China, enjoying the reputation of being the world’s largest and oldest civilizations, it’s no surprise that China’s vast territory is filled with numerous lesser-known and much lesser discovered gems and hidden attractions that are still waiting to be explored.
This diverse and unique country’s astonishing man-made attractions are rivaled by its extraordinary natural wonders and scenic landscapes. It has such a huge variety, from singing sand dunes to some of the tallest statues that stand in the world.
With all this being said, China is also home to the world’s most beautiful deserts that you might be unaware of.
Desert is a vast territory and barren area of land with very scant vegetation, few plants, with very little to no rainfall and dry air. The ground of the area is usually entirely covered with unending dunes of sands. The harsh environment that takes place in these types of regions also bestows this area a distinctive landscape which is aklso known as a desert landscape.
Deserts exclusively loacated in China comprises of the Gobi and the sandy land in semiarid areas. The total area is 1,308,000 square kilometers, which is also taking uo 13.6% of the country's whole land area.
Below, we list the top five most striking and beautiful deserts in China for your reference, which are also must-see attractions for any tourist and must be in your bucket list for desert tour fans.
Badain Jaran Desert in Inner Mongolia
Unique and Exceptional mountains, singing sand dunes, mysterious lakes, legendary springs and temples are viewed as the five great features of the third largest Desert in China, The Badain Jaran Desert.
Covering a vast area and a long territory of 49,000 square kilometers, Badain Jaran Desert that is known and regarded as the third largest desert in China and the fourth largest that is in the world. It is situated in Araxan League of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
This breath taking desert, with a vast area of 47,000 square kilometers, the desert has the tallest sand hill at over 500 meters, so it is also known as the "Qomolangma of Deserts".
The sand dunes portrays a stunning and a marvelous scene, it gives the image of a vast sea with huge and brilliant waves and high ancient and legendary pagodas. Badain Jaran Desert is the hometown of the chief most and the highest sand dunes in China, also in the world, with the comparative height being around 200 to 500 meters approx.
The best time to visit this desert is from May to October.
Taklimakan Desert in Xinjiang
The Taklamakan Desert, which is also famously known as as Taklimakan, is a desert that is located in the center of Tarim basin, Asia in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China.
As it is one of the biggest sand deserts that is known in the world within the territory of China, the Taklimakan Desert covers a total area of 330,000 square kilometers.
It is in actuality bounded by the Kunlun Mountains that are situated to that of the south, and the Pamir Mountains and Tian Shan which are also called ancient Mount Imeon to that of the west and north. It is spanned at its northern and at its southern edge by two twigs of the Silk Road as tourists mostly want to dodge the dry and parched wasteland.
"Taklimakan" possesses the meaning that you can by no means get out of the place once you step inside it being the second largest shifting sand desert in the world. The sand hills in the desert stand tall to 300 meters high. When wind blows and knocks the sand up, the hills can reach up to a height of 900 meters and are of a great variety.
The shifting clearly colored sand dunes in Taklimakan Desert are of a huge size, with a height that is of 100 to 200 meters over-all, and around 300 meters at most. In the interior of the desert, the sand dunes are of a great and abundant variety. Their shapes change randomly, reaching from towers to beehives, to certain feathers, to certain fish scales.
Gurbantunggut Desert in Xinjiang
The Gurbantunggut Desert which is actually situated in the center of the mesmerizing Junggar Basin, that to the east of the Manas River and to the south of the beautiful Ulungur River. Along with an approximate area of 48,800 square meters, the desert is known to be the second largest desert that is in the territory of China. The climate here is not so harsh and is majorly found as moderate.
The eco-environment here is very vulnerable, and the effect that it has on human activities on the eco-environment, as well as the building of a trans-desert highway, has been progressively more important. The sand hills that are situated in the desert that are also amazingly 300 to 600 meters above sea level.
Singing Sand Dunes & Crescent Moon Spring
Singing sand, is sand that generates sounds of whichever high or low frequency that is occupied under pressure. The sound emission is generally and most commonly caused by the harsh wind that is passing over the edge of the dunes or by walking on the sand. The sound is basically produced by cut off stress.
The Crescent Moon Spring is situated at nearly 5km south of Dunhuang City in the region of Gansu. Since ancient and historic times, the picturesque and beautiful spot is celebrated across the whole world for its “Coexistence of mountain and spring together, with sand and water”. It is also known widely as “Unique and exceptional Scenery in the north of Great Wall”, and is programmed and listed as National Key Tourist Attractions of the Great People's Republic of China in the year 1994. About above 300 meters long in height and and 50 meters wide, the Crescent Moon Spring is surrounded and bordered by the great and historic Singing Sand Dunes. The poplars stand gracefully in a sophisticated manner alongside the spring and fishes that swim as good luck would have it, and leisurely. The spring water tastes and flavors fresh and sugary and slight water in the shade of the mesmerizing light blue you can visit this desert all year round.
Shapotou in Ningxia
Shapotou Desert is located at the north shore of Yellow River on the southern edge of the Tengger Desert. There is also a singing sand in Shapotou. Majority of the domestic tourists incline and fall away upon Shapotou every year all year round to adore and cherish in the normal and ordinary background and setting which participate in numerous activities and deeds all around the 100-metre high dunes.
It has a width of 2,000 meters and keeps a height that rises above of 100 meters with a feeling of 60 degrees. When you stand tall at the foot of the sand hills, you can look up and easily view the beautiful scenic landscapes and what looks like a waterfall, but it is in reality sand that gives the exact view like it is falling down right from heaven.
