About 6 kilometers (3.73 miles) south of Dunhuang city, and surrounded by the Echoing-Sand Mountain, Crescent Lake (Yueyaquan) is a wonder in the Gobi Desert. It was named Crescent Lake since Qing Dynasty.

According to measurement made in 1960, the average depth of the lake was 4 to 5 meters, with maximum depth 7.5 meters. In the following 40 years, the depth of lake continually declined. In the early 1990s, the area of the lake had shrunken to only 1.37 acre with average depth of 0.9 meter (maximum 1.3 meter). Having been lying among these sand dunes for thousands of years, although given many surprise attacks by sandstorms, Crescent Spring still gurgles clear, and still remains worthy as the first spring in the desert.

It is said that the Crescent Lake has been the famous tourist attraction since Han Dynasty. Here you can appreciate not only the dramatic view where an oasis meets the desert, but also some fun sand adventures including camel riding, sand sliding.