[2025 Alxa Right Banner Attraction] Travel Guide for Badain Jaran Desert Tourist Area (Updated Jul)

Badain Jaran Desert Travel Guide: A Practical Handbook to Explore "China's Most Beautiful Desert" Located in Alxa Right Banner, Inner Mongolia, the Badain Jaran Desert is China's third-largest desert and the country's first desert landscape inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. It boasts the world's tallest sand dunes, scattered colorful lakes, mysterious singing sands, and ancient temples, earning it the nickname "Jiangnan of the Desert." Here’s a practical travel guide to help you deeply experience this magical land. 1. Best Time to Visit - May to October (best in spring and autumn): Mild weather, ideal for desert trekking, camping, and photography. - July to August (summer): Hot during the day (30°C+), but perfect for witnessing the vibrant colors of desert lakes (e.g., the "Rose Lake" Dagtu). - Winter (November to March): Cold but offers stunning snow-covered desert views—dress warmly. 2. Must-Visit Attractions 1. Bilutu Peak (Desert Everest) - The world's tallest stationary sand dune (1,611m above sea level). Summit for panoramic views of seven lakes, especially breathtaking at sunset. - Activities: Hike or off-road to the summit with a guide. 2. Nuoertu Lake (Deepest Lake) - 28m deep, with sand dunes reflected in its waters, dubbed a "fairyland in the desert." - Activities: Photography, lakeside camping. 3. Twin-Colored Lake (Zhunjigede) - Half pink, half blue due to varying mineral concentrations—a natural wonder. 4. Badain Jaran Temple (Desert Forbidden City) - A Tibetan Buddhist temple built in 1755, with red walls and white tiles mirrored in the lake—great for cultural photography. 5. Baori Taolegai Singing Sand Dunes - Slides produce thunderous roars, earning the title "World's Kingdom of Singing Sands." 6. Dagtu Lake (Red Sea) - Changes from light pink to deep red seasonally, most vibrant from July to September. 3. Recommended Itinerary (3 Days, 2 Nights) Day 1: Desert Introduction - Morning: Arrive in Alxa Right Banner, rent an off-road vehicle to enter the desert. - Afternoon: Visit Dasazao Lake and Celigeri (Heart-shaped Lake). Camp by Twin-Colored Lake for sunset and stargazing. Day 2: Desert Core - Morning: Explore Dagtu (Pink Lake) and Fairy Peak. - Afternoon: Challenge Bilutu Peak. Stay overnight at Miaohaizi (Badain Jaran Temple). Day 3: Return & Deep Experience - Morning: Visit Nuoertu Lake, try sand sliding and camel riding. - Afternoon: Return to Badain Jaran Town to conclude the trip. 4. Practical Tips 1. Transportation - By air/train: First reach Yinchuan/Jinchang, then transfer to Alxa Right Banner by bus. - Desert transport: Rent an off-road vehicle (~¥1,500–2,000/day); regular cars cannot enter. 2. Accommodation - Desert camping: Recommended near Nuoertu or Miaohaizi for Milky Way views. - Homestays/desert hotels: E.g., lakeside lodges at Sumin Jilin—basic amenities. 3. Gear Suggestions - Sun protection: Sunglasses, sunscreen, wide-brimmed hat (intense UV rays). - Warm layers: Large day-night temperature swings; pack windproof jackets. - Sandproofing: High-top shoes, phone sand covers. 4. Notes - No signal in the desert—always follow professional guides. - Practice eco-travel; no littering. 5. Unique Experiences - Camel rides: Traverse dunes and relive Silk Road vibes. - Desert astrophotography: Perseid meteor showers visible July–August. - Mongolian cuisine: Hand-grabbed lamb, roasted whole lamb, dairy products. The Badain Jaran Desert’s grandeur and mystery must be witnessed firsthand. Plan wisely, bring your adventurous spirit, and this "World Natural Heritage" site will leave you with lifelong memories!

Badain Jaran Desert - The desert is famous for its unique natural landscapes and geological features. Sand dunes: Known for their height, steepness, danger, and majesty, the desert is home to the world's tallest stationary sand dune, Bilutu Peak, which is 1,611 meters above sea level and has a relative height of 460 meters. Lakes: The desert is dotted with numerous lakes, totaling 144, including freshwater and saltwater lakes. The lakes are of various colors, such as pink, red, and green, forming a unique landscape. In this vast desert, towering sand dunes and interspersed lakes reflect each other, forming a magnificent and delicate natural painting. The majestic sand dunes, with their unique line beauty and rhythm, show the majesty and power of nature; while the clear and quiet lakes, with their soft posture, form a sharp contrast with the sand dunes, adding a touch of vitality to this desolate desert. Here, sand and water reflect and cuddle each other, sand injects hardness into water, and water adds softness to sand.

Drive into the Badain Jaran Desert, located in the Alxa League of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. It is the third largest desert in China and the second largest mobile desert, known for its unique natural landscape and rich biodiversity. The desert is famous for its "five unique" features: strange peaks, singing sand, lakes, divine springs, and ancient temples. Among them, Bilutu Peak is the highest sand mountain in the world in terms of relative height, known as the "Mount Everest of the Desert". The Badain Jaran Desert also has the largest singing sand area in the world, with the sound of sand like thunder, known as the "Kingdom of Singing Sand in the World". In addition, the lakes scattered in the desert are also a major feature, including the lake under the highest fixed sand mountain in the world. In July 2024, the Badain Jaran Desert-Sand Mountain Lake Group was successfully included in the "World Heritage List", becoming a representative area for studying desert development and wind and sand landforms worldwide. This honor is of great significance in environmental protection, economic development, cultural heritage, academic research, and enhancing world renown.