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Oasis on China's ancient Silk Road now draws tourists not traders
This version of Oasis Chinas Ancient Silk Road Now Draws Tourists Not Traders Flna1C9901258 - Breaking News | NBC News Clone was adapted by NBC News Clone to help readers digest key facts more efficiently.
A guide leads camels near the Yueyaquan Crescent Lake.Ed Jones / AFP - Getty Images
A view of the Yueyaquan Crescent Lake, near the city of Dunhuang in China's northwestern Gansu province, on May 12, 2013.Ed Jones / AFP - Getty ImagesCamels at rest in the desert near Dunhuang.Ed Jones / AFP - Getty ImagesA man smokes a cigarette near the Yueyaquan Crescent Lake.Ed Jones / AFP - Getty ImagesA Muslim food vendor cooks at his stall in Dunhuang.Ed Jones / AFP - Getty ImagesA guide leads camels near the Yueyaquan Crescent Lake.Ed Jones / AFP - Getty Images
Formerly a Silk Road hub and center for trade between China and the West, the city of Dunhuang relies heavily on tourism and features a number of historic sites dating back to the Han Dynasty. The city in China's northwestern Gansu province has an arid climate and is surrounded by sand dunes, a result of increasing desertification.
