Things to do in Alxa Left Banner

Upon arriving at the Yellow River area, we headed straight there. We wanted to try the famous "Flying Yellow River" (Yellow River Zipline). The package included a round-trip cable car ticket uphill, which was thoughtful, but it was incredibly crowded today. We queued for almost an hour, put on the ropes, and when it was our turn, we were told we couldn't wear glasses! My heart sank. But the ride itself was still exhilarating, and we were even able to ride back up – excellent value for money! Afterwards, we went sandboarding. No long queues! We found a less crowded, steep slope, sat firmly, gripped the board tightly, didn't brake, closed our eyes, and just went down. The sand was fine, the speed was fast, the wind was whistling, and landing with a mouthful of sand was still fun. Finally, a reminder: bring plenty of water, wear sunscreen, and be careful as dust easily gets into your phone in the sand. Put it in a sealed bag, and wash your face in the Yellow River afterwards – perfect!

A very nice little scenic spot, it can be said to be a cheaper alternative to the Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon in Kuqa, Xinjiang. After lunch at 2:00 pm, you can enter the scenic area and take photos at your leisure for 2-3 hours, and the lighting is just right.

This is a relatively off-the-beaten-path attraction, but it's definitely worth a visit. Located at the intersection of desert and grassland, the "Heavenly Horse Pastoral Song" show, though small in scale, allowed me to experience the carefree life of a nomadic people on horseback. At that moment, I felt a sense that the vast desert cannot nurture a narrow-minded soul. I highly recommend the off-road vehicle experience. The 20-minute extreme off-road adventure in the desert takes you to a green oasis deep within the desert. Sitting down with a relaxing cup of coffee is an experience you can't have in the city.

The Five Lakes Crossing: Starting and ending at the desert entrance, the route covers Luotuo Lake, Wulan Lake, Danhuang Lake, Hailiuqi Lake, and Jita Lake. The three-hour journey takes us to the edge of Luotuo Lake and Wulan Lake, where we even get to take aerial photos (though I only managed to take them 😂). We didn't get to the other three lakes directly, just observing them from a distance. If you're concerned about this, please be cautious and ask ahead of time. The main purpose of the trip is to experience desert off-roading. The driver was very skilled. The last three photos show the view from a distance.

It's a very convenient direct bus with several pick-up points in the city. This time, I boarded at Huaiyuan Night Market. I visited Nan Temple and even climbed to the summit of Bafeng Peak. I had plenty of time.

The online booking fee was 500 yuan higher than the on-site fee, but the driver was great, chatting and playing music throughout the journey. We drove through the desert and visited five lakes, but unfortunately, the last three lakes were only viewed from a distance. Drone aerial photography was available at Ulan Lake, but sandboards were not provided for children to play on, so the trip ended in less than three hours. Overall, it was a good experience, and I recommend everyone to see the colorful desert salt lakes. In conclusion: Driving through the desert to explore five lakes, crimson, orange, and turquoise hues adorn a picturesque scene. Water and sky reflect on the yellow sand, my heart follows the long wind towards the distant horizon.

Swan Lake is the home of these beautiful swans. It is a place with excellent scenery that integrates animal and plant landscapes, wetland landscapes, and water landscapes. It is also a primitive and quiet paradise on earth. The temperature around is below minus 20°, but there are many natural springs here, forming a natural wonder that the water surface does not freeze in winter. Various aquatic plants provide rich food for the swans. The moment the swans' white feathers wet the lake water and the ripples spread out, they are like wet notes.

The end point of the navigation is the desert highway, with rolling sand dunes on both sides, which you can't see at all if you drive by yourself!

Helan Mountain National Forest Park primarily offers a close-up view of the Helan Mountains. The mountain has relatively low vegetation cover and is mainly composed of rocks. You need to take a shuttle bus to the foot of the mountain, and then choose to take a cable car or hike to the summit (approximately 20-40 minutes). There are many snacks available on the mountain, as well as spectacular high-altitude acrobatic performances. Along the way, you can also spot wild animals such as blue sheep.

The itinerary is well-paced, with ample time for activities such as dune bashing, camel riding, and stargazing camping, and there are no mandatory spending requirements. Camping equipment is new and complete, the tour leader is attentive in helping with photography and providing guidance on astrophotography, and safety is ensured.