Park of China
Overview
| Designation | UNESCO World Heritage (natural, 2024) |
| Name | Badain Jaran Desert - Towers of Sand and Lakes |
| Country | China |
| Nearby cities | Alxa Right Banner, Ejin Banner, Yinchuan, Lanzhou |
| Nearby sites | Jiayuguan Pass 348km, Western Xia Imperial Tombs 357km, Qinghai Lake 383km Search nearby |
| Latitude, longitude | 39.89, 102.29 Google Maps |
| Themes | Desert, Sand Dune, Lake |
About
Badain Jaran Desert - Towers of Sand and Lakes (巴丹吉林沙漠——沙山湖泊群) was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2024 as a natural site.
Why it was inscribed
Superb natural scenery; a record of Earth’s history and landforms.
The Badain Jaran Desert, in Alxa League, Inner Mongolia, covers about 49,000 km² and is China’s third largest desert. It is known for tall sand mountains with lakes between them: the highest rise about 460 m above their surroundings, among the tallest stabilised dunes in the world; more than a hundred lakes lie among them, and some dunes “sing” as the sand slides. It shows wind-blown landforms still in the making.
Travel tips
Location: in Alxa League, Inner Mongolia, administratively within Alxa Right Banner and Ejin Banner. The desert is large, and the sand towers and lakes lie in its interior.
Getting there: the seat of Alxa Right Banner is Badain Jaran town; reach it by long-distance bus or self-drive from Yinchuan, Lanzhou, Jiayuguan or Ejin Banner, then hire a vehicle to enter the desert.
Entering the desert: there are no paved roads in the interior; an off-road vehicle and a driver who knows the route are needed. Do not go in alone.
Main sights: the sand towers around Badain Jaran Temple, among them Bilutu Peak at about 1,600 m above sea level and over 400 m high, the tallest stationary dune in the world; more than a hundred lakes between the dunes; and booming dunes.
Time: a round trip from the town normally takes two days with one night in the desert, allowing sunrise, sunset and stars.
Season: spring and autumn are suitable; summer ground temperatures are very high and winter is severe.
Where to stay: tent camps in the desert and hotels in the town.
Caution: there is almost no water or shade; carry plenty of water and sun protection. Mobile reception is unreliable.
Photo credits: Dunes of the Badain Jaran Desert, Inner Mongolia: Sjoerd van Oort (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons)
Stamps
The eleventh stamp of 2004-24 “Frontier Scenery of China”, a set of twelve issued in 2004, shows the Badain Jaran Desert.
The fourth stamp of the definitive series R32 “Beautiful China (III)”, a set of six issued in 2021, shows the Badain Jaran Desert (Alxa).
Nearby
| World Heritage | Western Xia Imperial Tombs 357km, Bingling Temple 459km, Suoyang City 519km, Xuanquanzhi 593km |
| National parks | Qinghai Lake 383km |
| AAAAA attractions | Zhangye Rainbow Danxia Scenic Area 215km, Populus euphratica Forest Tourist Area, Ejina 238km, Amidongsuo Scenic Area 269km, Huzhu Tu Homeland Garden Scenic Area 341km |
| AAAA attractions | Badain Jaran Desert 28km |
| UNESCO Global Geoparks | Alxa Desert UNESCO Global Geopark 212km, Zhangye UNESCO Global Geopark 215km |
| Historic cities | Zhangye 190km |
| Historical sites | Badain Jaran Temple 15km |
| National geoparks | Zhangye National Geopark 215km |
| Nature reserves | Minqin Liangucheng National Nature Reserve 188km |