Lake and Desert: Tears and Love Letters Road

Complete Guide to Crossing Five Lakes, Encountering the Wild Beauty of Desert Lakes Preparation Before Departure - Documents: Bring your ID card, and if you have documents that qualify for discounted tickets (e.g., student ID, senior citizen ID), bring them along. - Clothing: From March to October, wear lightweight, breathable, and sun-protective clothing such as short sleeves, shorts, and sun-protective jackets. Also, bring a sun hat and sunglasses. From November to February, pack warm clothing like thick coats, scarves, and gloves. The desert has significant temperature differences between day and night, even during summer nights, so remember to bring a long-sleeve jacket. - Skincare and Sun Protection: Prepare high-SPF sunscreen (SPF50+ or higher), after-sun repair masks, aloe vera gel, moisturizing skincare products, lip balm, and a sun umbrella or hat, as well as a sun-protective face mask. - Shoes: Wear high-top breathable sneakers or prepare sand-proof shoe covers in advance to prevent sand from getting into your shoes and affecting your walking experience. - Other Items: Bring a power bank to ensure your phone and camera are fully charged. Prepare enough drinking water as water loss is rapid in the desert. Carry some snacks to replenish energy. If you plan to take photos, bring a camera, lenses, and a tripod, and ensure your equipment is sand-proof. Transportation Guide External Transportation - Airplane: First, arrive at Yinchuan Hedong International Airport, which has many flight routes and convenient transportation. After arrival, take the airport shuttle bus to downtown hotels. - Train: Yinchuan Station and Yinchuan East Station have frequent train services. Traveling from Zhongwei Station to the Tengger Desert is also convenient. After arriving at the station, you can take a taxi to the city center and then transfer to vehicles heading to the desert. Alternatively, you can contact local travel agencies in advance for pick-up arrangements. Internal Transportation - Off-road Vehicles: To cross the five lakes in the Tengger Desert, you must use professionally modified off-road vehicles. Models like Ford Raptor, Toyota Tundra, and Toyota Land Cruiser are excellent choices due to their powerful engines and outstanding off-road performance, capable of handling complex desert terrain. Attractions and Activities - Swan Lake: A green oasis in the desert. March-April and October-November are migration seasons for birds, where you can see flocks of swans and wild ducks resting here. The lake is surrounded by sand apple trees, and during sunset, the golden glow on the lake and sand creates breathtaking scenery. - Ulan Lake: Known as the "Heart of the Earth," the lake water appears bright red due to its rich red minerals. Viewed from above, its shape resembles a heart, which is incredibly stunning. - Camel Lake: Features pink salt flats and Tiffany-blue lake water. It is a lush oasis in the desert, often visited by camels for grazing. Wearing bright-colored clothes for photos creates a striking contrast with the pink lake water, making for amazing shots. - Zhangjia Lake (Hailiuqi Lake): Known for its towering sand dunes, it is an excellent spot for desert aerial photography and sand sliding. Standing atop the dunes, you can overlook the ink-painting-like lake scenery and experience the thrill of sliding down the dunes. - Guitar Lake: Shaped like a giant guitar, it lies quietly embraced by the desert. The lake's color changes with the seasons, and the surrounding desert is a perfect spot for sunset viewing and dune photography. Itinerary One-Day Tour - Morning: - 9:00-11:00: Depart from a downtown Yinchuan hotel and head to the Tengger Desert entrance, enjoying the Helan Mountain scenery and learning about Xixia culture along the way. - 11:00-12:00: Arrive at the desert entrance, switch to off-road vehicles, and experience thrilling desert surfing en route to Swan Lake. - Noon: - 12:00-13:00: Rest near Swan Lake, enjoy your packed lunch, and admire the lake view. - Afternoon: - 13:00-14:00: Head to Ulan Lake for aerial photography of the "Heart of the Earth" and photo opportunities. - 14:00-15:00: Arrive at Camel Lake to enjoy the pink lake water and salt flats, and take photos. - 15:00-16:00: Proceed to Zhangjia Lake to experience sand sliding and admire the beauty of the desert intertwined with lakes. - 16:00-17:00: Reach Guitar Lake, overlook the guitar-shaped lake from above, and take memorable photos. - 17:00-19:00: Conclude the five-lake crossing and return to downtown Yinchuan. Two-Day Tour - Day 1: - 9:00-11:00: Depart from Yinchuan and arrive at the Tengger Desert entrance, switching to off-road vehicles. - 11:00-13:00: Visit Swan Lake and Ulan Lake, and have lunch near Ulan Lake. - 13:00-15:00: Head to Camel Lake and Zhangjia Lake, experiencing sand sliding at Zhangjia Lake. - 15:00-17:00: Arrive at Guitar Lake, take photos, and then proceed to the desert campsite. - 17:00-19:00: Rest at the campsite and enjoy the desert sunset. - 19:00-21:00: Have dinner, participate in a bonfire party, and stargaze in the desert. - Day 2: - 6:00-7:00: Wake up early to watch the desert sunrise. - 7:00-9:00: Have breakfast and pack your belongings. - 9:00-12:00: Enjoy desert activities like camel riding and desert motorcycling. - 12:00-13:00: Have lunch and then return to downtown Yinchuan. Tips for Sun and Sand Protection: The desert has intense UV rays and strong winds, so take adequate measures for sun and sand protection.