Day 1 Across the country → Zhangye
All day
Tourists from all over the country gathered in Zhangye
Zhangye City is located in the northwest of Gansu Province, China, in the middle section of the Hexi Corridor. It is an important node city on the ancient Silk Road and is known as "Jiangnan on the Frontier" and "Golden Zhangye".
gourmet food:
Fish Noodles: A Zhangye specialty noodle dish shaped like a small fish, chewy and refreshing.
Chao Pao: Stir-fried short, thick
noodles with a spicy and rich flavor. Rolled Chicken: Noodle rolls and chicken stewed together for a rich Northwest flavor.
Beef Rice: Noodles paired with beef broth, a great breakfast choice.
Apricot Peel Water: A summer-cooling drink made from the local Li Guang apricot.
Day 2 Zhangye → Badain Jaran Scenic Area → Badan Lake → Shuanghaizi → Tamaying → Miaohaizi
All day
【Itinerary Information】
After breakfast today, we will take a vehicle to Badain Jaran Desert Tourist Area.
We will transfer to an off-road vehicle (4 people per vehicle) and enter the desert. We will first go to Badan Lake, which is located in the heart of the Badain Jaran Desert in Alxa Right Banner, Inner Mongolia. It is one of the rare freshwater lakes in the desert. Then we will go to Shuanghaizi (Barun Yiheri), a secret desert area that has not yet been developed on a large scale. It is suitable for travelers who like pristine ecological adventures and photography.
In the afternoon, we will go to Tamaing, a typical desert saltwater lake with blue-green water and surrounded by sand hills. The scenery is fantastic.
In the evening, we will go to Badain Jaran Temple, the only well-preserved Tibetan Buddhist temple in the Badain Jaran Desert. It was built in 1755 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty and has a history of more than 260 years.
3rd Tianmiao Lake → Bilutu Peak → Yinde Ritu
All day
Hiking Information
Climb 300-500, hiking kilometers 15 kilometers
【Itinerary Information】
Today we will start our hike from Miaohaizi and head to the famous desert Everest, Birutu Peak (1611m above sea level). We will climb Birutu Peak. The climbing experience in the desert terrain is very unique and more strenuous than on ordinary terrain. The route to the summit is a round trip route. Tourists who are not physically fit can choose to climb part of the way and then return the same way.
We then headed to the Divine Spring (Yinderitu). Yinderitu (meaning "place with steps" in Mongolian) is a magical natural fountain in the Badain Jaran Desert, known as the "First Spring of the Desert." Water gushes from the base of a sand dune, forming 108 springs. The main spring gushes year-round, producing sweet, clear water, a precious source of water in the desert.
We stayed at Yinderitu at night.
If the Yinderitu herdsman's home is not available, you will be transferred to Hohhot Jilin (Qinghaizi) for accommodation.
4th Tianyin Deri Tu → Dagtu → Alattu → Junjigede
All day
Hiking Information
【Itinerary Information】
Today we set out from Shenquan and headed to Dagtu, the Red Lake. Dagtu (also known as "Red Lake") is one of the most magical colorful lakes in the Badain Jaran Desert. Due to the special mineral composition of the lake water, it appears bright red under the sun and is known as the "ruby in the desert."
Hike from Dagtu to Alattu, a jasper-colored lake in the heart of the Badain Jaran Desert. It is famous for the emerald-colored changes of its water under different light conditions and is called the "Emerald Eye of the Desert" by explorers.
Finally, we headed to Jungjigede, where we'd stay tonight. Jungjigede (meaning "bright lake" in Mongolian) is a salt lake deep in the Badain Jaran Desert. Its crystal-clear waters, reflecting the starry sky at night, earn it the nickname "the desert's starry sky mirror." This rarely visited area is a paradise for photographers and stargazers.
Jungjigede is called the "Two-Color Lake" because its water shows two completely different colors in different areas and seasons, usually a sharp contrast of blue-green and pink/orange-red, forming a rare natural wonder.
Day 5: Zhunjigede → → Zhangye
All day
【Itinerary Information】
Today, we took an off-road vehicle from Zhunjigede to drive out of the desert and then transferred to Zhangye to disband.
