I rarely use the word "shocking" to describe a place

I used to think deserts were just endless yellow sand, until I came to Ordos Xiangshawan—sand dunes like golden waves🌊, an oasis peeking out from the sand🌿, kids playing in the sand and water so wildly they didn’t want to leave, and it’s super cool in the summer. I was truly amazed to the core!✨ 🌟 3 days of easy fun (no rushing with kids, super happy every day～) 1. Day 1: Stay on the island! Be a VIP and enjoy Xiansha Island🥳 ✅ Head straight to Lotus/Fusha Island Hotel (all-inclusive price saves moms a lot! Includes three meals + kids’ activities🎨), put on the wristband and instantly become a VIP, no queues for attractions, just enjoy～ ✅ Afternoon rush to Xiansha Island: ride camels through the desert (kids holding the camel’s hump laughing to show their little teeth🐫), slide down the sand dunes with a thrilling “whoosh,” take the little train to see dunes like waves, enjoy roller coasters and bumper cars until you jump for joy～ ✅ Evening: Bonfire party with Andai dance💃 → lie on the dunes and watch the stars (the Milky Way is super clear, kids pointing at stars saying they look like diamonds✨), first time seeing it, super excited～ 2. Day 2: Play with water on Yuesha Island! Unlock desert coolness💦 ✅ Morning hotel shuttle to Yuesha Island, play in the desert pool (full sun protection, play in the water worry-free, kids splashing happily～), ride the little ladybug car around the oasis🌿, like driving a little train in the desert～ ✅ Afternoon: Make sand bottle crafts with kids (fill with colorful sand, can take it home as a souvenir🏺) → parents try all-terrain vehicles, racing on sand “whoosh” super stress-relieving! ✅ Evening: Eat ice-boiled lamb (no gamey taste, kids show off two big pieces🐑) + frozen milk skin rolls (like ice cream, one bite is super satisfying🍦), so delicious you’ll lick your lips～ 3. Day 3: Catch up + take photos! Play until closing time📸 ✅ Morning: Check out but keep enjoying attractions (ride the camel again! Kids say they want to stick close to their “desert good friend”🐫) → wear bright clothes for desert photoshoots (red dress with yellow sand, 100% photogenic, kids posing super cute～) ✅ Afternoon: Collect some little sand grains to put in small bottles as souvenirs🏜️, stroll slowly until the park closes, looking back every few steps, reluctant to leave～ 🏨 Accommodation must-choose (choosing right with kids saves moms a lot of trouble, super worry-free～) - Highly recommend Lotus Hotel/Fusha Island Hotel! Charged per person, includes three meals + park shuttle + kids’ care👶, no need to find food or transport yourself, kids have dedicated staff for crafts and games, parents can sneak a cup of tea～ - Rooms are super sand-proof, bedding is soft and comfortable😌, quiet at night, kids get enough sleep to have energy to play wildly the next day! 🍜 Must-eat Inner Mongolia flavors (kids can also show off, super fragrant～) - Ice-boiled lamb: so fresh it’ll make your eyebrows drop, no gamey taste, perfect with sand onion dipping sauce🐑, kids scoop it with small spoons～ - Hand-pulled meat + sand onion shredded potatoes: tender meat not greasy, veggies balance the flavor, kids can eat half a bowl of rice🍚～ - Milk skin rolls/yogurt: frozen milk skin rolls like ice cream🍦, yogurt is sweet and sour, drink tons every day, mouth feels fragrant～ - Sand onion shaomai: thin skin, full filling, pan-fried is super fragrant, kids can show off eating 3, little bellies full～ 📝 Tips for traveling with kids (learn from hard experience, take note～) 1. Must bring sun and sand protection! Sunscreen (SPF50+, apply thickly😎), sun-protective clothes, sunglasses, sand-proof shoe covers, desert is sunny but not hot, don’t get sunburned into a little blackie～ 2. Big temperature difference between morning and night, bring a light jacket🧥; desert is dry, bring enough water and lip balm, kids must not get dehydrated～ 3. Bring snacks, crayons, iPad (to pass time on the drive, kids draw quietly🖍️), hotel has a kids’ area, kids can play by themselves for a while～ 4. Bring two extra sets of clothes! Playing in sand gets dirty easily, change into clean clothes for beautiful photos, little dresses look super cute～ Really highly recommend bringing kids! You can play with sand, water, and watch stars in the desert, fresher than amusement parks. Kids keep saying “I want to ride camels and watch stars again”✨～ Next time we’ll stay two more days and try all the attractions!