The Sand Lake Unbound 2025 and the "Three Festivals and Three Competitions" series of themed events commenced at the Sand Lake Scenic Area in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region on March 29, attracting thousands of visitors. Through three themed festivals, such as the low-altitude economic art festival, the bird-watching festival, the Chinese animated film sand sculpture art festival, and three competitions in photography, short videos, and fishing, tourists are provided diverse and high-quality experiences.

The hot air balloon rides overlooking the Sand Lake. [Photo/WeChat account of Ningxia Culture and Tourism]

Various activities ignite visitors' enthusiasm at the Sand Lake Flower Sea Camping Base and the desert area, including helicopter and hot air balloon rides to overlook the Sand Lake. 

The activities for families with children. [Photo/WeChat account of Ningxia Culture and Tourism]

Visitors can embark on rowboats and smart unmanned boats to explore the bird-watching experience, where they can observe rare birds such as the egret, heron, and cormorant. 

The three competitions kicked off in unison on the day of the event, each drawing enthusiastic participation. The photography contest received hundreds of submissions, with photographers capturing the grace of migratory birds and the ethereal beauty of wetland ecosystems. Meanwhile, by the lakeside fishing area, anglers reeled in catches — the largest prize being a 14-kilogram grass carp, much to the crowd's delight. The short video competition sparked a wave of creativity, with dynamic entries quickly amassing tens of millions of views online. 

The intangible cultural heritage handicraft activities for families with children. [Photo/WeChat account of Ningxia Culture and Tourism]

In addition, the Sand Lake Chinese animated film sand sculpture art festival will officially open to the public on April 12, and 13 large-scale sand sculptures featuring themes of classic Chinese animated characters will be on display, including Nezha Conquers the Dragon King and the Monkey King Uproar in Heaven.