Desert Sea Viewing Fantasy Trip | A Northern Frontier Secret Half Desert, Half Lake

Wuhai Lake Resort Travel Guide: A Northern Frontier Secret Half Desert, Half Lake Wuhai Lake, an artificial lake created by the Yellow River Haibowan Water Conservancy Project, covers an area of 118 square kilometers (about 18.5 times the size of Hangzhou’s West Lake). It borders the Ulan Buh Desert to the west and the Binhe Scenic Belt to the east, blending the beauty of Jiangnan with the grandeur of the northern frontier. It is a national-level water conservancy scenic area and an autonomous region-level tourist resort, making it an excellent destination to unlock the magical experience of "watching the sea in the desert." 1. Best Travel Time - Golden Period: Spring and autumn (May-June, September-October), temperatures between 15-25°C, low wind and sand, clear weather, suitable for all activities including boat tours and desert hiking, also the best season for birdwatching and sunset photography. - Special Period: Winter (November-March), temperatures below -10°C freeze the lake surface, allowing for ice camel riding and unlocking the desert snow scenery (extreme cold protection required). - Period to Avoid: July-August, with temperatures reaching over 40°C and frequent sandstorms, long outdoor activities are not recommended. 2. Transportation Guide External Transportation - Airplane: Wuhai Airport offers direct flights to Beijing, Hohhot, Xi’an, and other cities. Airport shuttle bus to the city costs 15 RMB per person; alternatively, fly to Yinchuan Hedong Airport and then take a 2-hour drive or high-speed train. - Train: Wuhai Station (regular trains) connects nationwide. Wuhai South High-Speed Rail Station is under construction, currently requiring transfer via Yinchuan; after the Baoyin High-Speed Rail opens, travel from Yinchuan to Wuhai will take only 50 minutes. - Self-Drive: Yinchuan → Wuhai (G6 Jingzang Expressway, 2 hours); Baotou → Wuhai (3.5 hours). Parking at scenic spots is free. City and Scenic Area Transportation - Bus: Routes 1 and 5 cover major city attractions, supporting QR code payment. - Charter/Rental: Attractions are scattered; chartering a car or renting a 4WD is recommended for safer desert driving. - Within Scenic Area: Take the “Dingding” shuttle to the desert road or a shuttle off-road vehicle directly to the famous Moon Net dead tree (filming location of the movie "Wuhai"). 3. Must-Visit Attractions and Core Activities Core Experience Area: Wuhai Lake Main Scenic Area - Boat Sightseeing: Free admission to the scenic area; boat rides are charged separately. Recommended to take a speedboat round trip, passing through desert gaps for an immersive experience of “blue water reflecting sand dunes”; lake circuit tours are also available for a leisurely panoramic view. - Popular Photo Spots: Pier No. 1 is the “Mirror of the Sky” shooting spot, perfect for capturing desert lake silhouettes at sunset (around 6:30 PM); the famous desert road runs straight through the sand sea, pairing perfectly with long skirts and cowboy boots for 100% photogenic results. - Dynamic Activities: Desert camp offers camel riding (best at sunset), desert go-karting, UTV off-roading, plus water activities like water skiing and kayaking for dual land and water fun. Nearby Linked Attractions - Jinsha Bay Ecotourism Area: 30 minutes by car from Wuhai Lake, offers sand sliding (board rental 30 RMB), desert motorbikes for stress relief, Genghis Khan statue group to experience Mongolian culture, and an uninhabited northern area ideal for stargazing. - Longyou Bay National Wetland Park: Free admission, ideal for photographing swans and grey cranes during the March-April migratory season; the reed marshes at dusk resemble an oil painting. Bring binoculars and mosquito repellent. - Gandel Mountain: 30 minutes by car, home to the world’s tallest 88-meter bronze statue of Genghis Khan. Take the cable car (180 RMB round trip including museum) for a panoramic view of Wuhai Lake; fewer hikers and beautiful scenery in the canyon below. - Laseng Temple: A rare Tibetan Buddhist temple in Inner Mongolia, with red walls and golden roofs resembling a “Little Potala Palace.” Free admission. The desert behind the temple is perfect for cultural photography of “ancient temple reflecting the desert sea.” Please maintain silence and respect local customs. 4. Food Recommendations: Northern Frontier Flavor Feast - Hearty Meats: Iron pot stewed noodles (recommended “Old Wuhai Stewed Noodles Restaurant” with pork ribs and green beans), Yellow River fish feast (carp baked noodles, deep-fried small silver fish), hand-pulled meat (dipped in wild chive flower sauce), golden knife roasted lamb back (crispy outside, tender inside, no gamey taste). - Specialty Snacks: Sand onion lamb shaomai (must-try at “Jindeyuan Shaomai City,” served with shredded radish soup), Wang’s stuffed cold noodles (spicy chili oil fragrant but not hot), Mongolian yogurt cake, milk skin sugar-coated hawthorn (available at Chulu Ranch store). - Drinks and Delicacies: Mongolian salty milk tea, desert grape wine (Sunshine Tianyu Winery tasting 3 varieties for 50 RMB, grape picking and winemaking in September), Mu Zhanggui lamb skewers (Albas grassland lamb, grilled with just salt). 5. Accommodation Options: From Comfortable to Wild Luxury - High-End Experience: Xingtai Mingdu Hotel (panoramic lake view rooms, top-floor revolving restaurant), Grand Skylight International Hotel (city center landmark, heated pool), average price 500-600+ RMB/night. - Cost-Effective Choices: Xingyun Hotel (near Wanda Plaza, smart home, 200+ RMB/night), All Seasons Hotel (free sand-proof shoe covers), Jinjiang Inn (Xinhua Street branch, breakfast includes lamb offal soup and shaomai). - Unique Experiences: Jinsha Bay Desert Camp Tents (300+ RMB per tent, includes breakfast, stargazing at night), Sunshine Tianyu Winery Castle Hotel (600+ RMB/night, includes breakfast and wine tasting experience). 6. Suggested Itinerary 2 Days 1 Night Classic Route - Day 1: Wuhai Lake speedboat sightseeing → desert road photo shoot → Jinsha Bay sand sliding + camel riding → dinner with hand-pulled meat → overnight at desert camp/winery. - Day 2: Longyou Bay wetland birdwatching → Sunshine Tianyu Winery wine tasting → city dining with stuffed cold noodles + shaomai → return trip. 3 Days In-Depth Tour - Day 3: Laseng Temple cultural visit → Gandel Mountain cable car panoramic view → Mu Zhanggui lamb skewers night snack → experience Mongolian welcome ceremony at the hotel.