While most people who visit China experience the bustling and crowded cities of Beijing and Shanghai, the country's wild west is an even more rewarding experience.
Last April, I flew to Zhangye, a small city in Gansu province. Sitting on China's ancient Silk Road, the area around the city is dotted with gorgeous Buddhist temples, snowcapped mountains, and China's "Rainbow Mountains," a geological formation of brightly colored stripped hills.
For those who are willing to travel a few hours to the next province, Inner Mongolia, there is a whole world of adventure — think a massive sand sea of rolling dunes and over 140 hidden lakes — waiting in the Baidan Jaran desert. Just make sure you go with someone who knows the terrain.
I befriended a group of Chinese adrenaline junkies who were part of an off-roading club. They invited me to join them on a two-day tour through the desert. They'd already been driving for nearly a week, but they couldn't get enough of racing over the massive sand dunes and camping in Mongolian camps in the middle of nowhere.
It was one of the wildest experiences I've ever had.