The Colorful Badain Jaran: A Stunning Desert

Who says deserts are only desolate? The Badain Jaran Desert shatters this stereotype with its vibrant colors✨. Here, sand and water are not opposites, but rather blend together to create a breathtaking canvas—dunes, lakes, and light intertwine, presenting a boundless and magnificent landscape💎. In 2005, *Chinese National Geography* named it the "Most Beautiful Desert"🏆. The Badain Jaran Desert is known for its ever-changing ridgelines, with crescent-shaped dunes and sand mountains interwoven, as if entering a world of curved art. The dunes tower into the clouds, especially Bilutu Peak, making it one of the most admired sand mountains in the world🌍. Even more surprising is the presence of over a hundred lakes, mostly saltwater, known locally as "Haizi." Among them, "Rose Lake" stands out, its pink or red surface shimmering and changing under specific conditions, like a dreamscape in a painting, especially in summer when its colors are most intense and captivating🌹. Exploring the Badain Jaran Desert is no easy feat, requiring visitors to travel in local off-road vehicles🏎️. Several recommended lakes to visit include Yike Jigde and the Two-Colored Lake, whose contrasting colors make them ideal photography spots🎥. Zhun Jigde Lake and Dagu Lake are also not to be missed, especially in summer when the pink lakes are incredibly dreamy. The dunes are even more dazzling in the morning and evening sun, while the starry night sky evokes a sense of awe at the vastness and mystery of nature🌌. Lying on the dunes and feeling the embrace of the Milky Way is perhaps the best tribute to this desert.