Badain Jaran Desert Interior [Alashan]

"One of Top Five Most Beautiful Deserts in China"
Ranked by China National Geoegraphy Magazin

Badain Jaran Desert Interior in You Banner, Alasha Prefecture of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region: Curves drawn by God

The Badain Jaran Desert, lying in the west of the Alasha Plateau of the Alasha Prefecture, covers 44,000 square kilometers, ranking third in China and the fourth in world. Some 83 per cent of the desert is composed of shifting dunes.

The steep dunes rise up high from the flat ground, one after the other, covering the whole desert. Paths zigzag up the dunes and down to the next; and as for road signs, there are only the dried white droppings of camels to guide you, or simply gut instinct. When the camel's pads step onto the sand drifts, the sand slides down, and the camels too, often slip back a step for every two they climb. Unlike in the flat Gobi, the camels cannot run at will; it takes much time and all their breath to creep over every single dune.

Wuzhumu is the highest point in the Badain Jaran Desert, at an elevation of 1,700 meters. The dune rises 528 meters high from the ground, and is the highest sand hill in China. It is also the world's largest area of booming sand. As its slips and slides, the sand emits thunderous booming noises.

Among the high dunes of the Badain Jaran are over 140 inland lakes, with an area of 666 hectares, a unique desert sight. It is locally known as Haizi. Most of them are saline. There are always swampy meadows and salt meadows around the lakes, which are important for grazing. The lake stretched out below our feet, deep and clear. Surrounded by sand, it was like a mother's charming smile, or a teardrop on the sky. There are over 140 such lakes in the desert, Some are freshwater lakes and others are extremely saline. It is an incredible thing when a lake next to a salty one turns out to be fresh.

The area around the Badain Jaran Monastery, deep in the interior, is the most beautiful part. The world here is simplified into three elements: dunes, camels and vastness.
Walking in the Badain Jaran Desert is like walking through thousands years of history; it feels like a pilgrimage to the high Alasha Desert Pyramid.

Best time to go
The last ten days of September to the last ten days of October.
An average annual temperature is 44.6F to 46.4F. The absolute lowest temperature is -22F to -34.6F. The absolute hottest temperature is 98.6F to 105.8F and on sand is even up to 158F to 176F.

Ticket
No ticket but cost much more!

Around Landscape
Nine Trees Mongolian Village, Guangzong Temple, Helan Mountain Primal Forest, Helan Mountain Fuying Temple, Yanfu Temple, Moon Lake in Tenggeli Desert, Swan Lake in Tenggeli Desert, The Marsh in Tonghe Grassland, etc.
"One of Top Five Most Beautiful Deserts in China"
Ranked by China National Geoegraphy Magazin

Local Snacks and Specialties
Milk Tea, Wucha (Yangbeizi), Braised Mutton by Hand, Grill Whole-sheep, Strange Stone (immature agate), Ginseng of Desert, Alasha Cashmere, Camel's Hair, etc.

Travel Tips
It takes three days to travel through Badain Jaran Desert by off road 4 Wheel Vehicles.
You had better to hire Off road Vehicles with best drivers.
Be sure to respect local ethical customs and traditions.
Please take enough water, sunbonnet, sunglass, and suntan oil in summer.
Bring warm clothes with you because weather is change to cold at night.

Favoring Telephone
International SOS alarm centers in China: 86-10-64629100, 64629199
Complaint Telephone Number in China National Tourism Administration: 86-10-65275315
Complaint Telephone Number in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region: 86-471-6282653
Complaint Telephone Number in Alasha Prefecture: 86-483-8337204

Distance
Beijing (1876 km) Lanzhou City (360 km) Jinchang City (150 km) E'kenhuduge Town of You Banner in Alasha Prefecture
Beijing (659 km) Huhhot City (760 km) Bayanhaote Town of Zuo Banner in Alasha Prefecture (510 km) E’kenhuduge Town of You Banner in Alasha Prefecture
Beijing (1828 km) Jinchang City (150 km) E'kenhuduge Town of You Banner in Alasha Prefecture