A Chinese village famous for running camel treks in the heart of the desert

The crescent-shaped Yaya Spring Lake, northwest of China, is famous for using camels for desert excursions and is one of the World Heritage Sites.

Camels cross the distance between the oasis and the dunes, 3 times a day, during peak tourist periods. Camel rides remind tourists of the scenes of camel caravans along the ancient Silk Road, which was a trade route between East and West.

The lakeside village has gained a reputation as the ‘camel village’, as more than 200 families depend on the success of the camel riding service, which is one of the main sources of income for the villagers.

On the shore of this lake, the villagers comb the hair of the camels and take care of them before they embark on their journeys that begin in the oasis and end in the sand dunes in Dunhuang City, Gansu Province.

The villagers overcome the shyness of the camels to socialize with humans, by combing their hair and brushing their teeth in a soothing massage that introduces them to the human touch.

Tourism development began in the Lake District in the 1980s, while the number of camels in the village increased from about 900 in 2012 to about 2,400 now, and the price of camels has risen to about 10,000 Chinese yuan (about 1,442 US dollars).

Since the beginning of this year, the scenic spot has welcomed more than 300,000 tourists, an increase of 40 percent over the same period in 2019.

In addition to the camel riding service, the village survives on businesses such as bed and breakfast services, local specialty sales, and catering services.