Kubuqi Desert: From the Sea of Death to the Sea of Green

Written by Veronica | Updated March 05,2026

As the seventh largest desert in China, the Kubuqi Desert was once renowned as the “Sea of Death”. More than 60% of dunes are mobile, and in windy weather, tons of sand can be blown to the nearby Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region overnight.

The Kubuqi Desert offers a variety of entertainment such as desert trekking, camping, camel riding, and so on. If you have enough time, it is recommended that you arrange at least two days of your Inner Mongolia tours here in order to fully experience the charm of the desert.

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• Kubuqi Desert Facts
• Kubugi Desert Before and After
• What to See and Do in Kubuqi Desert
• Kubuqi Desert Weather& Best Time to Visit
• How to Get to Kubuqi Desert
• Attractions nearby Kubuqi Desert
• FAQs about the Kubuqi Desert
• Adventure to Kubuqi Desert with China Xian Tour

Kubuqi Desert Facts

• Location: North of Ordos City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
• Opening Time: From 8:00 to 18:00, stop entering the Kubuqi Desert from 17:30
• Ticket Price: 30 yuan/person
• Area: About 18,600 square kilometers
• Time Needed: At least 2 days

Kubugi Desert Before and After

Kubuqi Desert used to be one of the most vulnerable areas in Inner Mongolia. Due to low vegetation cover and frequent sandstorms, the Kubuqi Desert has seriously affected the livelihood of local farmers. With the expansion of the desert, a large amount of sediment has invaded the Yellow River, threatening the production of herdsmen along the river.

Through the hard work of generations of Chinese, the ecological protection and restoration of the Kubuqi Desert map has achieved significant results: the amount of sediment to the Yellow River has been reduced by 80%, and the forest coverage rate has increased from 7.23% in 2000 to 18.08% in 2023; chances of sandstorms have been reduced by 90%. Not only has vegetation coverage been significantly improved, but biodiversity has also been restored.

In the future, Kubuqi Desert greening will focus on the development of solar energy, which can not only generate electricity but also prevent the movement of dunes, and reduce the evaporation of soil water. These achievements have advanced the local ecological environment, as well as demonstrated the possibility of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

What to See and Do in Kubuqi Desert

1. Xiangshawan (Resonant Dune Bay)

• Location: Dalat Banner, ‌Erdos City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region ‌
• Ticket Price: 120 yuan/person (combo tickets with a variety of items range from 120 to 360 yuan/person)
• Opening Time: 8:00-18:00 (no entry at 16:30)

Xiangshawan is located in the eastern end of the Kubuqi Desert, where there is not only magnificent desert scenery but also many interesting desert entertainment projects. There are two popular attractions in Xiangshawan, Xiansha Island and Yuesha Island, the former with a cultural theme and the latter with a water park theme, suitable for tourists of different ages to explore and entertain.

Here you can ride a camel, take a hot air balloon to overlook the entire desert, or take a sandboard to experience the feeling of fast sliding down the sand dunes. If you want to challenge yourself, try the desert off-road vehicle. There are many professional desert climbing teams and they will lead you to climb up to 100 meters of sand mountain to feel the sense of achievement.

2. Yemingsha (Night Singing Sand)

• Location: Hangjinqi, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
• Ticket Price: 199 yuan/person
• Opening Time: 8:00-18:00

It is famous for its unique ringing sand phenomenon. When people walk or slide on the sand, the sand will make a sound similar to the roar of an airplane. It is especially pleasant at night, so it is named Yemingsha (“night ringing sand”). Here you can experience a variety of desert amusement activities, such as camping, air gliding, desert tank, and desert zipline, to fully feel the charm of desert travel. In addition, there will also be China off-road E Desert Challenge and other large scale off-road events.

One thing unique about Yemingsha is that it will have a “Night of Yemingsha” event every night. It’s a free event, and you can see many traditional Chinese performances like iron flower throwing and fire pot displays. There will also be a bonfire party and fireworks. Performance begins at 9:20 pm, and it starts warming up at around 9:00 pm. The whole performance is around 30 minutes, which means each separate performance will only last for a short time. So don’t be late.

Stargazing is also a popular activity held in Yemingsha. Visitors will meet at Main Station at 22:10. Then a guide is going to take all of you to hike for about 1.1 km (15 minutes) to a sand dune where you can see the stars so clearly. Enjoy your time there and also remember to bring layers as nights in Kubuqi can be cold.

3. Qixing Lake (Seven-star Lake)

• Location: The heart of the Kubuqi Desert
• Ticket Price: 88-100 yuan/person
• Opening Time: 9:00-17:00 (no entry at 16:30)

Qixing Lake is a comprehensive desert tourism resort integrating tourism, theme performing arts, health care, ecological sightseeing, business exhibitions, etc. Visitors can climb sand mountains and take a Ferris wheel overlooking the desert oasis. You can also watch the large-scale theme performance show “Legend of the Desert”.

There is also the world’s most advanced sand control technology and desert science and technology museum. The lake is home to more than a dozen species of birds, including first-class protected birds in China like the gull and the white swan.

Kubuqi Desert Weather& Best Time to Visit

‌Kubuqi Desert is a temperate continental climate zone, with characteristics of large temperature differences between day and night, strong ultraviolet rays, heavy wind and sand, and dry climate.

‌Spring (May): Although spring is a stormy season, the climate has begun to warm up at this time, and the humidity of the air has increases, which is a good time to explore the Kubuqi Desert.

‌Summer (June): Despite the heat of the Kubuqi Desert in summer, visitors who like to challenge nature are welcome at this time, just stay hydrated and protect yourself from sunburn.

‌Autumn (September, October): Autumn is the mildest season in the Kubuqi Desert, with less wind and sand. You can not only avoid the heat and cold but also enjoy the beautiful sunset and sunrise scenery in the desert, which is an ideal place for photography lovers.

‌Winter: It is not recommended to visit the Kubuqi Desert in winter due to its cold weather.

So it is recommended to choose spring, the first half of summer, and autumn to visit the Kubuqi Desert. ‌In terms of what kind of clothes you should wear, our experience tells that day hours could be hot. And you’ll need light, breathable clothing. When the dark falls and it will become cold, so plus a jacket for cool desert nights. UV protections are also needed.

How to Get to Kubuqi Desert

Basically, when going to Kubuqi, a car drive is always the most convenient and almost unavoidable choice. Even if you’re traveling from other relatively remote places, you’ll have to fly to Ordos Ejin Horo International Airport or Baotou Airport first. Then take a car transfer to Kubuqi Desert (taxi or car rental service). Hohhot and Kubuqi Desert are approximately 190 km apart from each other, a car drive takes about 2–3 hours. From Ordos, the distance is about 180 km (2-2.5 hours). If you hire a car, you can freely explore multiple desert sections with full convenience. One thing that many would do is save the numbers of taxi drivers and contact them when you need a ride back to the city. Remember to only take the licensed cars..

And here are some recommendations for anyone who wants to go to specific scenic area directly:

From Baotou:

• To Xiangshawan (Resonant Dune Bay): Take a coach from Baotou East Long-distance Bus Station (包头长途汽车站东站) to Xiangshawan Overpass (响沙湾立交桥). Then walk about 3 km to the scenic area.
• To Yemingsha Scenic Area: Coaches are less frequent.Hiring a taxi or private car from Baotou is more practical.

From Ordos:

• To Xiangshawan: Take a coach from Dongsheng Long-distance Bus Station (东胜区长途汽车站) toward Baotou.Get off at Xiangshawan Overpass, then walk about 3 km to the scenic area.
• To Yemingsha: Public transport options are limited.Try to use private transfer.

Attractions nearby Kubuqi Desert

• Mausoleum of Genghis Khan: ‌It is the tomb of Genghis Khan, the first Khan of the Mongol Empire, which helps a lot to the research of the history and culture of the Mongol nation and the nomads in the north of China.
• Ordos Grassland: It is not only an ideal attraction to appreciate the grassland scenery, but also a good place to get an in-depth understanding of Mongolian culture and lifestyle.
• Ordos Museum: It has more than 2,000 cultural relics, including precious Ordos bronzes, ancient human remains, etc. Visitors can immerse in the trip by using modern technology like VR virtual reality.

FAQs about the Kubuqi Desert

Can you camp overnight in the Kubuqi Desert?

Yes. Overnight stays can be realized in several resorts and designated campsites. And spending evenings here can be extremely rewarding, as it offers you a special chance to enjoy bonfire parties and traditional Mongolian performances.

Is the Kubuqi Desert easy to reach from Hohhot or Ordos?

Yes. It takes about 2–3 hours drive from Hohhot and only around 1 hour from Ordos.

Are there any unique local foods to try near the desert?

Yes. Famous dishes include roasted whole lamb, hand-grabbed mutton, dairy snacks, and salty Mongolian milk tea.

Are there places to eat inside the desert?

Yes. Places like Xiangshawan and Qixing Lake resorts will have restaurants serving both Mongolian and Chinese cuisine.

What kind of clothes and gear should I pack? Do I need special shoes?

Daytime hours could be hot. And you’ll need light, breathable clothing. When the dark falls and it will become cold, so plus a jacket for cool desert nights. UV protections are also needed.

How much does it cost to visit and do the activities?

• General Entry: ~30 yuan
• Xiangshawan: 120–360 yuan
• Yemingsha: ~200yuan
• Qixing Lake: 80 yuan
• Activity Package (camel ride, sandboarding, etc.): ~280 yuan
• Camel Ride: 100–150 yuan
• Sandboarding: ~50 yuan
• Off-road Jeep/Dune Buggy: 150–400 yuan
• Hot Air Balloon: 1,000 yuan+

Adventure to Kubuqi Desert with China Xian Tour

No matter what you’re expecting for this journey, the Kubuqi Desert always has something unforgettable to offer. And China Xian Tour can offer you the best desert exploration.

With the help of our local travel experts, you’ll get a perfect journey which is made completely based on your own preference, and we’ll also provide you with private transfers and professional guides. From start to finish, we’ll take care of all the preparation for you so that you can fully enjoy the unforgettable beauty of desert.