When is the best time to go to Xinjiang desert?

Taklimakan Desert (Uighur:? Located in the center of Tarim Basin in southern Xinjiang, it is the largest desert in China, the tenth largest desert in the world and the second largest mobile desert in the world. The whole desert is about 1000 km long from east to west, 400 km wide from north to south and covers an area of 330,000 square kilometers. The average annual precipitation does not exceed 100 mm, and at least it is only four or five mm; The average evaporation is as high as 2500-3400 mm. Here, pyramid-shaped sand dunes stand 300 meters above the plain. Strong winds can blow up sand walls up to three times. Sand dunes extend in the desert and are often blown by the wind. There are a few plants in the desert, and their roots are extremely developed, dozens or even hundreds of times more than the above-ground parts, so as to absorb water from the underground. Animals there sleep in summer.

Taklimakan desert is a warm temperate arid desert, with a maximum temperature of 67.2℃ in hot summer and a temperature difference of more than 40℃ between day and night. The average annual precipitation does not exceed 100 mm, and at least it is only four or five mm; The average evaporation is as high as 2500-3400 mm.

The climate of Taklimakan Desert is warm and moderate, and its continental nature is obvious. The annual maximum temperature is 39℃. The annual precipitation is extremely low, 38 mm in the west and 10 mm in the east. The temperature is very high in summer, and the eastern edge of the desert is as high as 38℃.

The average temperature in eastern China in July is 25℃. Cold in winter: the average temperature in June is -9~- 10℃, and the lowest temperature in winter is generally below -20℃. There are 1/3 sandstorm days throughout the year, and the wind speed reaches 300 meters per second. Because the whole desert is affected by the intersection of the prevailing winds in the northwest and the north and south, sandstorm activities are very frequent and intense, and mobile sand dunes account for more than 80%.

It is estimated that the low sand dunes can move about 20 meters every year. In the past 1000 years, the whole desert has extended southward by about 100 km.

North wind and northwest wind prevail in summer in western China. These two kinds of airflow meet near the desert center at the northernmost tip of the Keriya River, resulting in a complex circulation system, which is obviously reflected in the shape of sand dunes.

In spring, the local surface sand warms, the updraft develops, and the northeast wind is particularly strong. During this period, strong hurricanes and sandstorms often occur, filling the atmosphere with dust, which can reach a height of 3962 meters. Winds from other directions also carry dust and fog into the air, covering the Taklimakan desert almost all year round.

During the day, the Taklimakan sun is scorching, the silver sand is dazzling, and the temperature of the sand surface is sometimes as high as 70-80 degrees. The exuberant evaporation makes the surface scenery erratic, and desert travelers often see a hazy mirage in the distance.

The dry season of Hotan River is a good season for crossing. From autumn to the following spring, there are fewer sandstorms and mosquitoes in Taklimakan, and the dry riverbed becomes a driving avenue. Every year from the end of 65438+ 10 to the middle of 165438+ 10, about 20 days, it is the golden season to cross the Taklimakan desert. In addition to the above advantages, the most important thing at this time is that the leaves of Populus euphratica in Tarim Basin are very brightly turned into golden yellow. Walking in the picturesque Hetian River, you can get more colorful experiences.

prepare

1, crossing the Taklimakan special line is an expensive activity, and personal use items should also be specially prepared. Secondly, there must be tour guides and supplies, and different personal requirements will also lead to different travel expenses.

2. If you just cross Hotan River, some travel agencies operating special tours in Xinjiang can act as agents or make arrangements. There are few organizations that organize this activity in Guangdong. The author organized two similar activities in 1999 and 2002. To visit the ancient sites in Niya and other places, you need to apply to the cultural management department for approval, and the cost will also increase.

3. Personal photographic equipment should be well protected against sand and soil, and the gaps should be sealed with transparent adhesive paper as much as possible.

4. In terms of food preparation, bring more fruits and vegetables. Be prepared to keep warm when crossing Taklimakan in autumn. Sometimes the temperature can reach 0℃.