Desert Botanical Garden
The Desert Botanical Garden lies 10 km. (6.2 mi.) southeast of Turpan City and covers an area of over 500 hectares (1,236 ac.).
With an average altitude of 80 m. (262 ft.) below sea level, large areas of wind-eroded landscape and crescent-shaped sand land can be found there.
The garden has a typical continental climate belonging to the temperate zone with the highest temperature reaching 48 C (118 F) and the lowest temperature -28 C (-18 F).
In summer, the temperature on the surface of sand can be as high as 80 C (176 F). In addition, force 8 wind blows 26 days on average in a year.
The highest wind speed in the Garden reaches 40 m/s (131 f/s)ranking top on the nation’s sand flow speed. Because of the above mentioned facts, it is known as “the Land of Fire” and “the Wind Reservoir”.
Through 30 years of painstaking efforts, visitors now can find over 500 kinds of desert plants among which 43 kinds are endangered species and 24% are listed as rare plants under national protection.
Interested in This Attraction? Contact Us Now!
The Desert Botanical Garden consists of eights major gardens:
- Calligonum collection garden
- desert ornamental plants garden
- Eremophytes systematic garden
- Ethnic medicinal herbs garden
- Halophytes garden
- Junggar desert landscape exhibition area
- Rare and endangered plants ex-situ protection districts
- Tamarisk collection garden
In these gardens, you will find more than 30 species of birds, 10 species of beasts and 5 species of reptiles all of which makes a special animal zoo for the visitors to wander.
What’s also worth mentioning is the populous diversifolia which is a typical desert plants. Every year in April when most part of Xinjiang is covered by thick snow, the fragrance given out by the flowers in this Garden can be smelt from afar, making it one of the most popular tourist spot in Xinjiang.
Related tours
Set out on an unforgettable 11-day Chengdu to Lhasa overland tour along the Sichuan–Tibet Highway (G318). Cross high passes, vast grasslands, glaciers, and sacred lakes while experiencing yourself in Kham culture and the dramatic landscapes of eastern Tibet.
This Grand Silk Road and Tibet Tour travels from Kashgar to Lhasa through Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai and Tibet. Explore desert oases, Buddhist grottoes, ancient cities, monasteries and highland lakes before riding the Qinghai–Tibet Railway into Lhasa.
This 8-day Muztagh Ata Base Camp trekking tour starts in Kashgar and takes you to Karakul Lake, Kyrgyz nomad villages, and the Pamir Plateau. Hike through grasslands and glaciers up to 4,500 m for unmatched views of Muztagh Ata, with cultural stops in Tashkorgan and Kashgar.
Get off the beaten track to discover the hidden ancient town Luocheng near Leshan Grand Buddha and take the world's only functioning steam train running in Qianwei, afterwards head to the scared Buddhist mount Emei for the splendid sunrise.