Tourists ride a powered glider on June 10 in the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring scenic area in Dunhuang city, Gansu province. [Photo by Zhang Xiaoliang/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Located at the intersection of the ancient Silk Road and the desert oasis, Dunhuang in Northwest China's Gansu province is embracing the low-altitude economy to boost tourism development.

In recent years, the Dunhuang flying apsaras project, operated in the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring scenic area, has been providing low-altitude aerial tourism services for visitors.

Tourists in the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring scenic area, Dunhuang city of Gansu province. [Photo by Zhang Xiaoliang/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Tourists can board helicopters and powered gliders to admire the beauty of the desert oasis and Crescent Moon Spring from the air. So far, more than 300,000 domestic and foreign tourists have taken advantage of the opportunity.

In November 2024, the Dunhuang flying apsaras project was recognized in the second round of demonstration cases for the integrated development of transportation and tourism nationwide.

In addition to the low-altitude aerial tourism services, other cultural and tourism experiences, such as camel rides, travel photography, desert motorcycles, and the starry sky concert, have gained popularity.

These immersive experiences allow visitors to appreciate the majestic desolation of the desert and the delicate beauty of the Crescent Moon Spring, truly achieving a glimpse of the soul of Dunhuang.

Tourists in the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring scenic area, Dunhuang city of Gansu province. [Photo by Zhang Xiaoliang/for chinadaily.com.cn]