Which desert is centered in the Tarim Basin of Xinjiang, China?

Which desert is centered in the Tarim Basin of Xinjiang, China? The answer is the Taklamakan Desert.

The Taklamakan is a vast desert in southern Xinjiang, northwestern China, occupying much of the Tarim Basin. It is enclosed by the Tian Shan Mountains to the north, the Kunlun Mountains to the south, and the Pamir Mountains to the west, with the Gobi Desert farther to the east.

Its extreme dryness comes partly from its deep inland position and the surrounding mountains, which limit the arrival of moist air. The desert has vast shifting dunes, cold winters, hot summers, and frequent dust storms. Permanent settlement is concentrated around oasis towns fed by rivers descending from the mountain ranges.

For centuries, Silk Road travelers used routes along the desert's northern and southern edges rather than crossing its harsh interior. Ancient oasis centers such as Kashgar, Khotan, Niya, and Kuqa connected Central Asian, Chinese, Indian, and Mediterranean trade and cultures. The Kumtag and Gobi deserts are nearby but distinct.