Tengger Desert
Indulge yourself in Tengger Desert! Have a picnic, go camping, ride a camel or feel its crescent desert springs! Travel tips on Tengger Desert.
First of all, get to know Tengger Desert. It is the fourth largest desert in China, and it is located within the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and joins the border of Ningxia at Zhongwei City.
Covering an area of 42,700 sq.km. (16,486 sq. mi.), it has rich variety of landscapes scattered in such as the lake basins, the grasslands, highland, sand dunes and plains with the area of sand accounting for 71% of its total area.
Tengger Desert is dominated by migratory dunes which usually move from east to south and take the shape of a trellis or crescent with a height of 10 - 20 m. (33 - 66 ft.), making it extremely difficult for travelers to go hiking across the desert.
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It is formed by strong wind and serious drought combined with unlimited disafforestation. Southwest wind prevails all year round in the desert with relatively small amount of rainfall and abundant sunlight.
Apart from the spectacular desert view, another feature that makes Tengger Desert so attractive is the lakes.
There are now 422 lakes of all sizes distributed in the desert with various kinds of vegetation growing there making it a natural pasture.
The most brilliant of all is the moon lake which looks very much like the map of China and the reeds growing in it serves as a natural boundary and seem to point out each provinces of the country.
What may also surprise you is that the lake is actually composed of a freshwater lake and a salty water lake containing around ten valuable trace elements. The lake has a strong capability of purifying water and and that explains why the lake doesn't dry for hundreds of years.
Besides, the rare black sand beach which extends one kilometer long and about a hundred meter wide makes a natural bathing beach that can be compared to an international health institution which provide heathful medicated bath.
Final travel tips for you: bring your skin care products with you; wear outdoor scarf if you can as windy days in desert region can mess up your hair and cast dust into your eyes.
You are in Tenggar Desert, why not go picnicking, camping, riding a camel to experience the special desert tour or just sit down in the desert to appreciate the gorgeous sunset view.
Ticket price for it is 90 RMB (15 USD). Since Tengger Desert ends at Shapotou by the Yellow river, you can also visit the nearby Great Place to Have Fun - Shapotou.
Comments
Hi - I am hoping to come to th desert this summer in July/August - is it open to foreigners?
In reply to Hi - I am hoping to come to… by Simon (not verified)
Hi Simon,
Thanks for your comments.
Yes, foreign travelers can visit Tengger desert, I've just sent the email with the details, please kindly have a look and feel free to share your comments and thoughts.
Look forward to hearing from you back soon!
Kind regards,
Yuki
Hello,
We are a small group of colleagues living in Jiangsu Suzhou who would like to visit the desert for the October break. We would probably arrive around October 3 or 4 and stay for 4 or 5 days. We would like to see the cool things there and either camp out with a BBQ or stay in a Yurt or something like that. Can you let me know if there are restrictions due to COVID?
In reply to Hello, We are a small group… by Tim (not verified)
Hi Tim,
Thank you for your inquiry, this is Victoria Zhu from WindhorseTour, I am more than happy to assist you on your Tengger Desert trip planing.
Due the unpredictable situation of COVID-19 epidenmic in China, this desert has been reclosed for foreigners currently, even for those working or staying in China, and right now, when it will be reopened for foreigners and what documents it requires for a visit there are not known yet. Once it reopens, I will keep you informed by email.
All the best!
Victoria
Hello,
we would like to visit Tengger Desert if possible. We are 2 people, arriving in Yingchuan on 10 of July. Can you offer something?
Thank you very much
In reply to Hello, we would like to… by Stephan (not verified)
Dear Stephan,
Thank you for your inquiry. This is Zoe from Windhorse Tour responding to your email.
I have already sent you an email about the travel suggestion in this special period (COVID-19).
Hope you have a nice trip to Tengger Desert!
Warm Regards,
Zoe
Dear,
We (2 pax) would like to spend a night in a Yurt on the 13/09/2019 in the Tengger desert.
Will be arriving in Yinchuan airport on 13/09 morning.
Please tell us if it is possible + prices + tour details.
Many thanks
In reply to Dear, We (2 pax) would like… by Cédric Faure (not verified)
Dear Cedric,
Glad to hear from you! This is Anita from WindhorseTour.
We can definitely arrange 1 night in a Yurt for you in the Tengger Desert.
For your information, I have just send the email with detailed itinerary with quotation.
Please kindly go through it and let me know how it sounds to you.
Look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best Regards,
Anita
Hi
We are a family of 4 (2 adults and to kids aged 9 and 11) travelling to China next summer in 2019.
We will like to go on 2 day camel trek from Zhongwei with camping overnight in the Desert from 09-07-2019 to 10-07-2019.
Can you arrange such a tour and how much will it cost.
Best Regards
André Lorentz-Petersen
In reply to Tengger Desert camel trek - 2 day tour by André Lorentz-… (not verified)
Hi Andre,
Thank you for your inquiry. This is Anita from WindhorseTour.
We can definitely make your trip happen. Based on your information, I just sent an email with detailed itinerary with quotation.
Please kindly go through it and let me know if you have any further questions or comments on it.
Look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best Regards,
Anita
I will be in Yinchuan/Zhongwei area in October and would like to spend a night in the desert, not just at Shapatou as I also want to visit the ruins of the Great Wall. Please let me know your fee. I will be only one person.
Thank you!
S. Freeman
NYC/USA
Hello! I'd like to enquire if you provide camel trekking/overnight camping services for the Tengger desert? Thanks :)