Live Your Best Lives
Among the desolate terrains on Earth, the desert has always topped the list. Whether it is the solitary smoke rising from the desert, the setting sun over the long river, or the desolate wilderness with no birds flying, or the lazy dream of thousands of mountains and hills, in our vision, the desert has always been far away from the border.
But with the spread of Alipay's Haloxylon ammodendron plantings and the desert being "swallowed" by artificial forests, the desert has once again entered our consciousness. From the days of "Dragon Gate Inn," when yellow sand filled the sky, and the sixty-year black sandstorms, when it was enclosed by grass grids, the desert seems to have gradually become endearing. With the launch of "Where Are We Going, Dad?", the desert has once again become a natural classroom for children.
There are many types of deserts, including those that are still migrating, the world's tallest sand dunes, those accompanied by lakes, and those with strange colors. If you look closely, you will find that each desert has its own temperament and characteristics, and the richness of the desert landscape is also reflected here.
The desert's allure lies in its ability to both give rise to and consume civilizations. Its mystique captivates our imaginations, but where does one begin in the desert? This guide will recommend the world's most travel-friendly desert landscapes, offering a quick introduction to desert travel and revealing the desert's extraordinary diversity and fascinating wonders.
my country's deserts are primarily distributed in the vast northwest region, accounting for 13% of the country's total area. These deserts are often found along the Silk Road, which departs from Xi'an and stretches from the Hexi Corridor to the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions. This route connects my country's eight famous deserts: the Taklamakan Desert (the largest), the Gurbantunggut Desert (farther away), the Badain Jaran Desert (China's most beautiful), the Tengger Desert (a top choice for newlyweds), the Ulan Buh Desert (now a green space), the Kubuqi Desert (closest to Beijing), the Qaidam Basin Desert (farthest from human habitation), and the Kumtag Desert (suitable for off-road vehicle travel).
Some of them are scientifically forbidden areas and uninhabited areas, while others have been greened under our management. The remaining ones have become our best windows into the desert. After careful consideration, the Tengger Desert, Kubuqi Desert, Badain Jaran Desert, and Kumtag Desert are indeed the most suitable for travel.
Tengger means sky in Mongolian, which means the vast quicksand like the boundless sky. The most advantageous thing about Tengger is that the desert itself is close to Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia. We can go deep into the desert by crossing the Helan Mountains, which makes it easier for us to approach the desert.
In this place where Mongolians have lived for generations, the desert is rich in groundwater. There are many lakes of various sizes in the desert, especially Moon Lake, which has a unique appearance of half salt water and half fresh water.
On the other side of Tengger is the famous Shapotou Scenic Area. With the development of tourism, Zhongwei's desert tourism is more full of surprises. Whether it is a train hotel in the desert or a starry sky tent, they all focus on improving the quality of travel. If you want to get close to the docile desert, you might as well go to Shapotou. The Yellow River meanders here, which is most suitable for desert travel and desert fresh photography.
Another charm of the desert lies in its conquest. The endless yellow sand makes it a great place for outdoor hiking.
Unlike mountain hiking, the most important thing in the desert is to identify the direction, and choosing a professional guide is especially important. Tengger Desert hiking has recently attracted more and more attention and is suitable for ordinary people. Instead of getting close to the desert, it is better to set off to Tengger and feel the charm of the yellow sand.
Tips:
The best time to travel to Tengger Desert:
April to November every year
How to get to Tengger Desert:
Whether you are going to Tengger or Shapotou, you need to gather in Yinchuan and then charter a car from Yinchuan.
On the south bank of the Yellow River in the "J"-shaped bend of the Yellow River in the Hetao Plain is a desert closest to Beijing called "Kubuqi". In Mongolian, it means the string on the bow. Because it is located under the Yellow River like a string hanging on the Yellow River, it was called "Kujiesha" in ancient times.
Kubuqi, my country's seventh-largest desert, boasts a rich history. Three thousand years ago, during the Western Zhou Dynasty, the ancient city of Shuofang emerged on the Kubuqi grasslands. Back then, the area was teeming with dense forests, abundant grasses and lush greenery, and herds of cattle and sheep. Ancient ethnic minorities like the Yanyou, Rongdi, and Xiongnu once thrived here. Today, Kubuqi has become a paradise for northern desert travelers.
Tips:
The best time to travel to Kubuqi Desert:
April to November every year
How to get to Kubuqi Desert:
Drive from Beijing or take the train to Baotou.
Badain Jaran is known as China's most beautiful desert, with Bayannur and Quijote Sand Dunes among the world's tallest sand dunes. Towering sand dunes, mysterious singing sands, and tranquil lakes and wetlands create the Badain Jaran Desert's unique and captivating landscape, attracting tens of thousands of domestic and international tourists annually. In August 2009, the Badain Jaran Desert Geopark was designated the world's first Desert World Geopark.
The unique niche internet celebrity - the Pink Lake, is also hidden deep in the heart of the desert. It is said that anyone who sees this lake will receive the blessing of beautiful love.
In addition to the pink lake, Badain Jaran also has hundreds of lakes and temples of various sizes, quietly hidden among them.
The Kumtag Desert is located on the eastern edge of the Turpan Basin. It is 62 kilometers long from east to west and 40 kilometers wide from north to south. The desert area is 1,880 km². It is the desert closest to the city in the world. Walking on the edge of the city, it feels like starting a passionate love affair with the city.
Standing in the old city of Shanshan and looking south, the majestic golden desert scenery and the blue sky complement each other. For thousands of years, they have lived together with the oasis, forming a beautiful picture of harmonious coexistence with nature, and playing a natural and golden music.
The undulating lines of the desert are vivid, soft, and full of changing rhythms. The warm yellow tones resemble human skin, round and shiny, as if showing the beauty of the legendary ancient Loulan beauties in front of people, giving people endless reverie.
The southern edge of the Kumtag Desert lies on the Dahaidao, another section of the ancient Silk Road that connected Shazhou (Dunhuang) and Xizhou (Turpan) during the Tang Dynasty. Tang Dynasty documents describe the Dahaidao as "a route that runs from the border of Liuzhong County (present-day Rukqin Town, Shanshan) on the right, southeastward toward Shazhou (Dunhuang) for 1,360 li. The sands are constantly shifting, and travelers often get lost. The springs and wells are salty and bitter, and there is no grass. Travelers carry water and food, navigating the sand and rocks, making travel difficult and arduous."
Due to the harsh environment and long and dangerous roads, the Kumtag Desert was called "the great disaster of ghosts" in the Tang Dynasty. The Dahaidao has therefore become the most mysterious and difficult route in the ancient Silk Road. It is still shrouded in mystery, attracting countless brave Chinese and foreign explorers.
Deserts abroad generally have a long history, and they are displayed to the world in various shapes and colors.
The name "Sahara" comes from the Arabic word الصحراء, which means "desert" in the language of the local nomadic Tuareg people. This desert was formed about 2.5 million years ago and is the largest desert in the world and the most well-known.
During the last ice age, the Sahara was not a desert and its climate was similar to that of East Africa. About 30,000 ancient rock paintings have been discovered in the desert, about half of which are found in the En-Ajjer Plateau in southern Algeria. They all depict river animals such as crocodiles. This place gave birth to Egyptian civilization and is a desert travel destination not to be missed.
Wadi Rum, the Rose Desert and the Moon Valley, is a filming location for the movie "The Martian." See the cliffs described in Lawrence's "Seven Pillars of Wisdom," red sand dunes, a Middle Eastern canyon, Lawrence's house, a stone bridge, and more. Finally, catch the sunset at the campsite.
The best part is the campsite, complete with toilets, kitchens, and beds. Of course, there's also the bonfire party, and Jordanian specialties cooked in a zarb oven buried in the desert. The chicken is tender and juicy, retaining all its moisture. After the buffet dinner, I lay on my mat, looking up at the starry sky, and I was completely immersed in it.
Cross the endless flat desert and enter the Namib Red Desert Scenic Area. Among the Sossusvlei dunes, known as the world's highest, walk along the spine of [Great Dune No. 45] and delve into the essence of the red desert.
The most beautiful part of the Namib Ridge is Sossusvlei, and the most beautiful dune in Sossusvlei is Dune 45: no matter how strong the monsoon, it always maintains its classic S-line. While other dunes change shape and displacement with the monsoon, Dune 45 maintains the same appearance and classic S-line, earning it the nickname "Earth's Most Beautiful Dune."
Dune 45 has become a hallmark of Namibia's red desert, gracing the covers of National Geographic and several travel magazines. But Dune 45 isn't the only one; there are countless other beautiful and diverse dunes there, each one a breathtaking spectacle.
The desert seems desolate, but no one knows the actual situation. Maybe it’s time to go to one of the deserts, see the oasis in the desert, the starry sky in the desert, travel in the desert, and leave your own footprints.
