Qinghai-Gansu Family Tour｜Complete Guide to Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake! One Article for a Worry-Free Trip

Traveling the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop with kids, Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake are definitely the highlights🏜️

Without a guide, you might really run into trouble! Please keep this valuable info, just copy it for your family trip📒

⭕️ Mingsha Mountain Facts

Called "Shensha Mountain" in the Han Dynasty, it was named Mingsha Mountain during the Wei and Jin Dynasties～named for the sound the sand makes when it moves, very historic!

⭕️ Crescent Lake Story

Called "Medicine Spring" in the Tang Dynasty, it was named Crescent Lake in the Qing Dynasty💧The spring water is clear like jade, super healing!

🎫 Ticket Guide

✅ Platforms: Official WeChat public account or other platforms are fine

✅ Price: Full price 110 RMB/person, half price for students and children, free for those over 70

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🚶‍♀️ Itinerary on the Day of Visit

1️⃣ Enter through the central gate! Parking lots 1 and 2 are very friendly for self-driving, with plenty of spaces🅿️

2️⃣ After scanning your ID to enter, walk a bit then take a shuttle directly near Crescent Lake

3️⃣ Along the way, you can try desert motorbikes or camel riding; if not, go straight to Crescent Lake

4️⃣ Final stop: play in the sand, see the spring, watch the sunset, and join the starry sky concert🎤

5️⃣ After the concert, head back～

6️⃣ Must bring: sun protection face shield + mask for sand, wear slippers only, no shoe covers needed!

🎪 Recommended Activities

🐫 Camel Riding: 100 RMB/person, about 1.5 hours (we didn’t ride)

🏎️ Desert Motorbike/Off-road: prices vary by route

🏂 Sandboarding: board rental 15 RMB/time

🚁 Glider/Helicopter: breathtaking aerial views!

📸 Viewing Tips

😎 Crescent Lake panorama: you need to climb the mountain to get the shot!

🌞 Sunrise and Sunset: recommended to visit early 5:00-12:00 or after 17:00; in summer, entering at 5 PM lets you see the sunset and avoid crowds!

🎤 Ten-Thousand-People Starry Sky Concert: starts around 9:00 PM in 2025! For a great atmosphere, go to the side of the stage; to capture the spring + lyrics projection, choose near the entrance～

⏰ Off-Peak Guide

✅ Spring/Autumn on non-holidays has fewer people and better experience

❌ June Sandboarding Festival and summer vacation are peak times!