Wuhai | Half desert, half sea, an underrated, lesser-known city!

Wuhai, this underrated little city, truly amazed me! The magical combination of desert and lake—half is vast desert, half is shimmering amber water—every snapshot looks like a masterpiece, yet it's often underestimated. You can fully enjoy it in two or three days. Less crowded, beautiful scenery, and affordable—definitely worth adding to your travel bucket list! 🌵Must-Visit Attractions 📍Wuhai Lake (Binhe Avenue, Haibowan District) Free admission! Recommended to visit in the early morning or evening; the golden desert reflected on the mirror-like lake is breathtaking from every angle. You can experience desert off-road motorcycling (around 100 RMB per person). 📍Jinsha Bay (15 km from the city center) Entrance fee 60 RMB, half price for students. Truly a spectacle of "sand on one side, lake on the other"—I recommend wearing a red dress for photos! Recommended activities: camel riding (80 RMB/person) and sandboarding (30 RMB/ride). 📍Gander Mountain Scenic Area (West Suburbs of Wuhai City) Climbing to the top offers panoramic views of the entire city and Wuhai Lake. Taking the cable car up the mountain is recommended (round trip 80 RMB). The Genghis Khan statue on the mountain is incredibly impressive. 🍴Local Food Guide ▫️Toya Milk Tea Shop (Shicheng East Street, Haibowan District) Salty milk tea + hand-pulled mutton is a perfect match! A local favorite breakfast spot, you can get a very filling meal for around 30 yuan per person. ▫️Lao A Ma Mongolian Restaurant (Wulanbuhe Street, Haibowan District) Try the mutton and onion pie and camel meat pie, both are amazing, around 50 yuan per person. 🚗Tips 1️⃣Transportation: Direct flights are available from Beijing/Hohhot (1.5 hours). Taxis within the city are generally the starting fare to the attractions. 2️⃣Accommodation: We recommend staying in Haibowan District. We stayed at the Wuhai Hotel for 300+ yuan per night, within walking distance of Wuhai Lake. 3️⃣Note: The temperature difference between day and night is significant in the desert region, remember to bring sunscreen and a thick jacket. Here, there are no crowds of tourists, only the wonders of nature. Standing at the boundary between the desert and the lake, you can truly experience the magical feeling of "half vast, half gentle."