Discovering China's Hidden Gems: Wing's 6 Days Trip to Northwestern China

As the National Day holiday approached, my excitement grew as I eagerly awaited the chance to embark on another unforgettable adventure. This time, we decided to venture to the stunning northwest region of China, where we would have the opportunity to witness the enigmatic beauty of the desert and the breathtaking splendor of the populus euphratica forest in a single trip. Our journey began in Chengdu and took us through the vast expanse of the Badain Jaran Desert, all the way to the charming town of Ejina, and culminated in the picturesque city of Zhangye, before finally returning to Chengdu.

Day 1 Chengdu - Jinchang Train Journey (Oct. 1st)

In order to save money and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way, we decided to take an overnight train to our destination. The first night was spent on the train, traveling from the southern part of the country to the northern region. It was a great opportunity to get to know our country better and appreciate its natural beauty. Traveling with good friends made it even better as we could enjoy the views together, engage in long conversations, play cards or games, and even strike up conversations with fellow passengers on the train, who came from different places and had different reasons for traveling.

Our Wonderful Train Journey

Day 2 Jinchang Arrival & Badain Jaran Desert Exploration (Oct. 2nd)

Route: Entrance of the scenic area - Badain Lake - Tamayin- Dagetu - Zarat - Fairy Lake - Baga Jilin - Everest - accommodation near the Badain Jilin Temple

We rose early on the train and swaw a stunning sunrise outside the window, a warm and thrilling experience that I had never had before. Outside, we also caught sight of sheep and cows grazing on the grassy plains. Upon arriving at our destination, a van we had booked in advance was waiting to welcome us and take us to the Badain Jaran Desert.

It was a long journey ahead of us. First, we had a 2.5-hour drive from the train station to the entrance of the desert, then we transferred to an off-road vehicle to enter the vast expanse of the Badain Jaran Desert. From there, it was another 4.5-hour drive to our accommodation for the night, which was located deep in the desert near the Badain Jilin Temple. The temple was also known as the Forbidden City in the Desert, and nearby, a Mongol yurt camp was set up on the shore of a lake for travelers to stay overnight. Since the Badain Jaran Desert covers over 45,000 square kilometers, the only way to reach its stunning lakes and sand dunes is by SUV.

Beautiful Lakes in Badain Jaran Desert

Along the way, we hopped on a desert Jeep, which felt somewhat like riding a roller coaster. We screamed as the Jeep climbed over one hill of sand after another, leaving behind our laughter, tiredness, and worries.

Exciting Jeep Safari Experience

As we made our way deeper into the heartland of the desert, we passed by Badain Lake, Tamayin-Dagetu, Zarat, Fairy Lake, Baga Jilin, and Everest. We stopped at several scenic spots to rest, take photos, and appreciate the views. That night, we were treated to a spectacular view of the bright stars that lit up the pitch-dark blue sky above us.

We walked in the Sand dunes

Day 3 Badain Jaran Desert - Ejina Banner (Oct. 3rd)

Route: Badain Jilin Temple - Barun Jilin - Shuanghaizi - Desert Tianchi - Black City Ruoshui Populus euphratica Forest - accommodation at Ejina Banner

We woke up early in our Mongolian yurts nestled in the desert, feeling refreshed and energized after a restful night's sleep. Eager to start our long journey, we hopped into a jeep and savored a breathtaking sunrise as we made our way to Badain Jilin Temple. Known locally as "Sumin Jilin" or "Miaohaizi", this desert oasis is a bustling activity center for pastoralists in the Badain Jaran Desert, despite being home to just three households.

I enjoyed the scenery around Badain Jaran Temple

Next we made our way from the desert to our next destination, Ejina Banner. It took about 2.5 hours to drive from the desert to Badain Jilin Town, and then we had a very long journey of about 8 hours to reach Ejina Banner, where we planned to see the Populus euphratica forest the following day.

Day 4 Ejina Banner Sightseeing (Oct. 4th)

Route: Juyan Lake Basin - Populus Populus Euphratica Forest (1-8 Lanes)

We started our wonderful Populus diversifolia viewing tour beginning from Juyan Lake Basin. It was about 1 hour's drive from Ejina Banner to Juyan Lake Basin. It is the tail lake of the Heihe River, the second largest inland river in China. The distance between the two lakes is about 35 kilometers, with an average depth of 1.5 meters. The surface of the lake is rippling with blue waves, and the lake is surrounded by reeds. The lake is home to fish such as carp, bighead fish, grass carp, and swans, geese, cranes, ducks, and others.

Then we continued our Populus diversifolia viewing tour to Populus Populus Euphratica Forest, which has been Listed as a World Geopark, China National Geopark, China Alashan Desert Geopark, and China National Forest Park. Populus euphratica is the main tree species in the desert and sandy land of the Ejina region, mainly distributed on both banks of the Ejina River, forming a "green corridor" of nearly a thousand miles. There are currently 440000 acres of Populus euphratica forests in the Ejina region. There's a saying that Populus euphratica will not die until a thousand years later, will not fall until a thousand years later and after death, and they will not rot.

Ejina Populus Euphratica Forest

It's really a magnificent sight. And here, we saw sunset in the desert.

Amazing Suset in Ejina Populus Euphratica Forest

Day 5 Ejina Banner - Zhangye (Oct. 5th)

Highlight: Pingshanhu Grand Canyon

We departed from Ejina Banner and headed towards Zhangye, where we planned to visit the Pingshanhu Grand Canyon. It took us a long 6-7 hours' drive to reach the canyon, and we finally arrived around 4pm. Upon arrival, we explored the canyon, tried the canyon adventure cars, and took a ride on camel carts and camels. We were fortunate to witness the beautiful sunset, and our friends captured a rare sunset silhouette. Later, we stayed overnight in Zhangye.

Amazing Suset in Ejina Populus Euphratica Forest

Day 6 Zhangye & Train to Chengdu (Oct. 6th)

Highlight: Matisi Temple

Originally, we only planned to return by train but we decided to add a visit to Horseshoe Temple (Matisi Temple) on our last day. This temple has a long history and is considered one of the three major art treasures of Hexi Buddhist resorts, along with Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang and Yulin Grottoes in Anxi. It turned out to be a wise choice as we were able to witness the towering cliff pagoda niches standing on the cliffs, and climb up the pagoda using our hands and feet, imagining the difficulties of the original construction. From the top, we were able to take in the spectacular scenery of Qilian Mountain, once again marveling at the boundless scenery at the perilous peak.

Matisi Temple in the Cliff

The journey to the northwest was filled with unforgettable moments of adventure, excitement, and laughter. From the vast Gobi desert to the majestic Qilian Mountain range, we were constantly amazed by the stunning natural landscapes that surrounded us. Each day was a new and thrilling experience, whether it was riding camels in the desert, climbing up towering cliff pagodas, or exploring ancient Buddhist grottoes. As our journey came to a close, we couldn't help but feel a sense of bittersweet nostalgia. We had formed strong bonds with each other, and the memories we created together would last a lifetime. But we also knew that there would be more adventures waiting for us in the future. We eagerly made plans for our next trip, excited to once again immerse ourselves in the beauty and excitement of the world around us. So as we say goodbye for now, we do so with smiles on our faces and hearts filled with gratitude. Thank you for the memories, the laughter, and the unforgettable moments. Until we meet again, safe travels and happy adventures!