The vast territory has endowed China with diverse landscapes. It is home not only to majestic mountains, lush forests, turbulent rivers, vast oceans… but also to some of the most remarkable deserts in the world. In this article, we will take on an in-depth journey through the 9 most famous deserts in China, each possessing its own unique charm and features that will make your China tours or China Silk Road tours more unforgettable.
1. Badain Jaran Desert in Inner Mongolia
1. Badain Jaran Desert in Inner Mongolia
Located in the north of Inner Mongolia, one of the most beautiful deserts in China, Badain Jaran Desert not only boasts its title as the fourth largest desert in the world but is also home to some of the tallest stationary dunes on the planet. The desert enjoys the reputation as “the Kingdom of Singing Sands”, for housing the largest singing sand area on earth.
As one of the famous deserts in China and a UNESCO heritage, it is also known throughout the world for five natural wonders – sheer hills, singing sands, lakes, springs and ancient temples.
Highlights:
- Mount Bilutu –Qomolangma in the Desert
It is a huge stationary sand dune but with a significant vertical drop of around 500 meters, which is even higher than the Empire State Building in New York. Conquer the mountain and take in great vistas. You will also have an all-around view of 7 tranquil lakes embedded in the sands and glittering in the sunshine.
- Baori Taolegai –World’s Largest Singing Sands Area
Singing sand dunes around Baori Taolegai measures 200 meters high, with a relatively steep slope. If you slither down from the hill ridge, a peculiar humming sound resonates through the air, which can be heard miles away. Even slides of finger will make sizzling sounds.
- Dageitu Lake –A Romantic Pink Lake
Dageitu Lake, hidden deep in Badain Jaran Desert, is like a beautiful ruby that contrasts markedly with the surrounding yellow sands. You can enjoy the most splendid view during July – September, when the pink color is at its brightest.
- Badain Jaran Temple –“Forbidden City” in the Desert
Founded in 1755, it is a typical monastery of Tibetan Buddhism. It is now a vital place for local people to hold gatherings and worship Buddhas.
Best Time to Visit: May – October
Suggested Travel Length: 2-3 days
✔ Recommended Tour:
2. Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang
Spanning an area of about 330,000sq km, Taklimakan Desert, also called the “Sea of Death” by locals, is the world’s second largest flow desert, just smaller than Rub al Khali in Saudi Arabia. The average annual rainfall is no more than 100mm but the evaporation capacity all through the year can reach up to 2,500-3,400mm. The arid conditions make it one of the most desolate places on earth, but the best destination to witness raw majesty of desert.
Located on the ancient Silk Road, Taklimakan Desert in northern China also witnessed countless caravans taking a long trek through the sands. There used to be prosperous cities and towns around the region. Today, you can explore historical sites in the desert to trace the glorious past.
Highlights:
- Various Desert Activities, including sand sliding, sand-surfing, camel riding, cross-country, hiking, camping, bonfire parties…
- Mount Shengmu: Consisting of 2 huge sand dunes colored in red and white, with a wind-eroded mushroom on the top, which is large enough to shade around 10 people.
- Ruins of Luntai City and Niya City, both of which were important transport hubs along the Silk Road, offering an exploration into their past prosperity.
Best Time to Visit: October – November
Suggested Travel Length: 2-3 days
✔ Recommended Silk Road Tour:
- 7 Days Silk Road Dunhuang –Turpan – Urumqi – Kashgar Tour
- 14 Days Silk Road and Northern Xinjiang Tour
3. Shapotou Desert in Ningxia
Nestled along the Yellow River, Shapotou Desert is also one of the famous deserts in China, offering an incredible blend of sand dunes and the flowing river. It is more like a desert-themed amusement park housing a great variety of entertainment. Apart from typical desert activities, like sand sliding and camel riding, visitors can have more fun around the Yellow River. For example, you can embark on a local sheepskin raft to drift down the river, overfly the river by cableway slide, go bungee jumping, walk along the 3D glass bridge across the Yellow River…
Best Time to Visit: July – November
Suggested Travel Length: 4-5 hours
✔ Recommended Tours:
- 3 Days Ningxia Desert Tour with Winery Experience
- 5 Days Ningxia Tour: Wine Tasting & Desert Camping
4. Echoing-Sand Mountain & Crescent Lake in Gansu
In the heart of Dunhuang City, Gansu Province lie Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake. The serene lake as well as the golden sand dunes present a spectacle that can be rarely seen in other deserts in China.
Once you get in the scenic area, the Echoing-Sand Mountain, of around 200 meters high, will pop into your eyes. With every step on the hill, you will hear a low humming sound resonated by sand grains, just like a piece of beautiful music.
As you hike up to the top, a panoramic view of the Crescent Lake, a glistening oasis nestled amidst the rolling dunes, unveils in front of you. The crystal-clear spring is in the shape of a new moon, and hence the name.
Travel Tips:
A lot of tourists would like to enjoy the marvelous sunrise and sunset at Echoing-Sand Mountain. It is suggested to arrive at the scenic area at around 5:30 a.m., climb to the hilltop and wait for the sun to come up. The sunset time varies from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in different months. Please check the specific hour in advance.
Best Time to Visit: May – October
Suggested Travel Length: 4-5 hours
✔ Recommended Tour:
5. Gurbantunggut Desert in Xinjiang
Covering an area of over 48,000 square kilometers Gurbantunggut Desert is the second largest desert in China, situated in the remote area of Xinjiang. Its untouched charm offers a unique experience for those seeking to disconnect from the modern world and immerse themselves in the raw beauty of nature.
As you traverse the golden desert, you will encounter extraordinary landforms, including fixed and semi-fixed sand dunes, oases, and Yardang landscape, and also come across manmade groves, like poplar trees, red willows, wormwood, and Haloxylon ammodendron.
Best Time to Visit: September – December
Suggested Travel Length: 2-3 hours
6. Kubuqi Desert in Inner Mongolia
“Kubuqi” means “bowstring” in Mongolian. The desert gets this name because it forms a perfect shape of bow together with the Yellow River in this region. Kubuqi Desert is the 7th largest desert in China, and is also the closest one to Beijing.
Today, a few scenic areas have been develotopped in Kubuqi Desert, including Singing Sand Ravine – a comprehensive desert resort in the eastern end of desert, Night Singing Sand – renowned for both desert landscapes and diverse entertainment activities, Seven-Star Lake – a resort built on a large-scale oasis in the heartland of the desert…
✔ Recommended Tour:
7. Tengger Desert in Inner Mongolia
Located in the southeast of Alxa Region of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, between the Helan Mountains and the Yabulai Mountains, the Tengger Desert covers an area of more than 30,000 square kilometers, which is the fourth largest desert in China and the second largest desert in Inner Mongolia. In the interior of Tengger Desert, dune, lake basin and grassy beach, mountain and shallow hills and plains are interleaved. The dune area accounts for 71%, and 7% of the dunes are fixed or semi-fixed. The Tengger Desert has a relatively rich ecosystem, so it is not as dry as many other deserts in china. It is also one of the important wind power bases in China.
Tengger means “heaven” in Mongolian. There are various ideas on the name’s origin: 1) The immense expanse of sand resembles an infinite sky.1) As high as the sky, the desert is steep and lofty. 3) The expansive desert drops out of the sky.
Best Time to Visit: From March to May and September to November
Suggested Travel Length: 3-5 days
✔ Recommended Tour: 3 Days Ningxia Desert Tour with Winery Experience
8. Qaidam Desert in Qinghai
Qaidam Desert is one of the eight major deserts in China, located in the Qaidam Basin in the northwest of Qinghai Province. It is the highest desert in the world. The desert area of the Qaidam Basin is about 34,900 square kilometers, accounting for about 1/3 of the total area of the Qaidam Basin. Sand dunes, Gobi, salt lakes, salt plains crisscross. The area of desert and wind-eroded land is 35,000 square kilometers, of which about 70% is quicksand, dominated by barchan dune chain. The Gobi covers an area of 45,000 square kilometers.
With the change of climate and the increase of human activities, vegetation in sandy areas has been seriously destroyed, which makes the original desertified land area continue to expand. And the water volume of rivers is decreasing day by day.
The spectacle of “mirage” often appears in the Gobi desert of Qaidam under sunny days. The sand dunes of the Gobi desert are constantly changing color under the influence of sunlight and floating clouds, and the reflections of the surrounding “sparkling lake” are faint and changing rapidly.
Best Time to Visit: From June to August
Suggested Travel Length: 2-3 days
✔ Related reading: 10 Weirdest Landscapes in China
9. Ulan Buhe Desert in Inner Mongolia
“Ulan Buhe” means “red bull” in Mongolian.
The Ulan Buhe Desert is situated at the northeastern base of the Yinyi Basin, in the western Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, between Bayannur City and the Alashan League. It is 170 kilometers long from north to south and 110 kilometers wide from east to west, with a total area of about 10,000 square kilometers and an altitude of 1028-1054 meters.
The southern part of the desert is full of quicksand, the central part is full of ridge dunes, and the northern part is full of fixed and semi-fixed dunes. The climate of Ulan Buhe Desert is relatively dry, but there are still many unique plant and animal species, such as Mongolian almond, grassland rabbit and so on.
Best Time to Visit: From May to October
Suggested Travel Length: 1-2 days
If you are working on your China tour itinerary, feel free to contact us! Our expert travel consultants are glad to help you customize a perfect trip according to your interests.
Popular China tour packages to top 6 famous deserts in China:
- 10 Days Beijing –Xi’an – Dunhuang – Shanghai Tour
- 12 Days Ancient Silk Road Hexi Corridor Tour with Yinchuan
- 10 Days Southern Xinjiang In-depth Tour
