Boat Crossing and Dune Climbing at Sand Lake (Shahu)

Sand Lake, or Shahu, pairs a boat crossing of the lake with a climb up a boardwalked sand slope on the dunes facing the water, combining a calm water activity with a short desert hike within the same half-day visit. No particular fitness is required for the boat crossing itself, and the dune climb follows a boardwalk rather than loose open sand, which makes it manageable for most visitors, though the climb and any accompanying sand-slide ride are more strenuous than the flat reed-marsh boardwalks elsewhere on site and may not suit visitors with mobility limitations. General admission includes the slower boat crossing to the southern dune area; a faster jetboat option and the sand-slide ride at the dune are paid extras arranged on site. The resort is operated by Shahu Scenic Resort, an established destination in Pingluo County that runs the boats, boardwalks, and dune activities as part of its own visitor operation rather than through outside contractors, and lake staff manage boarding at fixed docks with life jackets available for the crossing. A short safety notice at the dock covers boarding procedure and staying seated during the crossing, and staff are stationed at the dune boardwalk to manage the climb and any sand-slide queue. The lake's full boat service runs April to October; the reed marshes and dune boardwalks remain accessible in the shoulder months even when boat service is reduced, though winter conditions on the exposed dune slope can be cold and windy. Visitors combining the boat crossing with bird-watching along the reed marshes should bring binoculars, since the wetlands host a range of waterbirds through the warmer months.