By Annie Wei (bjtoday.ynet)
Updated: 2008-04-09 09:31

Tianmo Desert

Tianmo desert is located in the Longbao Mountains in the southwest of Donghuayuan, Huailai, 90 kilometers from Beijing. As the western exit of Beijing, the desert links together the Badaling Great Wall and Kangxi Grassland.

There are two massive sand dunes. The east sand dune is more than 300 meters long from north to south and the west one is nearly a kilometer long.

The scenic spot is at the foot of the Qipan Mountains in the south and beside the Guanting Reservoir on the north. It has a view of scenic splendors such as Tianmo Desert, together with mountains, grassy marshland and Gobi.

There is no sand nearby for several hundred kilometers. Some guess that the desert was formed by fierce northwest winds, piling-up grains of sand or by changing river courses. Some research has been done, but much remains a mystery.

Aside from riding, you can also go sand skiing, have a bonfire party, ride camels or drive.

There are Mongolian yurts and typical local restaurants in the scenic spot. Several other holiday resorts nearby can also provide board and lodging.

Getting there: Start in Beijing, drive on the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Expressway to Donghuayuan Exit, turn westward to Yekang Road. You can also take a train from Beijing South Railway Station to Guanting Station and then get there by bus.

Kangxi Grassland

Kangxi Grassland is southwest of Yanqing Country, a floodplain of the Guanting Reservoir. As the quantity of water could hardly reach the reservoir capacity, a large grassland was formed. In 1988, the Yanqing County government decided to experiment by opening the grassland as a tourist site. In 1990, Kangxi Grassland formally opened as a scenic spot.

The grassland is a great site for horse racing, camel racing, archery and fishing. There is a standard horse riding field inside the scenic spot, with many horses available for tourists to ride. There are also bountiful Mongolian foods such as roast goat, roast rabbit, milk tea, fried rice, kumiss, cheese and milk fruit.

On the square, visitors can attend bonfire evening, enjoy Inner Mongolian songs and dances and listen to the playing of the morin khuur. On a three-story Islamic dome-type iron tower, visitors can see Haituo Peak and Guanting Reservoir in the distance, and a panorama of the grassland.

There are rich animal and plant resources on the Kangxi Grassland, including 50 grasses such as clover, wild chrysanthemum and cogon grass, more than 20 birds such as the herring-gull, wild duck, wild goose, gray crane and more than 10 animals such as wild rabbit, fox and badger.

Getting there: Take the Badaling expressway.

Notes

For information on housing and touring on horseback, contact horse.org.cn. The group organizes horse riding events frequently and basic costs are well-divided.

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