Planting Grass Hero | 2025-03-29 | 42500

A look at China's 7 deserts! Have you been to any of them?

Preface

As for the desert, in my impression, it is the sun, dryness, wind and sand, desolation, loneliness... In short, the conditions are harsh, and I can't associate it with a fun trip. Until my friend dragged me to it, I took the risk 🏜️


It turns out! It really can be this much fun!


It even surpassed my wildest dreams! Desert volleyball, camel carts, dune bashing, golf, kayaking, bonfire parties, open-air cinemas, sunset stargazing, concerts for thousands of people...it was truly a plethora of activities! During this time of isolation from human society, these joys seemed even more pure.


Sand dunes, oasis and lake complement each other... When the setting sun descends to the horizon, dyeing the scorching sunset red, Wang Wei's words "The smoke rises straight in the desert, the setting sun is round in the long river" seem to have truly traveled through thousands of years and touched the heart of me, a later generation!


Desert travel is truly a life experience completely different from the ocean, snow-capped mountains, and the city. I absolutely recommend it to everyone. A trip to the desert is a must! The pure colors, the ultimate starry sky, the grandeur of this flowing land can only be experienced in person!


Taklamakan Desert

📍Bayinguoleng, Xinjiang


Just how dry is the Taklamakan Desert? Located in the heart of the Tarim Basin in southern Xinjiang, it is China's largest desert, the tenth largest in the world, and the second-largest mobile desert. Covering approximately 330,000 square kilometers, it's nicknamed the "Sea of ​​Death."

The height of the sand dunes can reach 300 meters, forming a "crescent-shaped dune chain". The types of sand dunes are complex and diverse, with various honeycomb-shaped, feather-shaped, and fish-scale-shaped dunes that are unpredictable.


Cross the Tarim River, take the Taklamakan Desert Highway, and pass through the Tarim Basin, "China's largest basin". Along the straight desert highway, you can see magnificent scenery from north to south. There are not only large areas of poplar forests, but also sand dunes like a yellow dragon making a fuss in the sea, whose "scales" sparkle in the sun.


You can choose a stretch of rolling sand dunes and take a dune walk there, climbing step by step along the edges of the sand mountain to the highest point and overlooking the entire Taklamakan Desert! The golden sand dunes and the poplar trees deep in the desert form a very layered picture.

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Badain Jaran Desert

📍Alxa League, Inner Mongolia


The Badain Jaran Desert is the third largest desert in China. It is located in the western part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Sand gullies, sand cliffs and sand peaks can be seen everywhere in the desert. The rolling yellow sand and the thousand-year-old desert are particularly spectacular. It was rated as "the most beautiful desert in China" by "National Geographic China".

Take an off-road vehicle and experience the speed and passion of crossing the sand dunes, feel the adrenaline surge, and the tire tracks draw beautiful curves in this vast desert.


Along the way, you can find more than ten lakes of different colors. The colorful lakes are dazzling and everyone marvels at the wonders of nature.


If you are interested in hiking, you can choose to challenge the Desert Everest - Birutu Peak on foot. It is the highest sand mountain in the Badain Jaran Desert, with an altitude of 1,611.009 meters and a relative height of 460 meters, so it is known as the "Desert Everest".


In addition, you can also explore the "Desert Palace" Suminjilin (Miaohaizi) built in 1755.


The Badain Jaran Temple, which has a history of more than 200 years, is a landmark of Badain Jaran, a sacred temple in the hearts of herdsmen, and China's first desert-type world natural heritage site.


Or you can visit the world cultural heritage, Yinderitu Holy Spring & Zhongnortu.

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Tengger Desert

📍Alxa League, Inner Mongolia


Tengger means "sky" in Mongolian, implying a vast expanse of shifting sands resembling the boundless sky. Tengger's greatest advantage is its proximity to Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia. Crossing the Helan Mountains, one can penetrate deep into the desert, making it easily accessible.
Despite being a traditional Mongolian settlement, the desert boasts abundant groundwater, resulting in numerous lakes of varying sizes. Moon Lake, in particular, boasts a unique half-salt, half-fresh water composition.


The most classic way to explore the Tengger Desert is to go on a 50-kilometer light hike, which offers a purer experience without the rush of checking in or taking photos. Instead, you can put down your phone and computer, and use your eyes, footprints, and the power of walking to experience the vast, magnificent, mysterious and charming Tengger.


Experience the joy of water sports in the desert with a kayak race; experience the desert's "noble sport" with a desert golf tournament; and learn desert skills classes, including orientation, hiking techniques, and the use of a compass...

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Kubuqi Desert

📍Ordos, Inner Mongolia


This is China's seventh largest desert and the closest to Beijing. "Kubuqi" means "bow string" in Mongolian, and because it lies beneath the Yellow River, resembling a bow string suspended above it, it was formerly known as "Kujiesha."
The Kubuqi Desert boasts a rich history. As early as 3,000 years ago during the Western Zhou Dynasty, the ancient city of Shuofang emerged on the Kubuqi grasslands. Back then, the area was lush with forests, abundant grass and water, verdant lawns, and herds of cattle and sheep. Ancient ethnic minorities such as the Yanyou, Rongdi, and Xiongnu once thrived here. Today, Kubuqi has become a paradise for northern desert travel.


There are plenty of desert activities to enjoy: go off-roading in the desert and experience the thrill of surfing in the vast sea of ​​sand! You can also choose to experience ziplining, sandboarding, UTVs in the desert, ATVs on the beach, camel riding, and more.


After enjoying the fun, enjoy a sunset dinner with candlelight in the evening. As the sun sets, savor delicious food and savor the beauty of the desert! After a satisfying meal, you can lie on the sand dunes and gaze at the stars or chat around the fire.

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Kumtag Desert

📍The

Kumtag Desert in Turpan, Xinjiang 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 covers an area of ​​about 1,880 square kilometers. Its main component is not sand dunes, but sand mountains. Kumtag means "sand mountain" in Uyghur.


Standing in the old city of Shanshan, looking south, the golden desert is majestic and magnificent, offering boundless scenery. The Kumtag Desert Scenic Area is one of the few deserts in the world that is physically close to a city. It is one of Xinjiang's three national key scenic spots, along with Tianchi Lake and Bosten Lake.
You can take a shuttle bus into the desert, climb the sand dunes barefoot, experience sandboarding, ride a camel, and even take a desert surfing buggy for a truly spectacular desert adventure.


The endless sand dunes are shrouded in the afterglow of the setting sun, and a red sun is slowly setting in the sky. It is so beautiful that people can't bear to leave. In the evening, you can go with friends to find local specialties and feast on them!

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Mingsha Mountain

📍The Singing Sand Mountain in Dunhuang,

Gansu Province is located 5 kilometers south of Dunhuang City, Gansu Province. The sand mountain and spring water coexist, and the sand grains make sounds due to friction. The Crescent Moon Spring has not dried up for thousands of years. It is one of Dunhuang's business cards and is known as "one of the most beautiful scenery outside the Great Wall."


"Whose heart is this~ left alone~"
"Is he okay? I want to love him so much~"
Whenever the summer peak season comes, Mingsha Mountain will start the "Ten Thousand People Starlight Concert" at night. Tens of thousands of people sit on the hillside of Mingsha Mountain, with flash lights on, and sing songs of memories together. This is the romance of the Northwest.


You can also ride camels and go sandboarding, or experience the climb of Mingsha Mountain, where you can climb one step forward and retreat half a step back. You can also visit Crescent Lake, the world's first desert spring, which is known as "a silver mountain surrounded by sand on all sides, a pool of clear water with green ripples". Have fun.
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Hunshandake Sandy Land

📍The

Hunshandake Sandy Land in Xilin Gol, Inner Mongolia is one of the ten largest deserts in China. Located at the southern end of the Xilin Gol Grassland in central Inner Mongolia, it is 180 kilometers away from Beijing. It is the closest sand source to Beijing and is mainly composed of fixed sand dunes. Grasslands and deserts are intertwined, earning it the nickname "Jiangnan outside the Great Wall."


On a bright autumn day with clear blue sky, the golden sand is dotted with colorful bushes, and the golden birch forests, sand elms and red willows complement each other. It is a dream destination for many photography enthusiasts.


Embark on an off-road adventure here, traversing the deserted grasslands and experiencing the uninhabited wilderness. Experience the thrill of sandboarding, UTV off-roading, and the thrill of rolling sand waves.


After a tiring day, soaking in a hot spring is so relaxing!

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