Badain Jaran Desert
The desert covers 47,000 square kilometres, and about 10,000 square kilometres in its northwest remain untouched by human footprints. Its elevation ranges from 1,200 to 1,700 metres,…
Badain Jaran Desert, Alxa · AI illustration for China Trip
Key facts
- Admission
- Free admission to the scenic area; Badain Lake ticket ¥65; Badain Jaran Desert Geopark ticket ¥220
- Time needed
- 1–2 days
- Getting there
- Take a local travel agency's off-road vehicle from Ehen Hudag Town (Alxa Right Banner seat) to the Badain Jaran Desert, about 90 km
- Guidebook rating
- 5 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 1915. Open in Google Maps
About Badain Jaran Desert
The desert covers 47,000 square kilometres, and about 10,000 square kilometres in its northwest remain untouched by human footprints. Its elevation ranges from 1,200 to 1,700 metres, and dunes rise more than 500 metres above the surrounding terrain, earning it the nickname 'the Everest of deserts'. The Badain Jaran Desert combines the splendour of the desert with towering, steep and dramatic dunes. Its 'Five Wonders' are its peaks, singing sands, lakes, sacred springs and ancient temples.
Tips from the guidebook
- Wind and sun protection
- 1. Temperatures swing widely between day and night and the weather can change quickly, so bring long-sleeved clothing for wind protection and warmth.
- 2. The high altitude and strong direct sunlight mean intense UV exposure. Bring a high-SPF sunscreen and a sun hat.
- Yinderitu Sacred Spring
- A saline lake in the desert. In its centre stands a millstone-shaped rock of less than 3 square metres, dotted with springs. The water that flows from them is sweet, refreshing and crisp.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Badain Jaran Desert cost?
Admission to Badain Jaran Desert is Free admission to the scenic area; Badain Lake ticket ¥65; Badain Jaran Desert Geopark ticket ¥220, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
How do I get to Badain Jaran Desert?
Take a local travel agency's off-road vehicle from Ehen Hudag Town (Alxa Right Banner seat) to the Badain Jaran Desert, about 90 km
How long should I spend at Badain Jaran Desert?
Plan on 1–2 days for Badain Jaran Desert.
Where is Badain Jaran Desert?
Badain Jaran Desert is in Alxa, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, in the North China of China.
More places in Alxa
Tengger Desert
China's fourth-largest desert. "Tengger" means "sky" in Mongolian. The desert contains more than 400 lake basins and over 190 lakes. Swan Lake and Moon Lake, about 35 km apart in the heart of the desert, one large and one small, are Tengger's most outstanding pair of "sister lakes."
3–4 hours
Divine Tree of the Populus Euphratica Forest
This populus euphratica tree is 880 years old, stands 23 metres tall, and has a main trunk 2.07 metres in diameter, so it takes six people holding hands to encircle it. It is the 'King of the Ejina poplars'. At the end of winter and the start of spring, herders come to pay their respects before this tree, and visitors touring the poplar forest make a point of coming to see its grandeur.
¥10 · 0.5–1 hour
Tonghu Grassland
In the lake area, reeds sway and wild birds play; in the grassland area, you can ride horses and hike to experience grassland culture; in the desert area, dunes encircle you and camel rides take you deep into the desert's heart. There are also shrub forests, artificial oases, the vast sand-control project, the mysterious Qingxi River springs, sand surfing and other adventure activities, and warm bonfire parties. In this one place, you can enjoy all of the landscapes and special activities described above. What more could you ask for?
4–5 hours
Moon Lake
Located in a valley at the bottom of the Tengger Desert, this is China's desert adventure camp closest to a city. Here you can experience sand surfing, desert hiking, desert swimming and other distinctive activities. Moon Lake is shaped like a map of China, and its water is rich in minerals, said to have natural bathing benefits. The lake has a natural black sand beach over a kilometre long and several hundred metres wide, with good mud therapy effects.
¥100 · 3–4 hours
Swan Lake
Located 12 km southwest of Tonggunaoer Sumu in the Left Banner of Alxa, the lake covers 3.2 square kilometres. Surrounded by vast desert, with rolling dunes and surging sand waves, the scene is quite spectacular. Every year in March–April and September–October, large numbers of migratory birds, including white swans and wild ducks, stop here.
Entrance ¥35; combo packages including other activities ¥50–250 · 3–4 hours
Ejina Desert Populus Euphratica Forest
Located 20 km east of Dalaihubu Town, this site combines the edge of the Badain Jaran Desert with a populus euphratica forest. The desert, the poplars, camel caravans and the setting sun make it a paradise for photographers.
1–2 days