Those who have visited the Ejina Populus euphratica forest often say that the first seven bridges are all about the forest—but only when you reach the Eighth Bridge do you truly enter the “Sand Sea Kingdom.”

The Eighth Bridge sits on the northern edge of the Badain Jaran Desert, close to Dalaihubu Town, making it one of the more accessible parts of the desert. The landscape here is defined by classic desert terrain: rolling dunes, sweeping ridgelines, and clearly visible wind-sculpted sand ripples. Standing here, golden Populus euphratica rise behind you while endless dunes stretch ahead—two utterly different worlds meeting in a single moment.

What to Do

Riding a camel along the dune ridges is a popular experience, with camel bells ringing especially clear across the open desert. For more of a thrill, you can take a desert off-road vehicle up the dunes for a real thrill of ups and downs, or rent an ATV and drive yourself across the sand sea. Sand sledding is ideal for those who want an easy taste of desert fun—climb to the top of a dune and slide all the way down for a thoroughly satisfying ride.

Near the entrance stands a group of large sand sculptures depicting Torghut leader Wubashi Khan and his people, recreating their historic 1771 migration eastward from the Volga River region. The figures are remarkably lifelike and have become a signature sight at the Eighth Bridge.

When to Come

After 4 p.m. is the best window. As the sun sinks, the dunes are washed in orange-red, and the golden Populus euphratica grow warmer in the fading light. Standing atop a high dune, you can see rolling sand on one side and a golden forest on the other, with the setting sun illuminating both at once.

If the Seventh Bridge is a gentle dream, then the Eighth Bridge—the Sand Sea Kingdom—is the grand finale of this autumn journey. While the season still holds, head out into the heart of the sand sea.