Abstract: Microplastic pollution is pervasive, reaching even the most remote regions of the Earth. However, data on microplastic deposition in deserts, which cover 21% of the global land area, are scarce. This study aims to fill the knowledge gap regarding microplastic distribution in Asian deserts, focusing on the Badain Jaran Desert, the second largest desert in China. We examined microplastic distribution and deposition on the dunes and lakes of this desert. Microplastics were extracted from surface sediments and analyzed for their characteristics and polymer types using microscopic inspection and μ-FTIR. The abundance of microplastics (with a detection limit of approximately 40 μm) in the uninhabited area ranged from 0.7 ± 1.5 to 11.7 ± 15.5 items/kg, averaging 6.0 ± 15.4 items/kg. Fragments and fibers constituted 77% and 23% of the total microplastics, respectively. The primary polymer components identified were epoxy resin (28%), polyethylene terephthalate (25%), phenoxy resin (25%), and polyamide (9%), with sizes predominantly between 50–200 μm. Back-trajectory modeling suggested that the microplastics originated mainly from populated areas southeast of the desert, indicating long-distance atmospheric transport and deposition. The desert-edge zone, which experiences some tourism, had higher microplastic concentrations (8.2 ± 17.9 items/kg) compared to the non-tourism zone (0.9 ± 1.6 items/kg), suggesting a potential contribution from tourism activities. The microplastic abundance in the non-tourism zone (0.9 items/kg) serves as a reference for background levels in Central Asian deserts, a crucial parameter for simulating and predicting global microplastic yields.