The buildings located in Ghost City are varied, ranging from 4-5 meters, to more than 20 meters in height, and from dozens of meters to hundreds of meters in length and width, to look like a mediaeval castle. The styles of the buildings inside are elegant and unconventional. There are city walls, streets, multi-storied buildings, squares and sculptures in the castle, all arranged in a picturesque disorder.

On the outskirts of the town, the buildings are sparsely distributed. Inside, however, one can see sand hills scattered randomly in different shapes, some resembling ivory towers, while others look like hay stacks.

Ghost City is divided into southern and northern districts, with every scenic spot within looking magnificent. Many world-famous buildings have their roots in this town, such as the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China, the Potala Palace in Tibet, the Arab Mosque and the pyramids in Egypt. Being in Ghost City is like visiting a magnificent museum of architecture.

This unique site has drawn attention from the film industry: Many famous films such as Hero and Legend of the Touch were shot here.

 Background

Apart from Dunhuang Ghost City, there are two other ghost cities in China:

Wuher Ghost City

Located in the northwest Junggar basin, 100 km form the City of Kelamayi, this ghost city covers an area of 10 square km. Research shows that there used to be a freshwater lake full of lush plants and many ancient animals, including the wuerhosauru, plesiosaurus, etc. Two diastrophisms transformed the lake into a land vast with sandstones and shales, or the "Gobi Mesa." Crude asphaltum and underground oil abound in the surrounding areas.

Nuomin Wind City Ghost City

Located in the Nuomin belt northwest of the Gobi Desert, this ghost city covers an area of over 100 square km and is bigger than Wuher Ghost City.