True Story of Xuan Zang's Journey to the West

Xuanzang, a 7th-century Chinese monk, traveled west to India to obtain the Buddhist scriptures. Five beacons lined the border of the Tang Dynasty. Each one was 30 miles apart, and each had a guardian general. When Xuanzang arrived at the fourth beacon, Bolong Wang, the guardian general there, told Xuanzang that he needed to find Wild Horse Spring as a water source if he planned to cross the desert. Bolong Wang pointed toward the spring and gave Xuanzang a big water bag.

Xuanzang left the fourth beacon and walked toward the large Moheyanqi Desert. The desert was over 250 miles long and had no signs of life: no birds flying above, no animals running around, and not even a drop of water or blade of grass could be seen. Xuanzang entered the vast desert alone and walked from dawn to evening and then evening to daybreak.