Discover Badain Jaran Desert

Badain Jaran Desert offers one of China’s most dramatic and otherworldly natural landscapes, combining giant sand dunes, hidden desert lakes, wide horizons, starry skies, camel routes, off-road desert travel, and a sense of silence that feels far away from China’s big cities. Located mainly in Alxa, Inner Mongolia, it is known for its “towers of sand and lakes” landscape, with some of the world’s tallest stationary dunes and more than 100 lakes scattered between the dunes.

A visit can include riding across the desert by 4x4, climbing high dunes for sunrise or sunset, visiting desert lakes such as Badain Lake, experiencing camel trekking, photographing the contrast between golden sand and blue water, staying overnight for stargazing, and learning about the desert culture of Alxa and western Inner Mongolia. The best time to visit is usually May to June or September to October, when temperatures are more comfortable and the desert is better suited for outdoor exploration, photography, and overnight stays. Badain Jaran also works well as part of a wider northwest China route with Zhangye Danxia, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Ejina Populus Euphratica Forest, Tengger Desert, and the Hexi Corridor.