▲Crescent Lake, near Dunhuang in western China, is a veritable desert oasis. Straddling the ancient Silk Road trade route the lake, known as Yueyaquan in Chinese, is a 2000-year-old natural wonder.

Click through the gallery and discover more about this fabled and beguiling destination.

▲A veritable oasis, picturesque Yueyaquan features blankets of lush greenery—an incongruous verdant canvas set against an arid desert backdrop.

▲The lake's Mingyue Pavilion framed by the Mingsha Mountain sand dunes.

▲Besides the lake, visitors can explore the site's ancient buildings, including the centerpiece Mingyue Pavilion.

▲Crescent Lake is 218 m long from east to west and 54 m from north to south. Depth has varied over the years, from approximately 7.5 m 50 years ago to a worryingly low 0.9 m in the early 1990s. In 2006 the local government refilled the lake, which has increased in depth ever since.

▲The encroaching Mingsha Mountain sand dunes—reinforced by the mighty Gobi desert—have always threatened to engulf the fragile oasis.

▲Made entirely from wood, Yueyaquan's impressive tiered pavilion amazes with its multiple gables and overhanging eaves.

▲Crescent Lake is located about 6 km south of the city of Dunhuang, in Gansu Province, northwest China. It stands on the ancient Silk Road route.

▲Intricate in detail and crafted by expert hands, the lake's pavilion building work blends well with the surrounding landscape.

▲The lake's remarkable longevity is due to its low altitude and the fact that its position prevents excess sand from the surrounding dunes smothering it.

▲A hugely popular tourist site, the lake is regularly appreciated by visitors arriving from nearby Danhuang.

▲As dusk creeps up on the lake, the idyllic and tranquil setting is enhanced considerably by the illuminated form of the Mingyue Pavilion.

▲Yueyaquan's towering Mingyue Pavilion is a wonderful example of ornate Chinese Han Dynasty architecture.

▲Visitors are free to roam the site and climb the pavilion, which affords jaw-dropping views of the surrounding dunes.

▲The traditional manner by which to explore Crescent Lake is by camel. It's also the easiest way to explore the Gobi Desert.

▲Located about 180 km northwest of Dunhuang, the park is distinguished by a series of mysterious rock formations. (Photo: CC BY NC-ND 2.0)

▲The uniquely shaped rocks have evolved over a period of 700,000 years. Pictured is a formation known as "The Golden Lion Welcoming His Guests." (Photo: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

▲Nestling at the foot of the Mingsha Mountain sand dunes is a belt of emerald flora, nourished by the lake's pure spring water.

▲The odd-looking pagodas standing outside the Mogao Caves appear as sentinels guarding the treasures within.

▲The nearby city of Dunhuang is an ideal base from which to discover the region's cultural riches. Pictured is the entrance to the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

▲Also known as the Thousand Buddah Grottoes, the caves constitute a system of 492 temples which contain sublime examples of richly endowed Buddhist art spanning a period of some 1,000 years.

▲Centuries of erosion by wind and rain has shaped Yardang's weird, unworldly landscape.(Photo: CC BY 2.0)

▲A camel train makes its way across the celebrated singing sand dunes, a spectacular feature of the Kumtag Desert's Mingsha Mountains. Wind passing over the surface emits a strange whistling sound, which echoes mournfully in the air.

▲A shopkeeper carves a traditional Chinese seal, known as a chop, in the city's busy night market.

▲Erected on 4th-century foundations and rebuilt in 1844, the mud brick White Horse Pagoda honors a loyal steed owned by Kumarajiva, a Buddhist master. (Photo: CC BY 2.0)

▲Recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, this once impregnable military fortress standing on the Silk Road dates back to the Han Dynasty.

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Likewise, the Yang Pass, which also dates back to 120 BC, was an important landmark on the Silk Road.

▲Other cave sites located around the Dunhuang area include the Western Thousand Buddha Caves. Again, the cave walls are festooned with stunning examples of Buddhist artwork. (Photo: CC BY-NC 2.0)

▲The lake is accessed via a visitor center facility replete with landscaped gardens and an additional water feature.

▲Named for the fresh water spring that resembles the shape of a half moon, the lake is believed to have existed for around 2,000 years. It's known as Yueyaquan in Chinese.

▲Enclosed within its sandy amphitheater, the pavilion and its outhouses appear as if they were built using plastic Lego bricks.

This Chinese 2000-year-old natural wonder is a true desert oasis

Crescent Lake is known as Yueyaquan by the Chinese

06/04/20 por StarsInsider

TRAVEL China

Surrounded by enormous sand dunes, Crescent Lake, near Dunhuang in western China, is a verdant desert oasis. Situated on the ancient Silk Road, the lake known as Yueyaquan in Chinese is an extraordinary 2000-year-old natural wonder.

Browse the gallery and find out more about one of China's most fabled and beguiling destinations.