Mingsha Shan (Singing Sand Dunes)

The dunes that frame Crescent Lake are the eastern edge of the Kumtag Desert and rise to over 250 metres above the surrounding plain — high enough that climbing one is an actual workout. The standard programme is to take the wooden ladder-staircase up the steepest face, watch the sunset from the ridgeline, and either slide down on a wooden toboggan or simply tumble back to the bottom in the sand.

Camel trains leave from the entrance gate and walk a circuit through the dunes; it is touristy but undeniably atmospheric, especially in the low light of late afternoon. Sand-skiing, dune buggies, microlight flights and a small zipline are available for those who want them. The site shares an entry ticket with Crescent Lake — buy one ticket, see both.

things to do sight
A story
Mingsha Shan literally means 'echoing sand mountain'. When the wind is right — or when a group of people slides down the steep lee side — the sand produces a low, sustained hum that ancient travellers described as the sound of monks chanting. The effect is caused by the uniform size of the grains rubbing against each other, and only a handful of dune fields in the world do it.

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