Special Trip Photos - Alashan Desert, May 1-4, 2010

The pyramid-shaped tombs of the Western Xia Imperial Tombs.

Tiles on the ground at the tomb complex.

The hiking group, preparing to enter the desert!

We walked through and over the dunes.

And raced down them!

Ready, set ... go?!

Sliding down the dunes worked as well, sort of!

We continued on foot.

Stopping for a photo.

We walked across the sand, and stopped for lunch at Swan Lake, visible in the background of this photo.

The hiking group taking a break on a dune.

We walked around Swan Lake, heading for our lunchtime picnic spot.

Picnic time, on the edge of Swan Lake.

We travelled by jeep some of the time, and some of the time the jeeps got stuck!

A colourful lizard.

Near the end of the first day in the desert we set up camp.

We camped in the sand dunes.

In the evening we enjoyed a bonfire.

The cows by the lake belonged to the locals from a nearby desert settlement.

As well as walking in the desert, we rode camels.

Ready to head off.

Crossing the dunes by camel.

On the last day of the trip, we visited Guangzong Temple, in the Helan Mountains.

The front of Guangzong Temple.