Chase an orange sea sunset at Wuhai Lake, travel through millennia between desert and petroglyphs—desolation and poetry

【3 days 2 nights, about 4600 RMB per person! Wuhai Guide: Desert Oasis · The "Little Sanya of China" by the Yellow River】

Day 1: Take the high-speed train to **Wuhai West Station** (from Beijing take K395/or fly to Hohhot and transfer), rent a car and drive to the city. Check in at a lake-view hotel: 【Sunshine Marriott】 or 【Contemporary Hotel】 (breakfast included, 1300 RMB/night × 2 = 2600 RMB). In the afternoon, climb 【Gandel Mountain】 (free) to overlook the panoramic view of Wuhai—where the Yellow River runs through the city, and desert coexists with urban life. Visit the 【Genghis Khan Statue】, and in the evening stroll along **Wuhai Lake Beach Park** to watch the magnificent sunset of "the vast desert emerging from the calm lake."

Day 2: Spend the whole day enjoying 【Wuhai Lake Ecotourism Area】 (free admission, activities charged separately)—take a boat ride on the Yellow River (one-way 50 RMB), try kayaking and dune buggy rides (80–120 RMB per activity). You can cycle along the lakeside greenway, pass by Golden Sand Bay, and encounter a camel caravan. In the afternoon, explore 【Jinshaling Desert Scenic Area】 (entrance 60 RMB), go sand sliding and desert off-roading, and experience a mini version of the "Tengger Desert" vibe. For dinner, be sure to try Mongolian cuisine: roasted lamb chops, hand-pulled meat, and wild mandarin fish.

Day 3: Drive to discover the 【Zhuozishan Petroglyphs】 (free, navigation to specific spots required)—30 minutes from the city, featuring 4,000-year-old Neolithic hunting totems, touching ancient civilization. On the way, visit the 【Grape Manor】 (Wuhai is known as the "Desert Grape Hometown"), where you can pick Kyoho and seedless white grapes in autumn. Before returning, buy souvenirs: raisins, sea buckthorn juice, and dairy products.

💰Budget breakdown:
Transportation round trip 1500 (high-speed train + car rental) + Accommodation 2600 + Food 600 + Tickets and activities about 300 + Other reserves 200 ≈ **4600 RMB**

📌Tips:
- Wuhai Lake is beautiful all year round, with autumn being the best for clear and crisp weather;
- Desert temperature varies greatly, bring a windproof jacket;
- For sunset photos, the west bank of Wuhai Lake is recommended—fewer people and wild scenery.

⚠️Warnings:
❌ "Low-price speedboats" by the lake have no insurance, choose official docks;
❌ Petroglyphs are cultural relics, carving or rubbing is prohibited.

Three days and two nights, step into Wuhai. Half water, half sand, hidden in the bend of the Yellow River is an underrated gem of the northern frontier. Come here, chase an orange sea sunset at Wuhai Lake, travel through millennia between desert and petroglyphs—desolation and poetry, separated only by a breeze.

Post by VoyagingVagabond | Oct 22, 2025