Gurbantunggut Desert in Xinjiang

The Gurbantunggut Desert lies in the heart of the Junggar Basin in northern Xinjiang, stretching across parts of Changji, Altay, and Karamay. Covering approximately 48,800 square kilometers, it is China's second-largest desert and the country's largest fixed and semi-fixed desert. Its Mongolian name is traditionally interpreted as meaning “three clusters of Achnatherum grass.”

Unlike the shifting sands of the Taklamakan Desert, the Gurbantunggut is largely stabilized by vegetation and biological soil crusts, with approximately 97% of its sand dunes fixed by vegetation and biocrusts. Branching sand ridges extend across vast distances, while hardy desert plants such as white saxaul and wormwood survive in the arid environment.

The S21 Awu Expressway crosses the desert and has become one of northern Xinjiang's popular self-driving routes. Many travelers experience the Gurbantunggut Desert as part of a road trip from Urumqi toward Beitun or Fuhai, making it a convenient way to experience the wilderness of the Junggar Basin without undertaking a deep-desert expedition.

Main Attractions and Highlights

Karamayli Desert Park

Karamayli Desert Park (克拉美丽沙漠公园) is one of the main sightseeing areas in the desert. The Eye of the Desert Observation Tower provides a 360-degree panoramic view over layers of branching dunes. Around sunrise and sunset, the changing light creates dramatic patterns of highlights and shadows across the sand ridges, making this one of the best locations for desert landscape photography.

Camel Bell Dream Slope Desert Park

Camel Bell Dream Slope Desert Park (驼铃梦坡沙漠公园) features relatively gentle sand hills where visitors can ride camels across the desert, experience traditional sand therapy, and explore traces of ancient routes associated with the Silk Road.

The combination of rolling dunes, camel caravans, and historical remnants offers a more immersive way to experience the desert landscape.

Dongdao Haizi

Dongdao Haizi (东道海子) is a precious oasis within the Gurbantunggut Desert. A lake, reed beds, and Populus euphratica trees coexist amid the surrounding golden sands, creating a striking desert wetland landscape. The area is also a stopover habitat for migratory birds, making it a good place to observe waterbirds against a backdrop of dunes and desert vegetation.

A Desert That Changes with the Seasons

The Gurbantunggut Desert has a surprisingly varied seasonal appearance. After the snow melts in spring, large numbers of ephemeral wildflowers bloom across the sandy landscape, creating the rare spectacle of a desert flower sea. In summer, saxaul and other desert shrubs turn green, while autumn brings golden tones to the vegetation. In winter, snow covers the dunes and transforms the desert into a striking snow-covered wilderness.

Lucky visitors may also encounter desert wildlife such as goitered gazelles and corsac foxes.

There are no large-scale amusement facilities here. The experience focuses on desert wilderness sightseeing, desert night-sky photography, and ecological interpretation, making the Gurbantunggut particularly appealing to travelers interested in nature and photography.

Tickets and Opening Information

Individual sightseeing areas within the desert generally charge separate entrance fees. Students and visitors aged 60–64 receive a 50% discount on entrance tickets, while seniors aged 65 and above and children under 1.3 meters tall can enter free of charge with valid identification.

Desert off-road driving, camel riding, sand therapy, camping, and similar activities are additional paid experiences.

The desert can be visited throughout the year. During the peak season from April to October, sightseeing areas generally operate from 09:00 to 19:30, with last admission at 19:00. Certain areas may be temporarily closed during extreme winds or sandstorms.

Allow around 2 hours for a simple visit to an observation platform. If you plan to undertake a deeper desert excursion or spend the night camping, allow a full day.

Some parts of the desert have no mobile phone signal, so anyone traveling beyond the main sightseeing areas should prepare offline maps in advance. Never enter the desert interior alone in a single vehicle. The desert has intense sunlight and strong winds and blowing sand, so use adequate sun and wind protection.

The ecosystem is fragile, particularly the biological soil crust that helps stabilize the dunes. Do not walk on or damage these crusts. Wild animals must not be chased or fed. In summer, take precautions against heat and dehydration; in winter, prepare for potentially severe cold.

How to Get There

Self-driving or hiring a private vehicle is the most suitable way to explore the Gurbantunggut Desert. The S21 Awu Expressway crosses the desert, with service areas and designated sightseeing parking areas along the route.

There is no direct long-distance public transportation to the main desert sightseeing areas.

A recommended northern Xinjiang road-trip route is:

Urumqi → Gurbantunggut Desert (Karamayli) → Beitun

Before entering the desert, make sure to fill your fuel tank and carry sufficient drinking water, food, and emergency supplies. Follow all highway speed limits and stop only at designated parking areas. Do not leave the road and drive randomly onto the sand.

Best Time to Visit

Late April to early May is the prime season for seeing the desert flower display, when ephemeral wildflowers briefly cover the sandy landscape after the spring snowmelt.

September brings clear skies, comfortable temperatures, and excellent visibility, making it ideal for photographing the extensive dune ridges. From December to February, visitors can experience the dramatically different landscape of the snow-covered desert.

The soft side light around sunrise and sunset is particularly effective for highlighting the three-dimensional textures and patterns of the dunes.

Travel Tips

If you are short on time, you can simply follow the S21 Awu Expressway and make a short stop at the Karamayli observation area to experience the distinctive landscape of this “living desert.”

Facilities are extremely limited in the deeper desert, so complete your preparations before entering the desert area. Carry enough water, food, fuel, offline navigation maps, and emergency supplies, and avoid any unnecessary detours from the main highway.

For photography, sunrise and sunset are the most rewarding periods. During the hottest summer months, avoid prolonged exposure around midday and plan your stops around the cooler morning and late-afternoon hours.