Kumtag Desert

　　　　The Kumtag Desert Scenic Area in Xinjiang is one of the few deserts in the world that lies right next to a city, and it is also ranked alongside Tianchi and Bosten Lake as one of the Kumtag Desert

　　It is one of the three national key scenic areas in Xinjiang.
　　“Kumtag” means “sand mountain” in the Uyghur language, so the Kumtag Desert refers to a “desert with sand mountains.” The formation of the Kumtag Desert is mainly due to the southwest winds from the Qijiaojing vent of the Tianshan Mountains and the southeast winds from the Dabancheng vent. These winds travel long distances, carrying large amounts of sand and gravel, which eventually converge and settle in the Kumtag region. The Jueluotage Mountain to the south also contributes to the weakening of these two wind directions and the deposition of sand and dust. Due to its harsh environment and treacherous roads, the Kumtag Desert was called the “Great Demon Desert” during the Tang Dynasty and still retains an air of mystery today.