Zhongwei City

A city where desert meets the Yellow River, Zhongwei's Shapotou offers sand sliding, sheepskin raft rides and camping in the Tengger Desert.

Zhongwei lies in western Ningxia, with the Yellow River flowing through from west to east. It borders the Tengger Desert to the north, as well as Gansu and Inner Mongolia. The main attraction is the Shapotou scenic area, where desert, river and oasis meet; activities include sand sliding, camel riding, sheepskin raft rides and stargazing camps in the desert. In the city, Gaomiao and other historic buildings are worth a visit, and goji berries are widely grown locally. May to October is the best season; use sun protection in summer. Zhongwei Shapotou Airport and the railway connect to Yinchuan, Lanzhou and more.

Destinations

• Shapotou

Itineraries

• Yinchuan & Shapotou 5-Day Classic First-Time Tour – See the Western Xia Tombs and Helan Mountains in Yinchuan, and take a high-speed train to Zhongwei to stay by the deser…
• Ningxia 9-Day North-to-South Panoramic Self-Drive Loop – Drive from Yinchuan along the Yellow River to Zhongwei, then head south to Guyuan, covering northern, central, and sout…
• Yinchuan, Hexi Corridor & Dunhuang 11-Day Silk Road Rail Tour – Travel from Yinchuan through Zhongwei and Lanzhou, across the Hexi Corridor to Dunhuang, on a long-distance Silk Road j…