10 Most Beautiful Deserts in China (Travel Tips in 2025)

China is huge, with all kinds of stunning landscapes. If you're looking for something unique, adventurous, or just totally different, exploring the desert is a must!

In this list of the 10 most beautiful deserts, you'll get to know what makes each one special, the best time to visit, and some handy travel tips to make your trip even better.

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• 1. Badain Jaran Desert
• 2. Taklamakan Desert
• 3. Singing Sands Dunes
• 4. Alxa Tengger Desert
• 5. Shapotou
• 6. Kubuqi Desert
• 7. Kumtag Desert
• 8. Gurbantünggüt Desert
• 9. Qaidam Basin Desert
• 10. Ulan Buh Desert

1. Badain Jaran Desert

Location: Alxa, Inner Mongolia

Best Time: May–June; September–October

Activities:

• Instagram Spot: Rosy Red Salt Lake (Honghaizi), Bi-colored (Red and Blue) Lake
• Desert Off-Roading: Professional convoy crossing "Desert Everest"
• Stargazing: Light pollution-free astrophotography

Rosy Red Salt Lake

Hidden within the vast sea of sand, 144 dazzling desert lakes make Badain Jaran stand out as China's most stunning desert.

To capture the most stunning colors of the desert lakes, May to July is the best time to visit. For the most breathtaking desert views, sunrise and sunset are ideal, when the dune ridges appear especially dramatic.

If you're an adventure seeker, try the desert off-roading. Unlike other deserts, Badain Jaran's dunes are more thrilling and adventurous as the dramatic 3D terrain features towering dunes with 70–80° inclines. It's essential to go with a professional guide and a well-equipped off-road vehicle for safety.

For a complete desert experience, consider spending a night at a desert camp—enjoy a bonfire under the starry sky and immerse yourself in the magic of the desert at night.

About transportation: Although located in Inner Mongolia, Zhangye or Jinchang are the closest cities for access.

• Fly to Zhangye (Gansu) or Jinchang (Gansu) → Drive to Badain Jaran Town → Join a desert tour

Itinerary Tips: 2 days are suggested for a comfortable pace and activities

• Day 1: Explore the unique colorful lakes, summit the highest dune (Desert Everest), admire a stunning desert sunset, and enjoy stargazing at the camp.
• Day 2: Wake up early for an unforgettable desert sunrise, visit the hidden desert temple, then conclude your trip.

2. Taklamakan Desert

Location: Xinjiang

Best Time: March-May; October

Activities:

• Taklamakan Desert Highway Crossing
• Instagram Spot: Tarim Poplar Forest; Lop Nur (Lop Lake)
• Camel Trekking & Desert Camping

The golden poplar forests

This is China's largest desert and the world's largest shifting sand desert. Under the play of light and shadow, the dunes transform dynamically, creating a mesmerizing sense of movement—a unique beauty rarely seen in other deserts.

If you choose a time to visit Taklamakan Desert, it would be October—this is when the desert is at its most beautiful. The golden poplar forests transform the landscape into a surreal autumn dream, creating an unforgettable contrast against the endless dunes.

Another must-visit is Lop Nur ("The Vanished Lake"), where the tranquil waters once mirrored the golden poplar trees along its shores, creating a breathtaking contrast against the desert landscape.

By the lake, a tea house offers a one-of-a-kind desert afternoon tea experience. Sit at a scenic lakeside table with desserts and take in the stunning views—where the rippling waters of Lop Nur meet the endless rolling dunes of Taklamakan.

Itinerary Tips:

Self-driving across Taklamakan is the best way to explore. A one-day road trip from Alear City to Khotan takes you through breathtaking desert landscapes, including the spectacular golden poplar forests.

If you have more time, extend your journey to other Southern Xinjiang gems like Kashgar, Kuqa, and beyond, where Silk Road history meets dramatic desert scenery. See our 12-Day South Xinjiang Adventure Tour

3. Singing Sands Dunes

Location: Dunhuang

Best Time: May-October

Activities:

• Camel Trekking
• Desert off-roading with vehicles and dirt bikes
• Sandboarding
• Desert concert
• Instagram Spot: Crescent Lake

Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake

Mingsha Mountain, part of the vast Gobi Desert, is famous for its singing sands—when the wind moves across the dunes, the sand produces a mysterious humming or roaring sound. The dunes here are smooth and golden, towering as high as 200 meters, creating an endless wave-like landscape.

To catch its beauty, climb to the top of the dunes for a panoramic view of the desert bathed in warm, golden hues—sunset over Crescent Lake is an absolute must-see.

For a romantic experience, we could arrange a desert sunset dinner there, especially if you are planning to celebrate a birthday or anniversary.

Dinner in the Mingsha Mountain

Mingsha Mountain's grand concert is its standout feature, offering an experience found nowhere else, with the starry sky and desert as your backdrop.

You could also enjoy captivating drone shows and fireworks as well. Feel the unique romance of Shaming Mountain under a sky full of stars.

This is a summer-exclusive experience at Mingsha Mountain. If you want to join big party, visit between June and October. The concert typically runs from mid-June to early October.

Compared to the previously mentioned deserts that emphasize landscape photography and adventure, Mingsha Mountain is more suitable for families with young children. The area is well-developed and offers a wider variety of engaging activities.

Itinerary Tips:

It's best to visit Mingsha Mountain after 5 or 6 pm, especially in the hot summer, to avoid the heat and also enjoy the sunset. The ticket allows multiple entries over three days.

Mingsha Mountain could be combined with the Mogao Caves in one day. You can also extend your trip to include Zhangye and Qinghai Lake. See our popular Silk Road with desert experience:

• 8-Day Qinghai Lake, Zhangye, and Dunhuang Tour
• 7-Day Dunhuang, Zhangye, and Ejina Qi Photography Tour
• 10-Day Xinjiang, Gansu, and Qinghai Highlights Tour

4. Alxa Tengger Desert

Tengger Desert

Location: Inner Mongolia

Best Time: May-October

Activities:

• Desert hiking
• Camping and stargazing
• Instagram Spot: Ulan Lake

The five lakes scattered across the Tengger Desert, each with its distinct color, are the main highlights. The red Ulan Lake, in particular, resembles the "heart of the Earth," and its colors are especially vibrant in summer.

A popular way to explore is by taking an off-road vehicle journey, stopping at each of the five lakes, which takes about 4-5 hours. For those seeking a challenge, there's a 50 km trek across the lakes, lasting around 3 days and 2 nights.

For transportation, it's recommended to start from Yinchuan, with a drive of about 2-3 hours to reach the Tengger Desert. After visiting the lakes, you can continue to the Shapotou Desert in Zhongwei for more adventure.

5. Shapotou

Location: Zhongwei

Best Time: May-October

Activities:

• Yellow River ropeway & rafting
• Zhongwei 66 Highway
• Camel trekking

Sandboarding in Shapotou

Shapotou Desert is located in the southeast margin of Tengger Desert. Compared to other deserts, you could enjoy not only the desert scenery but also the magnificent landscape of the Yellow River.

You could experience flying across the Yellow River by the ropeway, savor sheepskin rafting (the oldest ferry method) on the Yellow River, drive along the Zhongwei 66 Highway, try dune bashing, sand sledding, camel trekking, and enjoy the sunset over the desert and Yellow River at dusk.

Stay overnight in the Desert Star Hotel to stargaze and enjoy a spa or choose Suji Yellow River — Moroccan style resort for a leisurely holiday.

Desert Star Hotel

Itinerary Tips:

Unlike Tengger Desert, Shapotou offers a well-developed tourism experience, with activities ideal for families and vacations. We recommend spending 2-3 days in Zhongwei:

• Day 1: Zhongwei arrival
• Day 2: One-day fun in Shapotou Desert
• Day 3: Zhongwei Departure

You could check out the 3-Day Zhongwei Desert Tour with Winery Experience for more itinerary details.

If you are interested in Tengger Desert and Shapotou are close to each other. You could explore both of them with one day in Tengger Desert to visit the five lakes and the other day to explore Shapotou.

6. Kubuqi Desert

Our guests in Kubuqi Desert

Location: Inner Mongolia

Best Time: May-October

Activities:

• Camel Riding
• Desert Off-Roading
• Visit Mongolian Nomads

Located about 10 hours by car from Beijing, this desert is home to China's 7th largest desert with expansive dunes, where sand dunes and oases create a stunning contrast, evoking a sense of the vast, lonely desert.

Here, you could try activities like desert off-roading, sandboarding, ziplining, and camel rides across the dunes. Visit the Engebei Desert Museum to learn about desert formation and conservation.

Experience traditional Mongolian life by visiting local herders, milking cows, and setting up yurts.

If you like challenges, hike the classic route from Longtougai Campsite to Yinkentala (about 20 km) to experience the pristine desert landscape.

Itinerary Tips:

You could take a high-speed train from Beijing to Hohhot (approximately 3.5 hours). From there, you can directly head to the Kubuqi Desert or add a visit to the grasslands to make your trip even more diverse:

• Day 1: Arrive in Hohhot
• Day 2: Experience horseback riding and stay in a Mongolian yurt on the Xilamuren Grassland
• Day 3: Drive to Kubuqi Desert, stopping at the Wudang Lamasery along the way
• Day 4: Spend a fun day enjoying activities in the Kubuqi Desert
• Day 5: Departure

Here is the 5-Day Xilamuren Grassland and Kubuqi Desert Tour itinerary for your inspiration. If you like the outdoors, the 8-Day Hohhot–Ordos Tour with Hiking, Camping, and Culture might suit you.

7. Kumtag Desert

Kumtagh Desert

Location: Turpan, Xinjiang

Best Time: May-October

Activities:

• Camel Riding
• Sandboarding
• Desert Off-Roading & ATV Riding
• Sunset Watching

This is the only desert directly connected to a city. From the top of the dunes, you could see a stunning blend of desert and oasis. Some believe that the legendary ancient city of Loulan might be buried beneath these sands.

Beyond the usual desert activities, you could also admire sand sculptures. To avoid the heat, it's best to visit in summer around 7–8 pm, as Xinjiang operates on a two-hour time difference, and the sun sets late.

If you're only visiting the desert, you could return to Urumqi the same day. The high-speed train takes just 1.5 hours to Shanshan County, where the desert is located.

Itinerary Tips:

As one of Xinjiang's most popular tourist destinations, Turpan offers much more than just the desert. Other must-visit sites include:

• Jiaohe Ancient City – Explore the remains of an underground village.
• Karez Water System – Discover Xinjiang's famous ancient irrigation system.
• Flaming Mountains – Visit the legendary, fiery-red landscape.

Suggested 2-Day Turpan Itinerary:

Day 1: Emin Minaret→Jiaohe Ancient City→Karez Well System

Day 2: Flaming Mountains → Tuyugou Village → Kumtag Desert

See our 12-Day Yunnan and Xinjiang Scenic Tour that includes the Kumtagh Desert

8. Gurbantünggüt Desert

Location: Qinghai

Best Time: May-July; December-February

Activities:

• Off-Roading & Desert Safaris
• Camel Riding
• Sandboarding

It is China's second largest desert. Unlike the shifting sands of the Taklamakan Desert, many of its dunes are semi-fixed, adorned with patches of hardy desert vegetation that add splashes of green to the golden expanse.

The most beautiful time is in winter—snow blankets the dunes, creating a surreal contrast between white snow and golden sand.

Winter snowy scenery

At night, the Gurbantunggut Desert unveils one of its greatest spectacles—a sky full of stars undisturbed by light pollution.

Another special activity to do there is you could spot rare desert animals like jerboas, foxes, and steppe eagles, as well as unique drought-resistant plants.

Itinerary Tips:

This desert is about a 2–3 hour drive from Urumqi. We recommend a week-long Northern Xinjiang loop:

Start in Urumqi, drive to the Gurbantünggüt Desert for a visit, and then head to Keketuohai to explore its deep canyons. Continue to Altay and Hemu for stunning grasslands and traditional villages.

Visit Devil's City (Yadan landforms), then admire Sayram Lake and the lavender fields of Ili (best from late June to early July) before returning to Urumqi.

Our 8-Day North Xinjiang Tour with Kanas here is for your reference. You could add a trip to the desert or make adjustments. Just contact us.

9. Qaidam Basin Desert

Location: Qinghai

Best Time: April-October

Activities:

• Explore the Yardang Ghost Cities
• Walk on the Salt Flats
• Desert Trekking & Off-Roading

Dachaidan Salt Lake

The Damu Desert features salt lakes and sand dunes scattered throughout, with white salt crystals contrasting sharply against the golden sands. The Chaka Salt Lake and Dachaidan Salt Lake create mirror-like surfaces, offering stunning reflections of the sky.

Unlike traditional deserts filled with golden dunes, the Qaidam Basin is famous for its Yardang landforms—bizarre, wind-carved rock structures that resemble NASA's photos of Mars. Explore the Yardang Ghost Cities—Visit Dachaidan and Mangya Yardangs, eerie wind-sculpted rock cities with towering formations.

Driving along National Highway 315, known as China's loneliest road, takes you through vast, uninhabited landscapes, offering a true sense of solitude and adventure.

Altitude consideration: The high elevation (over 3,000m in some areas) may cause altitude sickness. Acclimatize in Xining or Golmud before venturing deep into the desert.

Itinerary Tips:

Start from Xining, visiting Qinghai Lake and Chaka Salt Lake. Then, venture deep into the Qaidam Basin, exploring its deserts, salt lakes, and Yardang formations. Discover Eboliang, one of the most Mars-like places on Earth, and continue to the Kunlun Grand Canyon before heading back to Xining.

It is a week-long in-depth Qinghai journey, immersing yourself in the diverse landscapes of the northwest.

If you want to plan a trip to Qinghai, feel free to contact us, we would create your itinerary based for your interests and requirements. Here is a 10-Day Xinjiang, Gansu, and Qinghai Highlights Tour for your reference.

10. Ulan Buh Desert

Location: Western Inner Mongolia

Best Time: April-October

Activities:

• Desert off-roading & sandboarding
• Relaxing lake views
• Cultural visit to Manbala Seng Monastery

The Ulan Buh Desert is a lesser-known but stunning desert. Unlike vast, barren deserts, Ulan Buh is an oasis-dotted desert, featuring intermittent lakes, wetlands, and patches of grassland that support a surprising diversity of wildlife.

The desert is located near the famous Yellow River, creating a stark contrast between the flowing water and the endless sand.

Itinerary Tips:

Wuhai is approximately a 2-hour flight from Beijing, making it a perfect destination for a weekend getaway from the capital.

Day 1: Arrival & Desert Adventure

• Visit Manbala Seng Monastery, a peaceful Tibetan Buddhist temple offering cultural insights and scenic views.
• Head to the Ulan Buh Desert for an exciting off-road adventure across the golden dunes. Experience the thrill of driving through vast desert landscapes.
• Enjoy a bonfire party, watch the starry night sky, and set off fireworks—a perfect escape from city life.

Day 2: Desert Fun & Scenic Exploration

• Drive along the desert highway, a picturesque route cutting through the endless dunes.
• Visit Wuhai Lake, a beautiful oasis offering a striking contrast between water and desert. Relax by the lake and take stunning photos.
• Stop by the famous "Internet-famous tree" by the lake—a unique and highly photogenic lone tree standing in the water.