Xinjiang | Kumtag Desert: A solitary smoke in the vast desert aligns with the long river as the setting sun forms a perfect circle
| Kumtag Desert: A solitary smoke in the vast desert aligns with the long river as the setting sun forms a perfect circle.⭐️
A half-month journey through Northern Xinjiang took me around a great loop, covering thousands of miles. The pristine snow of the Tianshan Mountains, the colorful beaches carved by the Irtysh River, the paradise of Kanas, the tranquil starry sky and sunrise at Sayram Lake, the evening howls of the Ghost City, the boundless grasslands of Bayinbuluke, the lonely smoke over the desert of Shanshan... A year has passed, but the longing for those magnificent landscapes remains.
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As one of China's eight great deserts, the Kumtag Desert is located at the southern end of the ancient city of Shanshan in Turpan, stretching over eight hundred miles. 'Kumtag' in the Uyghur language means 'sand mountain'. It was once known as the Sand River, a place without birds in the sky, beasts on the ground, or vegetation, and with an extremely harsh natural environment.
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Standing at the edge of the desert, one side reveals an endless sea of sand, while the other side is an oasis-like city. This is one of the rare deserts in the world that is in close proximity to a city. For thousands of years, the Kumtag Desert and Shanshan County have met at the southern end of the old city, never moving northward or encroaching upon the city even by half a step. 'The sand does not advance, the green does not retreat, and the people do not relocate.' It is truly a miracle in the history of desert control.
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In the afternoon, start climbing the dunes under the scorching sun, with feet on the burning yellow sand, struggling to ascend the hill to watch a sunset.
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I suddenly recall a line from 'Ashes of Time' by the recluse Ouyang Feng in the desert town: 'People always have to go through a process. When you see a mountain, you want to know what's on the other side. I really want to tell him that you might find nothing special after crossing over, and you might feel that this side is even better.'
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Having watched too many martial arts films in my youth, I have too many indelible emotions about the vast deserts filled with yellow sand, the bamboo forests fraught with danger, and the remote peach blossoms... There are just too many lingering sentiments.
Tips:
Ticket price: 30 RMB per person, sightseeing train 30 RMB per person (includes round trip). Entertainment activities include sand sliding, camel riding, desert surfing, etc.
It is recommended to enter the scenic area after 5 pm to avoid the severe heat and to pay attention to sun protection and hydration.
The development of the scenic spot is not very complete. It may be the reason for the off-season. There are a lot of garbage in the desert. I hope that tourists who go to play again pay attention to the quality and take the garbage away, but it is really beautiful. I watched the sunset.
If you have not been to the desert 🏜️ this scenic spot is worth a visit. First of all, it is very convenient to talk about the good place. Urumqi takes the train to Shanshan North, and gets off and takes the 7 bus for two yuan. The desert is not small and can be filmed. Then talk about the shortcomings, this scenic spot is not a 5A level scenic spot for a reason. There are supporting facilities, but they are all average. The price in the scenic spot is really expensive to tell the truth. The price of the ticket ➕ 1 ➕ 2 range car is not low. Area 2 is basically paid projects, such as beach motorcycles, such as beach go-karts, if you don't want to play paid projects, then don't buy a 2-zone car. Still, those who have not been to the desert can come.
The desert closest to the city, just a few stops by bus, but the Kumtag Desert has never moved forward, the desert is truly magnificent and charming, just like the sentence "the desert is lonely and smokey, the long river is sunset", and there will be time to play again in the future!
Kumutag Desert, located at the junction of western Gansu Province and southeast Xinjiang (referred to as Ganxin Kumutag Desert), roughly located in the north of the Achike Valley-Dunhuang Yadan National Geopark, the south to the Arjin Mountain, the west to the Luobubo Big Ear as the boundary, East to Dunhuang Mingsha Mountain and Annan Dam National Reserve, the desert area is about 2.2 10,000 square kilometers.
I am traveling with my family and children, and it is a must-go place that must punch in and cannot delete the itinerary. Unlike some historical and cultural scenic spots, because you can play by yourself, you can use your feet, hands and enough time to deeply experience nature, I think this is the most cost-effective scenic spot for Turpan tourism. It is very exciting to wait for projects, but it is slightly expensive, and you can consider the experience as appropriate. Adults are enjoying the waiting, children have been playing, and the scenes they have never seen are shocking. Take precautions, the sun is very comfortable, and the comfort of the hot sand will make you forget all your troubles for a while.