In the eight and a half months of the epidemic, some destinations have quietly bid farewell to “silence” and regrouped to welcome tourists. Last Friday (August 12), Ningxia Zhongwei Shapotou Airport announced on its official WeChat account that since 18:00 on August 10, the main urban area of Shapotou District, Zhongwei City has lifted the temporary silence control measures, tourist attractions, Hotels, etc. have resumed normal operations, and flights have also resumed normalization. There are more detailed transportation tips at the end of the article.
The end of August to September is a good time to visit the Great Northwest. The hustle and bustle of summer has faded. Before the weather turns cold, you might as well come to Zhongwei, where there is a desert style, as well as canyon landforms, neglected grottoes and the banks of the Yellow River. The ancient villages on the side are all worth visiting. In the scenery, there are also characteristic homestays comparable to Morocco, which will keep you away from the city life, and it is worthwhile to visit. It’s the harvest season of selenium sand melon, go grab the sweetness of summer.
#going to the desert#
“Go to the Northwest”, the slogan of supporting the frontier during the Republic of China, today is like a “cultural journey” full of historical details. Zhongwei has become a famous tourist destination like a myth in the new media era of the 21st century. Many reality TV shows are filmed here, making this once unknown frontier town now the biggest hot spot in Ningxia.
What’s more, there are indeed some things to see here: one of the existing large ancient buildings in Ningxia, the Gaomiao, with its unique pavilions and pavilions.
The desert oases on both sides of the Baotou-Lanzhou Railway can be called a miracle of human sand control engineering, and you must see it; you can also ride a camel across the Tengger Desert, get rid of annoying entertainment projects, and experience the pure desert scenery under the stars.
Of course, there is also a newly developed homestay gathering place, “Yellow River Suji”, which has introduced homestay brands such as Xipo, Dalezhiye, Xuli, Feixuji, and Nan’an. It has become the highest quality holiday destination in the entire Northwest.
central defender
Zhongwei City is centered on the Drum Tower and is divided into East, West, South and North Streets of the Drum Tower. The main attractions, shopping malls, hotels and pedestrian streets are basically concentrated around the Drum Tower. It only takes 10 minutes to walk from the Drum Tower to the train station on the north side. The carvings on the archway are very exquisite, such as the lifelike “Journey to the West”, the concave and convex twelve zodiac signs, birds and flowers, etc.
Gaomiao
The quaint and exquisite Gao Temple has stood in the center of the city since the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty. The layered pavilions are magnificent from afar, and the numerous Ming and Qing brick carvings and wood carvings are unique in shape. . As soon as you enter the gate, the heavenly kings holding fists and swords on both sides of the archway and the complex layout of the plinth are the first to grab people. After passing the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the brick archway on the high steps is a major attraction. The front “Supreme Dharma Bridge” talks about Buddha, and the back “Miaoyouzhenjing” preaches.
The main building is not accessible. On the east side of the Hall of Heavenly Kings is the entrance to “Hell”, which has a long history, but it was used as an air raid shelter before, resulting in the destruction of all the original statues of hell. All kinds of scenes are modern reconstruction, coupled with sound and light facilities, a little scary, do not enter if you are timid. In the Arhat Hall on the west side, there are 108 Arhat statues with vivid expressions, which were also made in the 1990s.
Drum Tower
The Drum Tower in the center of the city is a landmark building in Zhongwei. The center of the base is a cross-shaped doorway leading to four streets. The main building of the Drum Tower is a three-story double-eave crisscross peak, with twelve sides on each floor, which is quite majestic.
There are also four small accompanying buildings, adding a sense of solemnity and magnificence. The Drum Tower is not open to the public, but when the lights are bright at night, it is a “night snack” that ramblers should not miss.
Yellow River Palace
It is located in the newly built River Dance Culture Theme Park in the east of the city. The building on the ground is a big blue water drop, and the museum is underground. It was temporarily closed in 2018 due to the flooding of the Yellow River and has now reopened. The museum displays the geography, history and ecology of Huangjiu Province along with advanced means such as multimedia interaction.
Although most of the exhibits are replicas, there are also some wonderful things. You can also see some related pictures of the barley field rock paintings in the north of Zhongwei. Take bus No. 5 West from the Drum Tower to the elderly apartment, and then walk for 20 minutes.
#Sleep on the Yellow River#
The gray and simple village houses are scattered among the fruit trees and grass, and the slow sound of the Yellow River never stops. The simple courtyard walls have a beautiful swimming pool, a professional coffee bar and a large bathtub that can hear the sound of the Yellow River. Surrounded by what looks like a loess village house, several homestays are next to each other and are neighbors to each other.
The Yellow River Suji on the outskirts of Zhongwei has completely changed people’s stereotypes about traveling in Ningxia and even the Northwest. As you cross the Yellow River from downtown Zhongwei, traveling through wetlands, forests and solid loess mountains, you find yourself finally arriving at a village surrounded by the bend of the Yellow River and the beacon towers of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall.
Under the dry sky, those remote homestays that look like Morocco, the Great Wall of Ming Dynasty, the Yellow River and the roaring train on the other side can often appear in the same picture.
Having a picnic at the ruins of the Great Wall and the depths of the desert or watching the stars is obviously an experience you take for granted. Dalezhiye has developed its own private hiking route, giving you the opportunity to walk to the uninhabited Wild Great Wall and the desert – in fact, other homestays in the Yellow River Suji have this service.
Among all the homestays, the one closest to the Yellow River is Fei Suji, which “grew” among romantic fruit trees. The clear and transparent glass buildings here are actually environmentally friendly prefabricated buildings. You can sleep on the waves and touch the gentle side of the northwest here.
#What to play around Zhongwei#
Teraguchi
Located 20 kilometers south of Xuanhe Town in Zhongwei, the canyon scenery and Danxia landform are mixed together, and rock climbing is also possible. The scenic spot is divided into east and west parts, which are 1.5 kilometers apart. The Danxia landform in the West Scenic Area is quite attractive, with cliffs, dangerous roads and suspension bridges adding a lot of interest. According to legend, this was the place where Su Wu shepherd sheep, and there are still grottoes where he lived on the cliff.
As a good rock climbing base, rock climbing enthusiasts can try their skills here (reservation required one day in advance), climb to the top of the mountain and look far away, the vast loess gully landform is very spectacular. The East Scenic Spot is famous for its canyon and rocky landforms. The valley is narrow, and there is a “line of sky” in the valley. There are also 9-meter-high “left and right footprints of immortals” on the cliff at the entrance. It requires both hands and feet to go up and down the cliff. 沙坡shapotou
Back then, “Where Are We Going Dad?” turned Shapotou from a local popular spot into a nationwide online celebrity spot. Now it is crowded with people during the peak season, and the positive and negative reviews are almost tied. The desert and the Yellow River have enriched the wallets of businessmen and locals. Some people have fun with spending money, and some people mercilessly call it a desert playground for various charging items, but it is undeniable that the innate resource advantage here is the vast and boundless Tengge. The Li desert came to an abrupt end here; the galloping Yellow River made a sharp turn, changing its turbulent and becoming gentle and gentle.
China’s first desert railway, the Baolan Railway, passes through it, and the surrounding wheat grass squares have witnessed the miracle of human sand control engineering. The scenic spot is divided into two parts by the Baolan Railway, the southern part is the Yellow River, and the northern part is the Tengger Desert. The bus from Zhongwei stops at the east gate of the scenic spot, which is the southern area.
From the moment you enter, Shapotou has designed a carefully developed and profitable route for tourists. You can try the sheepskin raft speedboat combination, the Yellow River zipline and the speedboat in the Yellow River area. If you want to experience more exciting gameplay, you can also choose sand boarding, bungee jumping and hang gliding.
In the off-season, only regular events such as sheepskin rafts and camel riding are open. What if you just want to see the desert and the Yellow River and don’t want to pay the money? After entering from the east gate, walk in the direction of the battery car, go to Shaquan Square, and take the desert elevator (one-way ticket included) to the top of the sand bar. Here you can see the first bay of the Yellow River, the iconic landscape, and when it is clear, you can see the ancient Great Wall and the mountains opposite the Yellow River. It is also a good place to watch the sunset.
Don’t be greedy for the scenery in front of you, cross the Baolan Railway and enter the North District, you can also take the Shaguan Ancient Road into the desert without spending a penny, and then walk towards the depths of the Tengger Desert. There are vast sand seas and undulating golden waves. There are no more messy footprints or ruts, but only smooth and beautiful arcs. Shapotou is located on the southeastern edge of Tengger. The further you go, the more you can come into contact with the truly charming Tengger, and the scenery is naturally much more beautiful.
Walk 8.3 kilometers from the northern area to the depths of the Tengger Desert, you can reach the Tonghu Grassland, and Shapotou provides self-driving cross-country rides through the desert. The Desert Museum at the entrance of the South District introduces the world and domestic desert knowledge.
If you take a taxi or drive back to the city from Shapotou, you can choose to visit the tourist area of Jinsha Island (from early April to late November, not open at other times). The main attraction is the idyllic scenery brought by large lavenders and various flowers. In recent years, the summer has been very popular, suitable for taking pictures.
The desert hotel (April to October) newly opened in 2019 in the Shapotou Scenic Spot has tent cabins and glass wall viewing rooms. If you choose to stay here for one night, the sunrise, sunset and bright starry sky in the desert will make you feel great addicted.
There are also RV hotels (accommodating 2 to 4 people). If there are more people, you can stay in a large American RV (accommodating 4 to 6 people). You can also choose to camp, but the mosquitoes at night in the desert are not vegetarian, and you must take protective measures.
Bus No. 2 from Zhongwei Bus Station to Shapotou (1 hour and 20 minutes) passes through the intersection of Great Wall West Street and stops at the East Gate of Shapotou. If you take a taxi to Zhongwei City, you can let the taxi go directly to the entrance of the North District, first play the North District and then the South District, and take the bus back after the end. During peak season, there are direct buses to Shapotou from each station in Yinchuan.
“Route 66” by the Yellow River
Starting from Shapotou Scenic Area, to Beichangtan Village by the Yellow River, there is a rural road going west along the north bank of the Yellow River. The desolate scenery is quite like the famous Route 66 in the western United States. The LOGO of “Highway” has built a free parking lot and a viewing platform to attract more self-driving travelers. When taking pictures, remember to park your car in the free parking lot at the downhill turn of the road, and go up the plank road to the viewing platform on the top of the mountain, where you can see the Tengger Desert in the distance. Please do not stop and take pictures in the middle of the road, especially on the bends.
“Route 66” ends at Beichangtan Village. The village is surrounded by the Yellow River and mountains. The houses are built with rammed earth and yellow walls. The 300-year-old Yellow River waterwheel is still turning. Continuing to the west for about 10 kilometers is Nanchangtan Village. This is the first village where the Yellow River enters Ningxia. The villagers surnamed Tuo and claim to be descendants of Xixia. The ancient pear trees in the village with a history of more than 500 years bloom every April and are very beautiful.
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