Taklamakan Desert Interior [Hetian]

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

Taklamakan Desert Interior in Hetian Region and Bayiguole Mongolia Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region: A world of sand on earth

The Taklamakan Desert, lying in the center of the Tarim Basin and covering some 337,600 sq meters, is the biggest desert in China and the second largest shifting sand desert in the world. Between the Keriya River and the Hotan River in the heart of the desert, the vast sea of sand stretches to the horizon. These rivers form natural ''green corridors'' in the heart of the desert. It is the magnificent sight.

From just about every standpoint, geography, ecology, psychology and symbolism, the Taklamakan Desert is a fearsome, nightmarish place. It has been called the ''Sea of Death''. Sparsity and desolation are its only themes, but the most dangerous thing is the lack of water. For a weary and exhausted traveler, even more awful is the seeming boundlessness of this never-ending desert. Once a sand storm forms, roaring and howling, it can even uproot large trees. This is the ''fury of GOD'' Frightful white bones in the desert are all that is left of persons, horses and camels. But none of these could stop people trying to explore this desert, the real attraction might be something else, not dead civilization, gold or treasure, but the scared magic of the desert itself. Sven Hedin translated it into ''if you go in, you won't come out.'' However, in Uygur, the name actually means ''Old Home''.

It is the world's largest underground treasury of cultural relics. The desert destroyed many towns and villages, swallowing lives, legends and details, but left ruins, remote echoes, fragmentary memories and unlimited imaginings. Luolan, Niya, Xiaohe, Milan and Dandanwulike etc, these famous ancient cities recorded the prosperity of the Silk Road; after years, they are still like sparks in the wilderness which can light up flames in people's minds. All these excavated discoveries show that this was the only place on earth where the four great ancient civilizations mixed together.

Best time to go
From the end of October to the beginning of November.
The rain is scarcity and dryness. In winter the average temperature is less than -4F and in summer the average temperature is more than 86F.

Ticket
No ticket but cost more.

Around Landscape
Magetage Mountain, Niya Relics, Wu'erhe Devil City, Saksaul Forest Park, Yin'airike Reservoir., etc.

Local Snacks and Specialties
Hetian Jade, Hetian Carpet, Hetian Silk, Hetian Donkey and pastern, Uygur Medicine, etc.

Travel Tips
Much more cost! Much more difficult! Much more challenge!
Pay attention to the time! Beijing time here means that the sun doesn't rise until 09:00 and it is still light at midnight in the summer months.
Be sure to take warmer clothes for the nights and always carry plenty of drinking water even in the cooler months.
Be sure to respect local ethical customs and traditions.
Please take sunbonnet, sunglass, umbrella, and suntan oil in summer.
Hetian City is located the south end of Taklamakan Desert. So the best way is hire off-road 4 Wheel Vehicles to go.

Distance
Beijing (3768 km) Urumqi City (1509 km) Hetian City
Beijing (3768 km) Urumqi City (600 km) Kuerle City