Thu, December 03, 2009
1. Badain Jaran Desert in Inner Mongolia
The Badain Jaran Desert is in the Right Alasan Banner, west of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. With an area of 47,000 square kilometers, the desert has the tallest sand hill at over 500 meters, so it is also called the "Qomolangma of Deserts". More than 10,000 square kilometers of the desert in its northwest remains virgin land.
2. Taklimakan Desert in Xinjiang
As one of the largest sand deserts in the world, the Taklimakan Desert covers an area of 330,000 square kilometers. "Taklimakan" has the meaning that you can never get out of the place once you step in it. The sand hills in the desert are 300 meters high. When wind blows the sand up, the hills can reach a height of 900 meters.
3. Gurbantunggut Desert in Xinjiang
Gurbantunggut Desert in Xinjiang is China's second-largest desert. With an area of 48,800 square meters, the desert is located in the center of Junggar Basin, to the east of the Manas River and south of the Ulungur River. The sand hills in the desert are 300 to 600 meters above sea level.
4. Singing Sand Dunes & Crescent Moon Spring in Gansu
Singing sand refers to sand that produces sounds of either high or low frequencies under pressure. The sound is produced when wind is passing over dunes or someone is walking on the sand. The Crescent Moon Spring at the edge of the Singing Sand Dunes is clear and has never dried up.
5. Shapotou in Ningxia
Shapotou Desert is located on the southern edge of the Tengger Desert. There is also singing sand in Shapotou. It has a width of 2,000 meters and a height of 100 meters with an inclination of 60 degrees. When standing at the foot of the sand hills, you can see what looks like a waterfall, but is actually sand.
