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Best Things to Do
Popular Best Things to Do Near Hami [2025]
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Yumen Pass
4.4
/5
2216 reviews
7.0
From 20.90 BYN
Based on 118 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8609374000019181
Address: Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City, Gansu
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–2 hours
Highlights:
Hara Lake's reed spectacle
Gobi's Hala Lake & reeds
Saved by 107 users1071 positive reviews
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When I think of Yumen Pass, the line that immediately comes to mind is: "The Yellow River flows far away among white clouds, a solitary city nestles on a thousand-foot mountain. Why should the Qiang flute complain about the willows? The spring breeze never reaches Yumen Pass." After visiting Yumen Pass, I truly felt this poem.
Yumen Pass, said to be named after the jade from the ancient Western Regions (such as Hotan) that entered the Central Plains through this pass, was built during the Han Dynasty, when Emperor Wu opened the route to the Western Regions and established the "Four Commanderies of Hexi." It was not only a crucial military pass during the Han Dynasty but also a vital chokepoint on the northern route of the Silk Road. Currently, only three ruins remain:
1. Xiaofangpancheng Ruins—a square earthen fortress with relatively intact walls, it once served as the seat of the Yumen Commandery during the Han Dynasty and formed the core of Yumen Pass's defense system. 2. Hecang City Ruins (Dafangpan City) — This important military depot on the western defense line (of the Great Wall) from the Han Dynasty to the Wei and Jin Dynasties provided food, clothing, and other supplies to soldiers guarding Yumen Pass, Yangguan Pass, and the Great Wall.
3. Han Dynasty Great Wall Ruins — This section of the Han Dynasty Great Wall, dating back over 2,000 years, is one of China's oldest surviving Great Walls. Unlike the brick and stone construction of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, the Han Dynasty Great Wall was largely constructed using locally sourced materials, with layers of red willow, reeds, and sandstone rammed earth. Although it resembles an earthen embankment, its historical value is unparalleled.
There are no magnificent palaces, no shady trees, and no entertainment facilities here; what you see is the authentic face of history. As the sun sets and dusk falls, you gaze upon the ruins, standing alone in the vast Gobi Desert, surrounded by the boundless expanse of heaven and earth. As you touch the loess walls, eroded by millennia of wind and sand, desolation, vastness, loneliness, and endless nostalgia all surge, instantly transporting you back to an era of war and battle. Rereading that poem, I can't help but weep. The first two lines are so majestic and heroic, while the last two express untold helplessness and sacrifice. Yumen Pass made me feel the weight of history and the power of time, offering me a profoundly moving and soul-stirring experience.
It's an hour and a half drive from Dunhuang. The roads are in excellent condition, but there's a speed limit, and since everyone else is speeding, I'm going too. The scenic area has excellent facilities and service, and the shuttle bus between the three attractions takes an hour round trip. It's all worth the trip, full of history, and especially suitable for children. It's a great value.
Dunhuang Yardang National Geopark
4.6
/5
2831 reviews
7.0
From 25.08 BYN
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8609375900110
Address: About 180 kilometers northwest of Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2–3 hours
Highlights:
Stunning Yardang views & perspectives
Wind-eroded formations & ship-like hills
Saved by 138 users1227 positive reviews
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Highly recommend to book this trip 🤩🤩👍 It was really convenient and super comfortable. The van was amazing, you could easily lay down and even sleep in between the destinations 😴 The driver was also super nice, helpful and professional. Definitely worry free trip👍👍👍
Yadan is well worth a visit, with its unique geographical features. The tour arrangements are also very convenient. The escort was very friendly and kind, and even explained and apologized for the minor malfunction of the bus's air conditioning. We also opted for the optional go-kart ride, which was definitely worth a visit. Highly recommended!
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Kumtag Desert
4.6
/5
1987 reviews
7.0
From 12.54 BYN
Based on 21 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8609958388888
Address: Shanshan, Turpan, Xinjiang, China
Recommended sightseeing time: 2–3 hours
Highlights:
Desert off-road & sand sliding
Experience ancient Uyghur sand therapy
Saved by 163 users1297 positive reviews
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The Millennial Wonder of "Green Never Retreats, Sand Never Advances"
Who says deserts can only be barren? The Kumtag Desert has been adjacent to Shanshan City in Xinjiang for millennia, forming "the world's only desert connected to a city"🌆! The sand dunes here have graceful lines like a maiden's spine, shimmering with golden ripples under the sunlight—every snapshot is a masterpiece📸! Legend has it that it's a remnant of the Flaming Mountains, passed by the Tang Monk and his disciples, carrying the legendary color of the Silk Road~🗺️
🌅 Sunset: The Desert's Golden Hour
After 6 PM, the desert begins its "cooling performance"! We recommend climbing to the top of a dune to watch the sunset paint the sand sea into a gradient of orange and red🎨. Light and shadow dance on the sand ridges, the shadows growing longer and longer, leaving only the sound of the wind and your heartbeat in the world—remember to wear a red or white dress! When the wind lifts your clothes, you'll be snapping photos non-stop! (Friendly reminder: Sunset time is approximately 9:30 PM in summer and 6:50 PM in winter. Please check in advance! ⏰)
🚙 Sandboarding Experience: Desert Roller Coaster + Soul Massage
A must-do! The off-road sandboarding experience is incredibly thrilling! The driver takes you on a 60-degree descent into the sand dunes, the feeling of weightlessness is comparable to a roller coaster 🎢, and the billowing sand spray looks like a golden waterfall! You can also try sandboarding, sliding down a hundred-meter sand slope – pure fun!
Definitely worth coming back! At the ticket office, there's a 138 yuan desert buggy ride that's incredibly thrilling. Although it takes you to the highest point in the desert with the best view, the ride itself is quite terrifying. My heart was pounding on the way there, but I felt a little better on the way back. However, at the very depths, I saw snow-capped mountains 🏔️. Even after getting off, you can still see them from other places, but the experience is completely different.
Afterwards, we rode camels and saw the Bigfoot ride, Xinjiang's number one dune buggy – it was fantastic!
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