Chapter 11
Hi everyone,
Russie and I are on the train to Dunhuang,
known as the oasis city, where we’ll take a
bus to a very special place. After exploring
the beautiful White Cloud Mountain, we
are heading to the Gobi desert in north-
west China. Did you know that there are
twelve deserts in the country? Last year I
spent a couple of days in one of them so I
have decided to give Russie some tips on
what we should take with us:
little but when we arrive both my teacher
and I are stunned by their magnificence. A
tour guide tells us there are 492 cells and
cave sanctuaries which show the unique-
ness of Buddhist art.
• A silk scarf to protect you from the strong
sun
• Plenty of food and water
• Extra batteries for the camera so that we
don’t miss photos of the elegant dunes and
camels.
• Sun cream lotion
• Long-sleeved clothes which are ideal in the
cool nights and hot afternoons
• And finally, a compass
When we get to the train station, we take a
bus to our first destination, Mogao caves. I
remember visiting that place when I was
When we step inside, we are impressed by
the beauty of the murals and the size of
the Buddha sculptures. Dating back from
366 AD, the caves hide the finest examples
of Buddhist talent. Russie takes out her
guide book and reads that the caves were
specially built to be used by hermit monks
as a place for meditation and worship.
42