Tonghu Grassland

通湖草原

Grassland, lakes and dunes intertwined deep in the Tengger Desert. Stay in yurts, enjoy bonfire parties and desert off-road adventures, a different way to experience the desert beyond Zhongwei.

Tonghu Grassland lies within Tenggeli Town in Alxa Left Banner, Inner Mongolia, next to Zhongwei in Ningxia. It is about 30 km from Shapotou. It is an oasis in the Tengger Desert, made up of lake wetlands, grassland and dunes. Zhongwei is the most convenient gateway. The centre of the scenic area is Tonghu, a saline lake within the desert. Yurt camps are scattered across the lakeside grasslands, surrounded by tall dunes where you can watch sunrise and sunset over the desert.

Activities: By day, you can ride desert off-road vehicles over the dunes, ride camels across them, sandboard, go karting or ride horses. The lakeside is good for birdwatching and fishing. By night, stay in a yurt or tent and join bonfire parties, Mongolian song and dance performances and whole roast lamb. The desert night sky is exceptionally clear.

Admission is about RMB 80. Sightseeing buggies and activities cost extra. Yurt accommodation costs about RMB 300–600. The scenic area is highly commercialized and crowded during peak season, but the combination of desert, lake and grassland in one place is unique in the surrounding region.

Getting there: Drive about 1 hour from Zhongwei city centre or Shapotou. Carpooling is available in peak season, but there is no public bus.

Notes: The area is in Inner Mongolia, so your phone may roam onto a Inner Mongolia network. Desert temperatures swing widely between day and night, so bring warm clothes. Wear a seatbelt during desert off-roading. Water at the camps is limited, and washing facilities are basic. The coordinates are estimated for the scenic area.

Tonghu Grassland

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby