The Mingsha Mountain and the Crescent Moon Spring Scenic Spot locates at 5km south of Dunhuang City in Gansu. Since time immemorial, the scenic spot is famous across the whole world for its “Coexistence of mountain and spring, sand and water”. It is appraised as “Unique Scenery in the north of Great Wall”, and listed as National Key Tourist Attractions of the People's Republic of China in 1994.

The Mingsha Mountain and the Crescent Moon Spring integrate with the artistic landscape of the Mogao Grottoes, forming the “Two Bests” in the southern Dunhuang City and becoming the tourist resort attractive not only to Chinese but to people from the world.

The Mingsha Mountain is so named due to the sound-making sand. It used to be called as “Shajiao Mountain” or “Shensha Mountain”. The Crescent Moon Spring is embraced in the bosom of the Mingsha Mountain and obtained its name for its crescent-like shape. Formerly called “Sand Well” or “Medicine Spring” with the floor area of 0.88 hectares and average depth of water as about 3 meters, it boasts sweet and cool water, clear as the mirror. After more than several thousand years, the spring survived even in the dry desert. Inside the spring are various grass and fishes contrasting nicely with the mountain around.

About over 300 meters long and 50 meters wide, the Crescent Moon Spring is surrounded by the Mingsha Mountain. The poplars stand elegantly beside the spring and fishes swim happily and leisurely. The spring water tastes fresh and sweet and water in the color of light blue. It gets the name for its crescent-like shape. The Crescent Moon Spring is a dream-like riddle for it surprisingly survives from the desert. Therefore, it really lives up to its name of “First Desert Spring under Heaven”.