Dunhuang
has a long history. As early as the New Stone Age
there had been buman beings living on this land.
Dunhuang County, which was built in the 6th year
of Yuanding of Wu Enterer (111 BC), Han Dynasty,
owns a history of over 2,000 years.
At the beginning
of Western Han, the Huns occupied this area. After
his succeeding to the throne, Emperor Wu sent Zhang
Qian, a senior official, as an envoy to the Western
Regions for the first time in the 3rd year (138BC)
of his reign. Then, in the spring of 121 BC, he
sent troops led by Biaoji General Huo Qubing to
recapture Dunhuang and set up the Yang Pass and
the Yumen Pass.
In the 2nd year of Yuanding (115BC),
Han Dynasty, Zhang Qian visited the Western Regions
as an envoy for the second time and opened up the
Silk Road. So Dunhuang enter its thriving stage
for the first time and developed stop by step into
the northwestern military and political center,
Besides, it was also an important place for trade
and culture, becoming a large metropolis, which
connected the people of Han Nationalities with the
tribes in the Western China. From Western Han to
Western Liang, Dunhuang suffered from chaos caused
by wars, and rose and fell for over 400 years.
In 366 AD, Monk Yue Seng opened up the Mogao Grottoes
for the first time. And in Northern Wei, they had
become very prosperous, then China was unified in
Sui Dynasty and as a result the Silk Road was ensured
unblocked and the Buddhism in Dunhuang entered a
period of great prosperity. A lot of caves, murals
and sculptures which were made in Tang Dynasty had
reached to a very high artistic level. In the 19
th year of Zhenguan (645 AD), after getting Buddhist
scriptures from the Western Regions, Monk Xuan Zang
got back to Chang'an via Dunhuang.
Dunhuang was
occupied by Tubo Dynasty in 781 AD. In 851 AD, Zhang
Yi, arich person in Shazhou, convened a lot of people
of Han, Hui and Longqiang Nationalities to revolt
and then recaptured this land. But in 1036 AD, Li
Yuanhao, the leader of Dangxiang Nationality captured
Dunhuang. And in the same year, the world-famous "Dunhuang Surviving Works" were sealed
up for safekeeping in Mogao Grottoes. In 1036 AD,
Dunhuang became a part of Western Xia. And in 1227
AD, the Western Xia was conquered by Mongolian troops.
From then on, Dunhuang was under control of them.
In Yuan Dynasty, the culture in Dunhuang became
unprecedentedly prosperous and the business transaction
between this land and Western Regions became more
and more frequent.
In 1403 AD, the leader of Dunhuang came over and
pledged allegiance to Ming Dynasty. And in 1524
AD, it became a part of Tulufan Kingdom. In the
54th year of Kangxi, Qing Dynasty, the royal troops
recaptured Dunhuang. And in the first year of his
reign, Emperor YongZheng set up Shazhou Section
in Dunhuang and promoted it to Shazhou Guard two
years later. He also sent a lot of troops and forced
people to go there to plough and sow seeds. Besides,
he ordered to divert the water of Danghe River to
Dunhuang and divide it into 10 ditches to irrigate
the farmlands. As a result, Dunhuang became an oasis
in the desert. In 1760 AD, the authorities of Qing
Dynasty promoted Shazhou to Dunhuang County. On
Sept 28th 1949, it was liberated in peace and on
Oct. 7th, the People's Government of Dunhuang County
was established.
On Sept. 28th, 1987, it was changed
from a county to a city and was designated by the
State Council as one of the first cities open to
foreigners.
In 1986, it was named the Famous City
of China for History and Culture. In 1992, the government
of Gansu Province approved it to be Dunhuang Tourist
and Economic Development Region.
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