The Kubuqi Desert Spring Ecotourism Area, severely underrated, offers a delightful experience with few visitors

The Kubuqi Desert is one of China's eight major deserts, spanning parts of Hangjin Banner, Dalad Banner, and Jungar Banner on the northern ridge of the Ordos Plateau. It stretches 400 kilometers long and 50 kilometers wide, covering an area of about 13,900 square kilometers. The sand dunes, ranging from 10 to 60 meters in height, with about 61% being shifting dunes, were once one of the sources of frequent sandstorms in northern China. After more than 30 years of arduous sand control efforts, the ecological environment of the Kubuqi Desert has significantly improved. Each year, it prevents billions of tons of yellow sand from invading the Yellow River. The greening of one-third of China's seventh-largest desert earned the United Nations' Land for Life Award in 2015, and China's model of desert economy development has gained world recognition. Standing here, every grain of fine sand is a gift from nature, as if standing firm against the vast sky. Feeling each particle of sand jump beneath one's toes, that immersive experience of becoming one with nature, is the true essence of a desert journey.