Hami Singing Sand Dunes

Hami Singing Sand Dunes

The Hami Singing Sand Dunes are located over 70 kilometers due north of Hami City, at the border between Barkol County and Yiwu County. Stretching approximately five kilometers in length and about 35–115 meters in width, with a height of around 180 meters, these sand dunes are formed from quartz sand. The dunes form an elongated shape running east to west, gently sloping to the north and steeply to the south, with elevations ranging from 1,930 to 2,163 meters and a relative height difference of about 50 meters. The Tashui River and Liutiao River meander along both sides of the dunes.

What makes this mountain truly fascinating is that as you approach it, you can seemingly hear various sounds emanating from within the “heart” of the dunes, like the vibrations of plucked strings, sparking all kinds of imaginations among visitors. From atop Tianshan Temple, one can enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the entire dune area. Due to the unique geographical environment and temperature conditions here, when someone lies quietly on the sand dunes, the shifting sands under the breeze produce singing sounds—some mournful like a flute or a xiao (Chinese vertical flute), others rumbling loudly. A reporter from Xinhua News Agency once reported: Having visited all four major singing sand dunes in China, the Hami Singing Sand Dunes produce the loudest sounds, surpassing the other three renowned singing sands (namely the Singing Sand Dunes of Dunhuang in Gansu, Shapotou in Zhongwei County, Ningxia, and Xiangshawan in Baotou, Inner Mongolia).

When it comes to singing sand dunes, people often first think of Dunhuang, where the Singing Sand Dunes, as deeply rooted in the public consciousness as the song "Crescent Spring" sung by singer Tian Zhen, are a household name.

As for the other three singing sand dunes in China (Shapotou in Zhongwei County, Ningxia; Xiangshawan in Baotou, Inner Mongolia; and the grassland singing sand dunes of Hami), far fewer people know about them. While the fame of the Dunhuang Singing Sand Dunes continues to spread, the Hami Singing Sand Dunes are rising to prominence.

The Sand Dune That Rose to Fame with a Single “Song”

The Dunhuang and Hami singing sand dunes are the closest to each other, about 600 kilometers apart. One of the highlights of Dunhuang's Singing Sand Dunes is the crescent-shaped spring nestled within the embrace of the dunes, known as the “sand mound spring.” In contrast, the Hami Singing Sand Dunes are even more extraordinary—a sand dune suddenly rises between two rivers on the grassland, making it a case of “water encircling the mountain.”

Tourists who have visited the Dunhuang Singing Sand Dunes are amazed by the loud sounds they hear while sandboarding, but those who have climbed the Hami Singing Sand Dunes will be even more impressed by the roaring sounds here. Because the volume of the singing sand in Hami is louder than that of the other three major singing sand dunes.

The Hami Singing Sand Dunes lie across the grassland between the southern and northern mountains of the eastern Tianshan range, with a relative height of 35 to 115 meters, stretching roughly 5 kilometers from north to south. The Tashui River and Liutiao River wind along both sides of the dunes.

When we visited the Hami Singing Sand Dunes, it was just after a heavy snowfall in winter, and everything was enveloped in silence. As soon as we stepped out of the car, a cold wind hit our faces. Looking around, the river below the dunes was mostly frozen, with only horses drinking from cracks in the ice, and not a single person in sight. However, the houses and gateways at the foot of the mountain hint at the bustling activity during the tourist season.

It is said that within the basin in the heart of the dunes, there grows a large forest of sea buckthorn bushes over two meters tall, as well as a small crescent spring that holds water year-round.

Due to the unique geographical environment and temperature conditions, when visitors lie quietly on the sand, the movement of the wind and shifting sands produces sounds that are sorrowful and melodious, like the notes of a xiao or a flute. When visitors go sandboarding, the downward rolling and friction of the sand grains create sound wave oscillations, resulting in thunderous singing noises. If the sound of the Dunhuang Singing Sand Dunes is like “striking a gong,” then the Hami Singing Sand Dunes sound more like “beating a drum.”

Previously, the Hami Singing Sand Dunes kept a low profile, but after being compared with the Dunhuang Singing Sand Dunes, they emerged with a stunning “song.”

Two Tragic Legends

We were unable to experience the rumbling sounds of the sands, as the winter dunes were particularly serene. All the scenery was pristine and natural, yet standing here, we could slowly appreciate and ponder the ancient legends of this place.

As for the formation of this singing sand dune on the grassland, there are two different local accounts. Folklore says that during the Tang Dynasty, the female general Fan Lihua led her troops westward. After crossing the Tianshan Mountains and arriving at Koumenzi, they encountered the Turks. Facing an enemy several times their size at the Singing Sand Dunes, the soldiers fought bravely. Ultimately, outnumbered, all the female soldiers under her command perished.

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When the relief forces arrived later, the bodies of these female soldiers had long been buried by wind and sand. To this day, the “rumbling” sounds emitted by the Singing Sand Dunes are believed to be the battle cries of these brave soldiers' spirits rising from beneath the dunes.

Another, even older legend dates back to the Han Dynasty. It is said that Sima Mao Kai of Yizhou once set up camp between the Tashui River and Liutiao River, preparing to engage the Xiongnu in battle. Unexpectedly, the grass-rich and well-watered delta area was suddenly hit by a sandstorm one night. Within a single night, 48 tent cities were buried by the sandstorm. Only 500 brave soldiers remained to fight a bloody battle against the Xiongnu, ultimately meeting their end.

The spirits of these brave soldiers never faded and were said to continue training daily for another battle, hence the sounds. A poem from the Qing Dynasty reads, “Through the mist, traces of the camp gate seem to remain; it’s said 48 battalions once camped here. Sadly, a night of fierce sandstorm came, burying heroes beneath the overturned bowl of earth.” This describes that story. Ancient weapons and fragments of armor unearthed here seem to corroborate the legend.

In winter, the singing sands are moistened by snow, making it difficult for the sand grains to produce sound. However, as we stood for a long time at the foot of the dunes in the bitter cold wind, the sounds of the wind, the sands, and the imagined shouts still echoed in our ears, resonating deeply within our hearts.

Address: Barkol Kazakh Autonomous County, Hami Prefecture

Type: Geological Landform

Recommended Visiting Time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0902-6858111