Dawakun Desert Tourist Scenic Area is located in Tiereimu Town, Yuepuhu County, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is 110 kilometers from Kashgar City and 26 kilometers from Yuepuhu County Seat, and is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. The scenic area covers a total area of about 42,000 mu, including the 1,500-mu Dawakun Lake, the 30,000-mu Bulimankumu Desert, and the surrounding ecological zone. It integrates desert, lake, poplar forest, cultural relics, and Uygur customs. The core area has European-style villas, Uygur yurts, ethnic custom parks, and other buildings, and is equipped with experience projects such as desert exploration, sand therapy, and sand sliding. It is known as the "Home of China's Desert Landscape Tourism" and the "Back Garden of Kashgar." In 2025, the National Defense Image Museum and the Xinjiang Memory Museum were newly added, incorporating Silk Road culture and patriotic education elements.
Historical Culture
Dawakun Lake gets its name from a Uygur legend: at the end of the 3rd century, King Tilimu led his troops to dig for water but failed. His daughter, Princess Dawakun, dug a sand pit at night, and spring water gushed out to form the lake. The princess transformed into the lake. The thousand-year-old willow king by the lake (7 meters in circumference, 1.2 mu in crown width) is said to have been transformed from the princess's lover, Banjier, bearing witness to a love legend. The 1,800-year-old "Poplar King" in the scenic area (8 meters in circumference, requiring five people to encircle it) confirms the tenacious spirit that "poplars do not fall for a thousand years." The Dastan Ancient City ruins deep in the desert (area of 1,000 square meters) have yielded Han and Tang dynasty pottery shards and ancient coins. The adjacent Ahonglukumu Mazar (a 14th-century missionary tomb complex) tells the historical thread of the ancient Silk Road. Yuepuhu, as the intersection of ancient Shache, Shule, and Weitou Kingdom, is where thousand-year-old civilizations blended.
Main Attractions
Dawakun Lake
A 1,500-mu natural lake, with water from snow-capped mountain meltwater, rich in cold-temperate perch. In the lake is the "Gobi Dead Sea" wonder, with high salinity, allowing people to float without sinking. It is said that bathing in it can cure diseases. A dock is set up by the lake, offering yachts, fishing, and other projects. In summer, intangible cultural heritage performances are held (such as Erzi Wawa wrestling and Meshrep).
Thousand-Year Poplar King
The core attraction in the primitive poplar forest, with a tree age of 1,800 years, a circumference of 8 meters, requiring five people to encircle it, and vigorous branches. It is a symbol of the "Poplar Spirit." The surrounding area is inhabited by wild rabbits and foxes and preserves desert vegetation such as red willow and saxaul. It is a natural ecological protection unit of the autonomous region.
Princess Dawakun Square
Covering an area of 30 mu, with a 9.9-meter-high princess statue standing in the center, and a 3-meter base engraved with the legendary story. The square regularly holds ethnic songs and dances, horse racing, Buzkashi, and other activities, and is the core area for experiencing Uygur folk customs.
Bulimankumu Desert
A 30,000-mu shifting desert, with dunes rising and falling like sea waves. It offers camel riding (50 yuan/person), desert exploration vehicles (80 yuan/person), sand sliding (30 yuan/person), and other projects. At sunrise and sunset, the desert light and shadow are majestic and suitable for photography.
Thousand-Year Willow King
In Bayiawati Township, 7.7 kilometers from the scenic area, with a tree age of more than 300 years, a crown width of 1.2 mu, and a circumference of 7 meters. It is listed as a key cultural relic of the autonomous region. Legend says it was transformed from a poet's walking stick, and locals regard it as the "Love Tree." Tourists tie red strings to pray for blessings.
Food
Nang Pit Roast Meat
Fresh mutton is selected, with jujube branches and poplar branches as fuel, and roasted at high temperature in a nang pit. The meat is tender with a fruity aroma. Per capita consumption in the scenic area restaurant is 60-80 yuan.
Dawakun Lake Perch
Wild perch from the lake is caught and roasted on the spot. It is rich in unsaturated fatty acids. The recommended dish is "Poplar Branch Roasted Perch," 88 yuan/fish, served with local qamgur soup, combining food and tonic effects.
Youtazi
A traditional Uygur steamed layered oil pastry, stacked layer upon layer like a pagoda. It is eaten with milk tea or yogurt. It costs 5 yuan each at the scenic area breakfast stall, crispy outside and soft inside.
Roast Whole Sheep
It needs to be reserved 2 hours in advance. A 20-kilogram lamb is selected, marinated with secret spices, and slowly roasted over an open fire with poplar branches. It costs 1,580 yuan each, suitable for 8-10 people to share, and comes with an ethnic song and dance performance.
Tickets：
Ticket 50 yuan/person.
You can search the official WeChat public account "Dawakun Desert Tourist Scenic Area" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours：
Summer (April 1-October 31) 8:00-22:00, last entry at 21:00; winter (November 1-March 31) 9:00-20:00, last entry at 19:00. Opening hours are extended by 1 hour on holidays. Some projects at Dawakun Lake are closed in winter.
Tour Routes：
One-day tour: 9:30 Princess Square (statue song and dance) -> 11:00 Dawakun Lake (yacht fishing) -> 13:30 Scenic Area Restaurant (perch skewers) -> 15:00 Bulimankumu Desert (camel riding sand sliding) -> 18:00 Thousand-Year Poplar King -> 19:30 Watch the desert sunset.
Two-day tour: The first day is the same as above. The next day 9:00 Thousand-Year Willow King -> 11:00 Ahonglukumu Mazar (ancient tomb complex) -> 13:00 Farm Orchard (picking apricots and grapes) -> 15:00 Xinjiang Memory Museum (cultural exhibition) -> return trip.
Transportation：
Self-driving: Departing from Kashgar City, drive east along Provincial Highway 310 for 68 kilometers to Tiereimu Town, then turn onto the scenic area road for 6 kilometers to arrive. The drive takes about 2 hours. The scenic area parking lot is free.
Bus: The Kashgar International Self-Driving and RV Camp departs daily at 10:00 and 16:00. The fare is 35 yuan. The last return bus is at 19:00.
Chartered car: A round trip chartered car from Kashgar city area costs about 300 yuan (5-seat), suitable for 4 people traveling together, and you can visit Yuepuhu County Seat along the way.
Must-Visit Attractions：
Dawakun Lake: Floating experience intangible cultural heritage performance. The best time is 16:00-18:00 (avoiding the midday sun).
Bulimankumu Desert: Sunrise (6:30 in summer) and sunset (21:00 in summer) photography. The sand sliding project is suitable for families.
Thousand-Year Poplar King: The light is best in the early morning. It is recommended to wear light-colored clothing for photos. Open flames are prohibited in the forest.
Princess Square: Fixed song and dance performances at 12:00 and 16:00. Participation in interaction can earn a small Uygur flower hat.
Travel Suggestions：
Wear high-top shoes to prevent sand, and prepare a magic headscarf and sunglasses (strong ultraviolet rays).
In summer, prepare Huoxiang Zhengqi Shui. When hiking in the desert, carry 2L of drinking water and replenish every hour.
To experience sand therapy (in designated areas of the scenic area), consult in advance. It is not suitable for people with high blood pressure or skin diseases.
Ethnic song and dance performances can be customized by reservation (minimum 20 people, 500 yuan/performance). It is recommended to contact the scenic area 1 day in advance.
On weekends and holidays, it is recommended to arrive before 9:30 to avoid queuing (peak-season daily reception exceeds 5,000 people).
Precautions：
Respect ethnic minority customs. Photography and noise are prohibited when entering the mazar.
The temperature difference between day and night in the desert is large (summer daytime 40°C, nighttime 20°C). Bring a thin jacket.
Destroying poplar forest vegetation is prohibited. Violators will be fined 500-2,000 yuan (scenic area regulations).
When riding camels, follow the camel guide's instructions. Do not use flash when taking photos to avoid frightening the animals.
Swimming in the lake requires wearing a life jacket (provided free by the scenic area). Swimming alone is prohibited.