A desert camping base, a family sand playground, cultural shows and electric vehicles — the desert is turning into a magnet for travellers

As reported by CCTV+, a newly opened resort in the Shuanghe Desert, located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of northwestern China, has quickly become a popular holiday destination, attracting many travellers eager to experience the desert first-hand.

The resort has built a range of visitor amenities, including a desert camping base, an off-road track and a family sand playground.

Xinjiang’s deserts have long attracted curious travellers, but the resort aims to offer experiences far beyond simply gazing at sandy landscapes. Visitors can enjoy live cultural performances, watch off-road races and try on local costumes, turning travel moments into unforgettable memories.

Yu Fei, the resort’s manager, said: “On average, the resort receives about 5,000 visitors per day, and during peak periods more than 10,000. We will organise more activities to provide visitors with diverse experiences.”

During holidays, the resort plans to expand its programme to include stargazing desert camping, off-road events and electric vehicle rallies.

Note: The Shuanghe Desert is located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, one of the driest areas of China, where tourism infrastructure has been actively developing in recent years.

The Shuanghe Desert is no longer just endless sand. It is a place where you can pitch a tent under the stars, ride an off-road vehicle over the dunes, dress up in local costumes and watch a show. Five thousand guests a day — and this is only the beginning. China is not treating the desert as a hostile environment but as a new tourism frontier. Camping, racing, electric vehicles — the desert is becoming family entertainment. The question is not whether nature can withstand such a tourist influx. It can. The question is how many more deserts in China will turn into such resorts. While some see sand as a problem, others see it as an opportunity. And turn it into money. And into travellers’ happiness.