Kumtag Desert

吐鲁番库木塔格沙漠

Xinjiang, Turpan★ 4.6·43.0620°N, 89.1163°E

Ticket Price

CNY 50, students CNY 25

Duration

Half day

Rating

4.6 / 5.0

About Kumtag Desert

A vast sand sea bordering the oasis town of Shanshan near Turpan, Xinjiang, where visitors can ride camels, sandboard the dunes and watch spectacular desert sunsets.

Highlights

• Desert meeting the oasis town of Shanshan, reachable on foot. • Dune surfing, camel rides and sunset dunes. • Rare town-edge sand sea.

Suggested Route

Enter, take a camel or 4x4 to the dunes, then a sunset viewpoint; 2-3 h.

Food & Lodging

Oasis restaurants in Shanshan; melon and naan stalls.

Facilities

Parking, restrooms, camel/shuttle, limited wheelchair access (sand) and a shower tent.

Travel Tips

Essential gear: Hiking the Kumtag requires standard trekking/camping equipment—tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, hiking boots, stove, cookware, GPS, compass, two-way radio, and trekking clothes. Special desert gear is also essential: gaiters to keep sand out of boots; trekking poles (the sand is soft, so poles are indispensable—bring two); plastic bags to protect gear and clothes from sand (camera equipment especially); and GPS/compass for navigation, as the desert...

📅 Best Time & Crowds

Best season: June-September

🏮Golden Week alert: May 1-5 and Oct 1-7 are China's biggest travel peaks — top attractions sell out days ahead. Book tickets the moment they open.

⏰Many museums and palaces close on Mondays (e.g. Forbidden City, National Museum). Plan around it.