Inner Mongolia: I'm a pro at playing in the sand (Part 2)

The Tengger Desert spans Gansu, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia, with the popular Shapotou Scenic Area located on its southern edge in Ningxia. The Inner Mongolia section of the Tengger Desert is known for its lakes, with Swan Lake and Moon Lake being the highlights. Swan Lake is only 35 km from Bayanhot Town in Alxa Left Banner, making it a relaxing and easy visit. Moon Lake is 65 km away and offers thrilling dune surfing in off-road vehicles, as well as swimming, camel riding, self-driving around the lake, and desert motorcycling. Don't miss the Alxa Hero Festival in October for a taste of the Tengger Desert's grandeur. Hunshandake, located in the southwest of Xilin Gol League, is known as China's most beautiful sandy land. It offers a unique landscape with pastures, sparse and dense forests, and shrubs. Visitors can enjoy horseback riding or sand sliding on the edge of the sandy land, but the must-see attraction is Wuliastai in the south of Abaga Banner, an oasis combining meadows, sandy land, and grasslands. Tours usually follow the Gaogestai River. For a deeper experience, consider off-road or hiking tours. Another sandy land worth visiting in Inner Mongolia is the Horqin Sandy Land, stretching from southern Tongliao to eastern Chifeng. It only became sandy land in the late 19th century, and despite effective sand control efforts, it remains China's largest sandy land. The Yinsahwan Scenic Area in Kulun is located in the Taminchagan Desert, while the Baogutu Desert Tourist Area in Naiman is known for desert off-roading. Yulong Shahu in Ongniud Banner, Chifeng, is a filming location for many movies, with a lake covering 14,000 mu and a diverse landscape of the Bolongke Desert, grasslands, wetlands, and unique rocks. The best time to visit Inner Mongolia's desert scenic areas is from May to August and September to October. The former period offers high cost-effectiveness despite spring sandstorms, while the latter is the peak season with more tourists, higher costs, and more festivals. When visiting the desert, sun protection is essential, and it's important to prepare for low temperatures in the morning and evening and protect equipment from sand. For off-road hiking in non-mature scenic areas, it's best to have an experienced guide, and self-driving tours are best done in groups.