Things to do in Alar
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Top 10 attractions in Alar
Desert Gate Scenic Area
The Desert Gate Attraction currently has dozens of themed entertainment experience projects in seven major areas, including off-road challenge area, self-driving camping site, desert water play, desert food festival, sand therapy and health care, leisure and entertainment. It is the National Desert Theme Park and the location of Xinjiang's top ten sports events. Here, you can take a Hot Air Balloon Rides or a glider to overlook the vastness of the desert from a God's perspective; you can take a desert off-road vehicle to experience the excitement of desert Surfing; you can ride a camel to experience the leisure of the desert ship; you can take a nap on the railing and experience the warmth of the desert sunbathing; you can also camp in the desert and enjoy the remoteness of the desert under the tranquil starry sky.Alar · 32 km from downtown
359th Brigade Reclamation Memorial
Alar · 202m from downtown
Sleep Populus Euphratica Park
Sleep Populus Euphratica Park is located in Alar City, deep in the desert 20 km south of the 14th Regiment headquarters of the First Division, covering an area of approx. 68,000 mu. Sleep Populus Euphratica Park is famous for its unique Populus euphratica forest view, where dead Populus euphratica trees account for approx. 90% or more. Every year, especially at sunrise and sunset, the silhouettes and forms of the Populus euphratica trees are particularly distinct, creating a visually striking scene. In addition, there is a body of water covering over 1,500 mu within the park, which naturally derived from the drainage canal of the irrigation area on the south bank of the Tarim River, with saline-alkali water. It attracts various birds such as swans, cormorants, egrets, and ruddy shelducks to inhabit the area, forming a naturally balanced ecological environment. The Populus euphratica forest not only has high ornamental value, but is also known as the "Tarim Native Populus Euphratica Specimen Bank", and is an important area for botanical research. The natural scenery here and the resilient image of the Populus euphratica trees are also deeply loved by photographers, sculptors, and oil painters, who call it a photographer's paradise and a natural sculpture group. Poets praise it as a place where one can feel the impact of life and power.Alar · 47 km from downtown
Tarim University
Tarim University, referred to as "Tarim University", was founded in October 1958, when it was named "Tarim River Agricultural University". In the autumn of 1977, the college entrance examination was resumed. Tarim University was directly under the Ministry of Agriculture. In 2003, it obtained the right to grant a master's degree. In May 2004, it was approved by the Ministry of Education and changed its name to "Tarim University". It was jointly built by the central government and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. It is listed in the national "2011 Plan" and "National Demonstration Universities for Deepening Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Reform". According to the school's official website in June 2018, the campus covers an area of 2,554 acres, with a school building area of 623,000 square meters; 854 full-time teachers; 11 colleges, 55 undergraduate majors; more than 14,000 full-time students, including ethnic minorities Students account for 30%, mainland students account for 41%, and 488 graduate students; the library has 1.3 million volumes. On April 23, 2019, won the National May 1st Labor AwardAlar · 2 km from downtown
The 359th Brigade Cultural Tourist Area in Taklimakan Desert
The Taklimakan 359th Brigade Cultural Tourism Zone includes the 359th Brigade Reclamation Memorial Hall, the Desert Gate and other attractions. It integrates red tourism, large-scale agricultural tourism, desert sports and leisure resources, and is an important red tourism base for the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.Alar · 829m from downtown
Taheyuan Scenic Area
Taheyuan Scenic Area is a key construction area in the "14th Five-Year Plan" tourism plan of the Army. In 2016, it was rated as one of the "200 Key Ecological Tourism Destinations in the Country" by the National Tourism Administration. In 2021, it will be included in the "China Beautiful Rural Leisure Tourism Tour (Autumn) Premium Attractions Route Recommendation Point". In 2023, it will be listed as the "Corps Cultural and Art Creation Base" and create a national AAAA-level tourist attraction. It is located in the 16th Company of the 16th Regiment, Alar City, the First Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. The entire scenic area covers an area of 434 hectares. The starting point of "Baili Gallery" is also the origin of the Tarim River, the mother river of southern Xinjiang. The three rivers of Aksu River, Hotan River and Yerqiang River converge here to form the Tarim River, the longest inland river in China, creating a unique scenic spot at the source of the Tarim River. Natural ecological landscape. The natural ecological environment in the scenic area is beautiful, with plants such as Populus euphratica, tamarisk, reeds, and Haloxylon ammodendron scattered throughout, as well as rare animals such as wild boars, wild foxes, Tarim red deer, and hares. Surrounded by two major reservoirs, Shengli and Upstream, the reservoir wetland is home to tens of thousands of red-billed gulls, cormorants, gray cranes, silk herons, wild ducks, swans, geese, etc., foraging and playing on the water, enjoying the harmony brought by nature. environment. Taheyuan Scenic Area has distinct colors in four seasons: gray in spring, green in summer, golden in autumn, and white after snow. Summer is a good season to see the confluence of three rivers. The Tarim River in summer is like a group of wild horses roaring and galloping in the river bed. Autumn is a good season to see Populus euphratica. Thousands of acres of Populus euphratica are golden, making it a paradise for photographers.Alar · 27.8 km from downtown
Butterfly Valley Scenic Area
Butterfly Valley is an attraction centered around butterfly ecology, blending natural landscapes with ecological education. The valley is home to various butterfly species, from common swallowtails to rare apollos, creating a vibrant ecological tapestry. Visitors can stroll through flower-filled paths with fluttering butterflies, experiencing the vitality and beauty of life, or observe butterflies' feeding and mating behaviors up close on the observation deck to learn about their habits. Butterfly Valley emphasizes ecological education with multiple interactive exhibits. The "Butterfly Hatchery" allows visitors to witness the metamorphosis from egg to adult butterfly firsthand, while the "Ecology Lab" reveals the microscopic structure of butterfly wings through microscopes, showcasing their unique biological features. The park also regularly holds butterfly photography contests and nature observation classes, allowing visitors to experience the charm of nature through interactive activities. Butterfly Valley is committed to ecological conservation, featuring an environmental education exhibition area that introduces visitors to butterflies' role in the ecosystem and conservation measures. Visitors can participate in the "Butterfly Habitat Restoration" activity by planting nectar plants to provide more food sources for butterflies. The park is constructed with eco-friendly materials to minimize environmental impact. Butterfly Valley features comprehensive facilities including rest areas, dining zones, and souvenir shops, allowing visitors to take breaks or purchase mementos during their visit.Alar · >100 km from downtown
Qianniao Lake
Qianniao Lake is a National 3A-level tourist attraction and a National Water Conservancy Scenic Area, located within the Shajingzi Reclamation Area of the First Division in Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. It is 80 km from Aksu City. In the 1970s, the Xinjingzi Plain Reservoir was built to improve the natural environment. Covering an area of 51,000 square meters with a storage capacity of 86 million cubic meters, this natural scenic area offers activities such as fishing and boating, and opened to the public in 2004.Alar · >100 km from downtown
Tarim River Bridge, Alear
The Tarim River Bridge was completed in 1995, with a total length of 605m and an approach road length of 673m. It is the first bridge built for the development of Tarim oil, an essential bridge for accessing the Taklamakan Desert, and the dividing point between the upper and middle-lower reaches of the Tarim River. The bridge is located in Alar City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.Alar · 5.1 km from downtown
Aral Desert Gate Self-Drive RV Campground
Alar Desert Gate Self-drive & RV Campground is located within the 5A-rated Alar Desert Gate Scenic Area. The scenic area is situated on the northern edge of the Taklimakan Desert and the southern bank of the Tarim River, the mother river of Xinjiang. It is located at the transportation hub of G217 (Duku Highway) and the Ata Desert Highway (Alar–Tazhong–Ruoqiang–Xining), approx. 30 km from the Alar airport/train station. The scenic area is a must-pass location on the ancient Silk Road and the route to the Kunlun Mountains. It features tourism resources such as the Kungang Ancient Tombs, desert experiences, ecological vegetation, off-road events, and self-drive & RV campgrounds, complemented by cultural resources including Kunlun culture, reclamation culture, and red culture. The scenic area has been selected as a National Sports Tourism Demonstration Base and serves as a gateway for experiencing and entering the Taklimakan Desert. The Alar Desert Gate Self-drive & RV Campground is invested in, built, and operated by Alar 318 Desert Gate Self-drive Camping Investment Management Co., Ltd. Using the self-drive & RV campground as a foundation, it combines the scenic area's off-road base, desert experiences, off-road events, and off-road activities, and provides vehicle (RV) rental and sales, customized specialty travel routes, and specialty product exhibitions and sales. With the goal of becoming a national five-star sports campground, it integrates development with leisure tourism, aerial sightseeing, automotive sports competitions, and cultural performances. The campground is planned to include various zones and sectors, such as a specialty wooden cabin experience area, specialty food experience area, specialty product experience and exhibition area, RV experience area, tent camping area, amusement park area, outdoor sports area, and off-road event experience area. It aims to create a one-stop comprehensive tourism service system covering dining, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment, thereby showcasing the dreamlike charm of the Desert Gate Campground.Alar · 31.6 km from downtown
Free things to do in Alar
What travelers say about Alar
吴青芸16 October 2025
4.0
@Southern Xinjiang, Aral, Desert Gate (the northern edge of the Taklamakan Desert)
The Taklamakan Desert, located in the Tarim Basin of Xinjiang, is the world's second-largest shifting desert. (The world's largest shifting desert, the Rub' al Khali Desert, is located in southern Saudi Arabia and parts of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.)
The Taklamakan Desert is renowned for its vast sand dunes and extreme climate, and is also renowned for its unique ecological management and environmental protection measures. Due to its arid climate and complex terrain, it is known as the "Sea of Death," making it an ideal place for extreme adventures.
Desert Gate is a national desert theme park and the site of one of Xinjiang's top ten sporting events. Here, you can enjoy hot air balloon rides, hang gliders, desert off-roading, camel rides, and more.
PS: Camp in a desert RV and experience the vastness of the desert beneath the tranquil stars.
Desert Gate Scenic Area
M47***3311 May 2025
5.0
阿拉尔三五九旅屯垦纪念馆记录着八路军三五九旅开垦南泥湾。中国人民解放军发扬南泥湾精神屯垦在新疆阿拉尔的事迹。屯垦戍边的精神永存。
359th Brigade Reclamation Memorial
吟夏2 June 2025
4.0
I felt shocked, lonely, desolate, and time flies. There were endless sleeping poplars, and the sand was dry. Let's rain on the tenacious poplars! I admired those tenacious poplars and felt the stubbornness of life.
Sleep Populus Euphratica Park
滇国剑客16 October 2020
5.0
The Tarim University, hidden among the green trees, is so beautiful that it makes people think it is a park. Such an elegant environment has created a good environment for students to study.
Tarim University
320***9117 January 2023
5.0
The "359 Cultural Center" in Aral City, Xinjiang is worth a visit.
The 359th Brigade Cultural Tourist Area in Taklimakan Desert
301***8927 October 2024
4.0
This is where three rivers meet. There is not much to see, which is normal for the ticket price. The battery car service is quite good.
Taheyuan Scenic Area
不是有事2 June 2023
5.0
When you come here to play, you must be careful because the river is quite deep.
Tarim River Bridge, Alear
M44***6310 August 2023
5.0
The conditions at Desert Gate 318 RV Camp are very good. You can cook and barbecue. The car has a separate toilet, separate shower and air conditioning. The camp has more than a dozen RVs and cabins of various sizes to choose from. The vast desert is truly a place where people are in the scenery and home is in the car.
Aral Desert Gate Self-Drive RV Campground
