Kumtag Desert

The Kumtag sand runs along the northern edge of the Turpan basin, and at Shanshan it reaches the town: dunes rise directly behind the last streets and vineyards, so the boundary between desert and oasis is a line you can stand on with sand on one side and grapes on the other, which is the reason the place is known. The dunes rise to a hundred metres and more, climbed on foot or by buggy, and camel rides, sandboarding and sledging run from the park. Sunrise and sunset carve the ridges into strong light and shadow, and night skies are exceptional.

What you actually see

• The desert edge - dunes meeting the town and vineyards along one line.
• The high dunes - ridges over a hundred metres above the oasis.
• The activities - camels, buggies and sandboarding from the park.
• The low light - ridgelines in strong relief at dawn and dusk.

When to go

April to May and September to October; summer heat in the Turpan basin is extreme and the sand surface becomes dangerous. Dawn and dusk are the times to climb. Winter is cold but clear.

Honest expectations

The park is developed with motorised activities that dominate the near dunes; quiet requires walking further. Entry is charged and summer heat is genuinely hazardous.

Nearby

Turpan lies west; the Flaming Mountains are between.