Kumtag Desert

库木塔格沙漠

The desert closest to a city in the world, with rolling sand dunes right at the edge of Shanshan County town. In the evening, watch the sun set over the sand sea, and enjoy sand sledding and off-road rides.

Kumtag Desert lies in Shanshan County, Turpan. It is about 90 km from Turpan city and about 280 km from Urumqi, covering roughly 2,500 square km. Its northern edge directly adjoins Shanshan County town, which is why it is called the desert closest to a city. Within minutes of the town streets, you can step onto the dunes, a scene of city and sand coexisting that is extremely rare in the world. The scenic area entrance is on the south side of Shanshan town. Inside, golden sand dunes stretch on, mostly tens to about a hundred meters high, with flowing ridgelines that make ideal subjects for photographers chasing light and shadow over the desert. Activities include sand sledding, desert off-road vehicles, camel rides, desert motorbikes, sightseeing cable cars, and hiking up tall dunes to watch the sunset. After sunset the desert cools quickly, and in summer it actually feels cooler. Admission is about 30 yuan. Off-road vehicles, sand sledding and other activities cost extra, usually 100 to 300 yuan per person for off-roading, and sightseeing shuttles cost about 20 yuan. It's best to arrive in the late afternoon, climb a dune an hour before sunset, watch the sun drop toward the Tianshan Mountains over the sea of sand, then return to Shanshan town to stay or head back to Turpan. Shanshan town is small, and you can enjoy grilled meat and fruit at the night market. Safety tips: there is no cell signal inside the desert, so don't venture in alone. Wear shoe covers or sandals, since the sand gets scorching hot on summer days. In strong winds, sand flies everywhere, so protect your camera.

Kumtag Desert

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