Located 5 kilometers south of Dunhuang, a county-level city, in the Mingsha (Singing Sand) Mountains, the Crescent Spring scenic spot is quite literally an oasis in the desert. The spring's name derives from the crescent moon shape of the small pool between two large sand dunes. Although the area is very dry, the pool doesn't dry up as one might expect.

The Mingsha Mountains are famous for the sounds the wind makes when blowing over the dunes. Also, the sand is said to be noisy when you walk on it. The dunes are also famous for their size, some reaching 100 meters or more, and their stability despite the fact that the dunes beyond the mountains shift frequently. Also, the sands are said to regain form overnight if they've been trod upon that day.