Basic Profile
Sand Springs sits at the northern foot of Kumukuli Sand Mountain inside Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve, Ruoqiang County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is located within Kumukuli Desert, the world’s highest desert with an average altitude above 4,000 meters above sea level. Praised as a peerless wonder of springs amid desert, this rare sand-spring coexisting landform is honored with the reputation of Marvelous Spring Wonder (奇泉绝景).
Geomorphic & Hydrological Features
Three gigantic spring outlets are neatly arranged horizontally at the identical elevation of 4,000 meters, shaped like huge eye sockets embedded on the steep sand slope:
The largest spring opening boasts a diameter of 200 meters and a water surface area of over 31,416 square meters.
The other two springs each measure 50 meters in diameter.
The three springs jointly form a funnel-shaped basin covering a total area of 35,000 square meters. The sand wall above the springs rises 80–100 meters with a gradient close to 80 degrees, nearly vertical.
Fed by seepage water from glacial melt lakes in the hinterland of Kumukuli Desert, the springs discharge a total water volume of 240 liters per second all year round with no dry season. All water converges northwards into the Great Sand River, which stretches up to 1,000 meters in width, winding through golden sand dunes to form an extraordinary landscape where flowing water cuts through boundless desert sands全国党媒信.... Against golden rolling dunes, clear streams and patchy wetland meadows interweave perfectly, forming a stunning contrast between arid desert wilderness and moist aquatic vitality.
Ecological Value
The steady water supply nurtures alpine marsh meadows, reeds and saline shrubs around the spring zones. It builds a vital water source corridor for plateau wild animals including wild yaks, Tibetan wild asses and Tibetan antelopes, sustaining the complete primitive alpine desert ecosystem of the Altun no-man’s land. Different from crowded tourist sites like Dunhuang Crescent Spring, Sand Springs remains secluded and undisturbed by human activities, preserving the original wild charm of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau fringe.
Travel Tips
Best visiting time: June to September (warm weather, unfrozen water surface, good driving conditions)
Reminder: The site lies in a core protected no-man area; access requires official approval and professional off-road guides with adequate high-altitude supplies.
短句版（景区标牌适用）
Sand Springs: The Wonder of Desert Springs
Nestled in the world’s highest Kumukuli Desert of Altun Mountain Reserve, three giant perennial springs surge out of vertical sand cliffs. Persistent glacial water shapes wide wetland and the grand Great Sand River. Golden dunes match clear running water, creating a breathtaking natural miracle and a vital habitat for plateau wild fauna.
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