Millennium Dunhuang? Always there

I have been longing for Dunhuang for a long time. I have been studying in Lanzhou for four years and I have not been able to go there. I made an appointment with my friends to go there during the graduation season, but we were unable to go because we all went our separate ways at that time. . I came to Lanzhou again by chance, and I thought that I couldn't miss it again. It happened to be the National Day holiday, so this trip to Dunhuang became a matter of course.

I started booking tickets three or four days in advance. There were no tickets on the official website, so I prepared two plans. One was to grab Dunhuang tickets on Ctrip, and the other was to take the Zhangye route and enter through Jiayuguan if I couldn’t get it. Dunhuang. Fortunately, I got it at the end, so I can have full energy to savor this mysterious ancient city. I planned to go to the Mogao Grottoes first, so I booked tickets on the official Mogao Grottoes ticketing website, so that I felt settled after getting all the tickets and tickets. Because I had been busy with work before the holiday, I didn't have time to do any homework. I only occasionally looked up guides and introductions, so I always felt uneasy about not being ready to see her before setting off.

When I arrived at Lanzhou Station, I felt a sense of familiarity. I remembered that every time I went home during the holidays, I dragged my big luggage and took the bus here. I had been to every corner here, and I was fascinated by it with my eyes closed. Know which direction to go. I haven’t seen it in three years, but it’s still the same dirty and messy place. During the peak travel period on November 1, the crowding and smell in the waiting room are simply unbearable. Even so, I fell asleep while sitting in the waiting room after only sleeping for forty minutes the night before.

I hate sleepers, especially the middle and upper berths. It takes a lot of effort to climb up. There is a clanking sound when I sleep. It doesn’t affect my sleep, but when I wake up the next day, my head feels like it. This feeling of Hong Hong is really uncomfortable. After getting on the bus, it was stuffy and crowded, and I didn't feel the pleasure of traveling at all. It was as if I was destined to endure such an unbearable messy environment the moment I got on the bus, as if I had been kidnapped. As the train started slowly, the impatience suddenly disappeared, and suddenly I felt the fun of riding the train again. There is a lot of fun in taking a train, such as meeting strangers from all over the world, appreciating the scenery along the way, and pretending not to have any worries. The greater pleasure is that during the period when the train is swaying, regardless of worldly affairs, it takes me to unknown distances.

Mogao Grottoes, also known as Thousand Buddha Cave, is one of the four major grottoes. The perfect combination of religion and art astonishes every visitor here. *** visited ten caves. Every time I entered a cave, the guide would talk about its characteristics. So I knew that most of the brightly colored caves were repainted during the Qing Dynasty. I also learned that Ananga was always accompanied by Buddha. Ye, I know that thousands of Buddhas are equal and the Buddha's light shines everywhere. But there are more things I don’t know, including how Buddhism was introduced into China, the historical circumstances under which the Buddha statues in the Mogao Grottoes were excavated, what the meaning of those flying murals is, and the joy of long-distance travel. The moment he saw the golden light, what thoughts flashed through his mind that prompted him to dig a cave and build a Buddha here... As the man walked away, some things had drifted away with the long yellow sand. I can only imagine that.

The most impressive of these Buddha statues are the nine-story Buddha in Cave 96 and the Sleeping Buddha in Cave 148. Nine-story means that the Buddha statue built in the cave is nine stories high, with a height of 45 meters. It was built during the reign of Wu Zetian. The image of the Buddha is quite feminine, and his clothes are also pleated skirts with the characteristics of the Tang Dynasty. From this point of view, this cave is more like a political means and a political enlightenment based on the people's beliefs. I used to hate the politicization of religion, but seeing the treasure-like works left behind in the Mogao Grottoes, I felt relieved. If not for the efforts of everyone, it would be difficult for only those devout Buddhists to complete this magnificent masterpiece. . The Sleeping Buddha, also called the Reclining Buddha, is 14.4 meters long. It represents the state of Sakyamuni's Nirvana. The Buddha has a peaceful expression, and behind him are Bodhisattvas, heavenly beings, etc. The so-called "Nirvana" refers to the extinguishing of the flames of greed, hatred, and ignorance in the world in the heart. In Buddhism, Nirvana means the state of abandonment, liberation, and non-attachment to ignorance and craving, and is the highest state of practice. The so-called death is life, first there is death and then there is life, this is also the truth.

Yangguan, named after being located south of Yumen Pass, was a fortress on the ancient Silk Road. The song "I urge you to drink one more glass of wine, leaving Yangguan in the west without any old friends" that I have sung since I was a child makes me feel inexplicably familiar with Yangguan, as if I had made a promise in my previous life and must come here. Entering Yangguan Gate, the first thing you see is Zhang Qian's heroic appearance on horseback. This persistent, brave and loyal adventurer opened the Silk Road from the Han Dynasty to the Western Regions with his passion and resourceful mind. Hou's title is well deserved.

In ancient times, you needed to pass the customs clearance to go out of Yangguan. After passing the customs, you will see the endless desert scene. If you take the sightseeing car to the viewing corridor, you can see the ruins of the former Yangguan. However, unlike the Yangguan in the impression, the fertility and greenery of Yangguan Town now are amazing. The vast vineyards make people mistakenly think that they are in a water town in the south of the Yangtze River. It is also called the Turpan of Gansu because of its abundant grapes. Suddenly, I understood why the ancients regarded water as the origin of the world. Just as the locals said that with water, everything is possible, and it is true.

The dry wind outside Yumen Pass has no trace of tenderness. The saying "the spring breeze does not reach Yumen Pass" is true; the harsh sunlight shines down mercilessly, stinging every inch of exposed skin. What an unfriendly Yumen Pass.

Wrapped up in a tight airtight, the "rustling" under my feet was the sound of shoes rubbing against gravel. My scarf and hair were fluttering in the wind. I hurriedly walked through the Yumenguan ruins, not caring about taking pictures or even appreciating this thousand-year-old ruins. . He walked by with his head down and his steps hurriedly, otherwise it would be hard for him to be chased and chased. Before getting in the car, I decided to take a picture of the shriveled but still stubbornly growing plants in this naked and endless scene, to remind myself that even in such a barren place, such a place with the least chance of survival, there is still life struggling. Only when I came to Dunhuang did I understand why the flowers blooming in the desert are said to be extremely precious, and I deeply appreciated the weight of the word precious.

From Yumen Pass to the Ancient Great Wall, the whole road is the Gobi Desert. The desert is as sandy as snow, which actually gives people the illusion that the sea and the sky are connected, and there are blue waves in the distance. After seeing this kind of scenery for a long time, I have become accustomed to it. When such a vast world comes into view, my whole heart opens up. However, it is said that the Kumtag Desert is approaching Dunhuang at a rate of 1-4 meters every year. I love it, but I am more worried about the serious consequences of desertification.

It is difficult to imagine the magnificence of the Yadan landform if you have not seen it with your own eyes. Due to crustal movement and climate change, the sea turned into flat land, and with the help of wind, Yadan became what it is today. Either in groups or independently, they have stood in the wind and sand for thousands of years, silently describing the vicissitudes of time they have gone through. When I first entered the park and saw Yadan for the first time, I couldn't help but exclaimed. I was deeply shocked and impressed by such magnificence. However, no matter how beautiful I feel, I would never want to fall into her arms. Her beauty has a sense of distance. You can only look at it from a distance and sigh, but you understand that you and her will not become one.

Free movement is not allowed in the scenic area, and the sightseeing bus takes tourists to four fixed scenic spots for viewing. At first, I felt that such a rule was simply unreasonable. There must be many people who want to get close to the Devil City and challenge the legend of being unable to escape. Later, she learned that a tourist entered the depths of Yadan and died of thirst after getting lost. She was shocked to realize that this place was indeed not a gentle place, and she had no patience to play with the curious. This confirmed the initial impression of her, which could only be seen from a distance.

When going to Dunhuang, in addition to the Mogao Grottoes, there is another stop that must be visited, which is Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring. The scenery outside the Great Wall is not undeserved. At the foot of the vast sand mountain, there is a scenery like the south of the Yangtze River on the water. Looking from the sand mountain, the Crescent Moon Spring is like a crescent moon, clear and translucent, complementing the greenery surrounding it. In the yellow sand in all directions Pay special attention.

As soon as I entered the Mingsha Mountain Scenic Area, I saw the mighty camel caravan stretching from the top of the mountain to the foot of the mountain. The sand mountain was dotted with people, and there were also people sliding down the mountain. The whole Mingsha Mountain was full of people. Shashan looks particularly lively. We experienced camel riding. During the journey, apart from the clear or low sound of bells, there was only the whine of the wind. The camel bells added a bit of fun to the journey without being too monotonous. The wind was strong that day, and the sky was full of dancing sand. You could judge the direction of the wind from the trajectory of the sand, and judge the direction of the sand from the whistling of the wind. It was like a chase and play between the wind and the sand. Only then did you understand that "you are the wind and I am the wind." "Sand" is such a romantic and wonderful vow. The happiest thing about climbing a sand mountain is that the fine sand pours into the shoes and eventually fills the entire shoe. At this time, I have to stop and pour the sand out. I always repeat this process endlessly, as if the naughty sand is playing hide and seek with me, or playing hide and seek with me. I'm kidding. Only by climbing the sand mountain can you have a panoramic view of the Crescent Moon Spring. The Crescent Moon Spring is like a pearl embedded in the boundless yellow sand. It is "the mirror of the sky and the eye of the desert".

There are siege equipment in front of the gate of the ancient city of Dunhuang. The moment I saw the trebuchet, I was excited. Ever since I saw that Wavelet’s homemade trebuchet actually used trigonometry and calculus. I developed an almost worshipful love for this cold weapon. How much wisdom and beauty are gathered in a small trebuchet. Nowadays, such magical equipment has been abandoned, just like this lonely ancient city, it is no longer bustling in the past, leaving only loneliness. This has become one of the film and television shooting bases, and many film and television works have been shot here. The ancient city is full of souvenir photos of popular stars and props set up for the show's effect. Whether the brave and mighty Han soldiers tasted the delicious noodles when they stopped here to rest, whether the business travelers who traveled long distances had stayed in the post house here, whether the pretty girls had indeed shown off their coquettishness in Yichun Courtyard, all of these are... No trace can be traced. Thinking about this, I think about how many wonderful things we have never had the opportunity to see each other again, which is a pity. Fortunately, we also remember a lot. We remember how the generals who scolded Fang Qiu fought bravely to show the majesty of the Celestial Empire. We remember how the camel bells resounded in the desert and awakened the land. We remember how hard it was for the hard-working and brave working people. A different kind of world has been opened up in this hot land.

Dun means great; Huang means prosperous. Walking from stop to stop, I felt the prosperity of the Silk Road, and appreciated the magnificence of the desert scenery. It bloomed in the harsh natural environment, and desolation and prosperity coexisted. It was probably the only place in Dunhuang. Dunhuang, which has existed for thousands of years, is just a wonderful flower in the desert. This place where several major ancient civilizations gathered together may be poor, desolate, or silent, but the brilliance and light of the past will shine on future generations, making those who come after you worship and yearn for it. A thousand years in an instant, a thousand years in an instant. Just as "Meeting Dunhuang Again" says, she is here, she has always been there, and we have always been there, from generation to generation, and will endure through eternity.