When you think the desert is nothing more than piles of sand being blown by the wind, the Badain Jaran Desert in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region surprises you with a surreal ruby lake, Geletu lake. 

Local herders used to make red salt from the lake. Given that it's hidden deep in the desert and hard to reach, the lake is now rarely disturbed by people. 

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Pink lake hidden in desert in northern China shines like sapphire

(All images via VCG)

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