Shapotou District in Zhongwei City, Ningxia Province, boasts unique landscapes where natural and cultural scenery blend harmoniously. It is one of the most renowned scenic areas in Ningxia and the entire Northwest region of China.
1: Shapotou Tourist Area
Shapotou is part of the Tengger Desert, with Zhongwei in Ningxia marking its southern edge.
Under the azure sky, visitors can witness the magnificent sand peaks and fine, smooth sand grains. The vastness, desolation, and grandeur of the desert are on full display. This beauty can only be truly appreciated by experiencing it firsthand.
This area uniquely combines desert, Yellow River, mountains, and oasis in one location. It showcases the majestic beauty of the Northwest while also incorporating the elegance of Southern China’s landscapes, making it an essential destination.
The scenic area is divided into two sections: the desert area and the Yellow River area, each offering distinct attractions.
Let’s first introduce the desert area. As the saying goes, “A lonely smoke rises straight in the desert, and the long river reflects the round setting sun.” The vast desert, with its undulating sand dunes and desert sunset, provides the perfect backdrop for photography. The desert area primarily consists of the Desert Legend Amusement Park experience zone, the Desert Star Hotel, and the Diamond Hotel resort area.
📍Desert Sky Flight
The high-tech Desert Sky Flight (also known as “Walking on Air”) resembles a space station in the universe, situated in the vast Tengger Desert. The observation cabin, reminiscent of a UFO ready for launch, can carry 60 visitors 55 meters into the air, offering a 360-degree panoramic view of the desert!
📍Silk Road Camel Bells
Camel riding is an essential experience among desert activities. In the vast desert, venturing deep into its heart is not easy, and camels are undoubtedly great companions.
As you sway with the camel’s movements and listen to the jingling of camel bells, you’ll feel the magnificence and wonder of the desert. It’s impossible not to be captivated by the desert’s charm.
📍Dynamic Zone
The desert surfing car undoubtedly generates the loudest screams. Sitting on this vehicle as it crosses sand dunes of various sizes will make your heart race.
The surfing car can climb dunes up to 20 meters high and descend from heights of 30 meters. Rushing up and down the tall sand dunes feels as thrilling as riding a roller coaster.
As you venture deeper into the desert, the dunes become increasingly larger and taller, and the screams grow louder, seemingly without end.
Next, let’s introduce the Yellow River area.
📍Wang Wei Observation Deck
Standing on the observation deck, visitors can gaze into the distance, seeing the endless desert on one side and the majestic Yellow River on the other. No one can help but exclaim in sincere admiration and praise at this sight.
📍Sand Sliding at Shapotou
How can one visit the desert without experiencing sand sliding?
Moreover, Shapotou boasts China’s longest and steepest sand sliding base, measuring over 180 meters in length. Thrill-seekers absolutely shouldn’t miss this opportunity.
Sitting on a sand sled, you’ll be given a push by staff members to start your descent. The sled is equipped with brakes to control your speed, making it generally safe while still providing the exhilarating sensation of speed and excitement as you slide down the desert slope.
📍Yellow River Zip Line
The most heart-pounding experience is undoubtedly the Yellow River Zip Line.
Suspended 100 meters above the ground, you’ll zip across the river, instantly feeling the power of the Mother River. The speed and thrill of this experience are truly unforgettable. As the saying goes, “Two lines across the river fly, instantly soaring through clouds high.”
📍Sheepskin Raft
After the zip line adventure, you can take a short walk to board a traditional sheepskin raft.
These rafts have a shallow draft and strong buoyancy. Each raft accommodates four people, leisurely floating along the river channel. The raftsmen often serenade passengers with rich folk songs as you bob along with the waves, creating a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
After disembarking from the sheepskin raft, don’t rush to remove your life jacket. The return journey involves an exciting speedboat ride.
2: Golden Sand Island
You might expect the Shapotou area to be all windswept sand and barren land, but it actually conceals another face. Not far from the city center lies Golden Sand Island, an oasis in this desert landscape.
Locals call it one of China’s most beautiful desert gardens. The perfect combination of desert and wetland creates an environment surrounded by sand and water, shaded by green trees, with vast fields of blooming lotus flowers that make you feel as if you’ve been transported to southern China.
The scenic area is expansive. At the entrance, you can board a shuttle to reach the flower fields.
While Shapotou’s attractions allow visitors to release energy, Golden Sand Island is a haven for truly relaxing and leaving stress and worries behind.
Here, you can enjoy sand therapy, go fishing, play beach volleyball, and even camp overnight in the flower field area, which features trendy tent and RV campsites. The white tents and RVs stand out beautifully against the desert backdrop.
3: Tonghu Prairie
Tonghu Prairie is the backyard garden for residents of the Shapotou district.
Embraced by sand dunes and surrounded by towering sand peaks, the area features interconnected lakes that form a desert wetland prairie spanning nearly 100 square kilometers.
The scenic area primarily consists of the vast Tengger Desert, lush grasslands, various lakes, and unique natural features like Camel Mountain.
In the midst of the boundless desert, Tonghu Prairie seems like a miracle of nature.
Visitors can watch the sunrise in the morning and enjoy a beautiful sunset in the evening. Activities such as horseback riding on the prairie, camel riding, and go-karting are all available for tourists to experience.
4: Sikou Temple
For those seeking a less crowded yet visually stunning destination, Sikou Temple is the perfect choice.
Located 50 kilometers from the city center, it’s less than an hour’s drive away. The scenic area is divided into eastern and western sections, with visitors having the option to purchase separate tickets or a combined pass.
If you’re a hiking enthusiast interested in canyon views, the eastern section is recommended.
The trail through the canyon is quite challenging, offering more of a mountain climbing experience. However, the breathtaking views from the summit make the effort worthwhile.
In contrast, the western section is more popular due to its well-developed facilities and attractions.
Activities like rock climbing and skywalks are particularly popular. Additionally, the western section’s reddish-brown Danxia landforms attract photography enthusiasts from far and wide.
5: Route 66
Route 66 offers a cool and stylish photo opportunity that’s worth the trip.
It’s about a 40-minute drive from the city center.
The journey itself is spectacular, passing through uninhabited Gobi Desert and along the surging Yellow River. The deep blue sky dotted with white clouds outside your car window evokes a sense of the vast and desolate Northwest.
However, Route 66 is still an active road, so be mindful of safety when taking photos, especially during peak seasons when traffic can be heavy.
6: Beichangtan Ancient Village
Continuing along Route 66, you’ll soon reach Beichangtan Ancient Village, the filming location for the popular TV series “Mountain and Sea”.
The village is nestled against the Yellow River. As you enter, you’re immediately enveloped by a strong sense of rural life and rich historical atmosphere.
Accommodation in Shapotou District, Zhongwei
📍Desert Star Hotel
The Desert Star Hotel is hidden 8 kilometers deep in the Tengger Desert within the Shapotou Scenic Area.
Desert, starry skies, and Zen are the main design elements of the hotel. From an aerial view, the entire hotel takes the shape of a five-pointed star in the desert.
Staying here feels like an escape from the city, with no disturbances and worldly troubles left far behind.
The area enjoys over 300 days of clear weather annually, and due to its location deep in the desert, there’s no light pollution, making it ideal for stargazing. Imagine lying on the desert sand with friends, watching the stars at night – how romantic!
Furthermore, to provide guests with a richer experience, the hotel is equipped with a panoramic restaurant, a starry sky restaurant, an open-air bar, and other functional amenities, giving you a Dubai-like vacation experience without leaving China.
The Diamond (Hotel) in Area D of the Desert Star Hotel has been recognized as one of China’s top ten luxury resort hotels and is listed in the TOP 50 Must-Stay Guide.
If you have a sufficient budget and want a rare desert experience for a night, remember to book in advance.
📍Yellow River Lodges
The Yellow River Lodges have become a sensation on various social media platforms. This popularity is well-deserved, as it’s China’s first luxury boutique homestay cluster, attracting numerous variety shows for filming.
Moreover, its location is truly exceptional.
Facing the Yellow River and backed by the desert, it perfectly embodies all the elements of the Northwest – mountains, forests, lakes, oasis, desert, Gobi, and starry skies.
Top domestic boutique homestays and lifestyle brands like Nananan, Xipo, Dalezhiye, and Feiniaoji have gathered here, creating a “Moroccan-style architectural complex with Chinese characteristics” using yellow earth and sand.
The lodge cluster also caters well to families with children, making it an excellent choice for a family trip.
You can enjoy coffee at Dalezhiye, taste pastries and bread at Xipo, take a stroll along the Yellow River, swing among the reeds… After exploring the area, you might want to stay for half a month, experiencing a different homestay every day.
📍 Desert Starry Sky Resort
The Desert Starry Sky Resort consists of various areas including a Time Capsule, Tent Hotel, Amusement Park, Sunlight Wellness Area, Adventure Zone, Children’s Sand Play Area, and houses Ningxia’s first desert library.
Here, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of “sunset glow and lone bird flying together,” experience the poetic sentiment of “grape wine in night-glowing cups,” savor delicious cuisine, and engage in lively conversations about life. What a wonderful holiday experience!
📍 Yellow River Courtyard
Yellow River Courtyard is located in the core area of the Shapotou Tourist Scenic Area, just 100 meters from the sheepskin raft drifting area and the international sand sliding field, making it an ideal place to stay while exploring the Shapotou tourist area.
The courtyard has 31 rooms, including comfortable standard rooms, Zen-style cabins, and Zen suites, all elegantly designed with novel shapes and complete amenities. The courtyard integrates Yellow River scenery and desert elements, fully embodying the unique cultural spirit and historical heritage of the Yellow River.
At Yellow River Courtyard, you can enjoy the warm sunrise, watch the surging Yellow River, and gaze at the stars of the Milky Way, giving you a sense of returning to nature.
📍 Starry Sky in the Wild Homestay
Leveraging the ancient and remote city of Shapotou, Mingzhong Village combines the beauty of southern scenery with the grandeur of northwestern landscapes, bringing together desert, Yellow River, mountains, and oasis views in one place. As an important part of the “Three Villages, One Region” initiative, Mingzhong Village has begun a new model of rural revitalization, and the Starry Sky in the Wild Homestay was born from this.
The rustic exterior walls of the buildings, along with wooden carved benches, straw decorations, and grass surrounding the homestay in the spacious front yard, constantly convey a sense of nature and growth.
Four homestay cottages and 14 suites surround the courtyard. The guest rooms are a deep fusion of rustic and modern styles. Camphor wood furniture and ancient Yellow River ceramic tea sets showcase unique local flavors, while smart equipment and comfortable decorations create a convenient and cozy stay experience. Here, you can embark on a dreamy journey where each room offers a different mood and each lodge a different experience.
The public terrace, Jian Jian Lake district, pet paradise, outdoor starlight stage, and fruit forest star rest area create relaxing spaces. Sit in the courtyard with family and friends, feel the evening breeze, admire the starry sky, and relax in lounge chairs for a camping-like experience, making you want to endlessly absorb the beauty of nature.
📍 Mr. Dong’s Homestay
This small courtyard is hidden in the western suburbs of Zhongwei City’s forest farm. The straight alleyways and well-arranged courtyards continue the style of traditional northwestern rammed earth houses.
With poetic room names like Green Field, Initial Thought, Boundless, Cloud Water, Bathing Wind, Mortal World, Jasmine White, Mid-Summer, Near Moon, and Green Simplicity, the mottled earth walls are accompanied by old trees and swings that add to the atmosphere. Here, it seems that just chatting, taking walks, or daydreaming can bring a sense of satisfaction, reminiscent of Su Dongpo’s phrase “the true flavor of life is in simple joys,” as if you’ve found a “place to purify the heart.”
After reading about these exciting places, you might be eager to set off for the Shapotou District in Zhongwei. Here’s a travel guide to help you plan your trip!
How to Get to Shapotou District, Zhongwei
Zhongwei Shapotou Airport:
Located on Airport Avenue in Yaotian Village, Yingshui Bridge, Shapotou District, Zhongwei City. It’s 7.5 kilometers south of Zhongwei city center and is a 4C-level domestic tourism feeder airport in China.
Tourist Bus:
Tourist Bus: Zhongwei Shapotou Airport offers the “Zhongwei” vintage sightseeing bus. Passengers can directly board the sightseeing bus after disembarking from their flight to reach the Shapotou Scenic Area and Zhongwei city center, enjoying a unique travel experience.
Public Bus:
Zhongwei Shapotou Airport has a free airport express bus (Route 7) to the passenger transport terminal, running about every 20 minutes. Zhongwei Public Bus Route 7 goes to the South High-Speed Railway Station, also running about every 20 minutes.
Zhongwei Railway Station:
It’s 673 km from Baotou Station, 306 km from Lanzhou Station, 739 km from Taiyuan South Station, 511 km from Baoji Station, and 257 km from Wuwei Station. Zhongwei Station is an intermediate station on the Baotou-Lanzhou Railway and a terminal station for the Taiyuan-Zhongwei-Yinchuan Railway and Baoji-Zhongwei Railway. It’s currently the second-largest station in Ningxia.
Zhongwei South Station
This is the starting station of the Zhongwei-Lanzhou Passenger Dedicated Line, which is part of the Yinchuan-Lanzhou High-Speed Railway. It’s convenient to take high-speed trains from Zhongwei South Station to Yinchuan Hedong Airport, Yinchuan Railway Station, Wuzhong, and other places.
The station design is also very distinctive. The roof of the station building has a sand-yellow wavy structure. The shape of the station building integrates elements such as the rolling Yellow River water, undulating sand dunes, and the Great Wall beacon towers, fully showcasing the urban characteristics and cultural heritage of Zhongwei as a “desert water city.”
