Shapotou

Shapotou's desert and Yellow River, Tengger Desert star hotels and the Yellow River Su Ji lodge cluster, sand surfing and sheepskin rafts: a new viral resort destination.

Zhongwei is in the central-west of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the first stop where the Yellow River enters the Ningxia Plain after leaving Heishan Gorge. Here the Tengger Desert is halted by the river and the Baotou–Lanzhou railway, creating a unique landscape where desert, river and oasis meet; the city is at about 1,200 m. Tourism is concentrated west of the city. Shapotou Scenic Area (5A) is about 20 km from downtown and has a Yellow River zone (sand sliding, sheepskin rafts, the Yellow River zip line, the Wang Wei viewing platform) and a desert zone (camel riding, off-road dune surfing, sand-sea surf buggies). Farther northwest, deep in the Tengger Desert, are desert star hotels and campsites. In Dawan Village, Yingshuiqiao Town, between Shapotou and the city, is “Yellow River Su Ji,” a cluster of high-end guesthouses. Northeast of the city, Jinsha Island is a lake and wetland in the desert; in the city is Gaomiao Temple, and about 50 km to the southeast, Sikouzi is a Danxia canyon. The best seasons are late April–June and September–October: temperatures of 20–28°C, a desert that isn't scorching, and clear Yellow River water; July–August is the summer peak, when the desert surface can exceed 60°C by day, but nights are best for camping and stargazing; November to March is cold and windy, and most desert activities are suspended. Getting there: Zhongwei Shapotou Airport has flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu and elsewhere; Zhongwei South Station has high-speed trains to Yinchuan (about 1 hour), Lanzhou and Xi'an; there are buses and scenic-area shuttles from downtown to Shapotou, and a chartered car costs about 80 yuan; driving from Yinchuan takes about 2.5 hours. Suggested time: 2–3 days, one day at Shapotou, one day camping in the desert or at a Yellow River Su Ji resort, and optionally half a day at Jinsha Island and Gaomiao Temple. Notes: UV in the desert is extremely strong and day–night temperature swings are large, so bring sunglasses, sunscreen, shoe covers and a jacket; off-road desert rides and the zip line have height and health restrictions; always wear a life jacket on sheepskin rafts; Yellow River Su Ji and star hotels are expensive in peak season and need to be booked weeks ahead; protect phones and cameras from sand.

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