Badain Jaran Desert - Towers of Sand and Lakes

Mega-dunes rise like mountains in the Badain Jaran, China's third-largest desert, among them the tallest stabilized sand dune on Earth with 460 metres of relief. Between the sand towers lies an unrivalled concentration of desert lakes, alongside vast fields of 'singing sands' that resonate when wind moves the dry grains. The varied terrain supports surprising biodiversity. UNESCO inscribed the Badain Jaran Desert — Towers of Sand and Lakes in 2024.