha Tuyen Lake, visitors can explore mysterious rock structures in Dunhuang National Geopark in the Gobi desert.

Picture 13 of Inside a 2,000 year old oasis in the desert of China
Stone structures like these were formed 700,000 years ago.

Picture 14 of Inside a 2,000 year old oasis in the desert of China
These rocks are formed through erosion due to wind and rain.