Taklimakan Desert, A realm of shifting sands and timeless romance

The center of the Tarim Basin in southern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Bachu County, Kashi Prefecture, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture

Vast desert

3.9

Tourist attractions

Introduction

Located in the central part of Tarim Basin in Xinjiang, China, Taklamakan Desert is the largest desert in China and the world's tenth largest desert. It is also the world's second largest mobile desert. It spans about 1,000 kilometers from east to west and 400 kilometers from north to south, with a total area of 330,000 square kilometers. The average annual precipitation in the area is not more than 100 millimeters, with some parts receiving as little as 4-5 millimeters, making it an extremely dry place. In the Taklamakan Desert, pyramid-shaped sand dunes rise over 300 meters high and strong winds can blow the sand walls up to three times higher. Due to the effect of the wind, the location of these sand dunes is constantly changing. Although rare, some plants can be found in the desert and these plants continually expand their root system in order to absorb sufficient water from underground. In addition, animals in the Taklamakan Desert also undergo hibernation. According to legend, Taklamakan Desert is the cursed city of the Uyghur people, submerged in the desert. The word Taklamakan is said to be divided into two parts: "Takla" means "underground" or "below," while "ma-kan" means "territory," "homeland" or "place of life." Due to its location in the center of the Eurasian continent and surrounded by mountains, the Taklamakan Desert is full of mystery and exoticism.

Address

The center of the Tarim Basin in southern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Bachu County, Kashi Prefecture, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture

Opening hours

All day (Monday-Sunday from January 1st to December 31st)