Seeing the desert and swimming the Yellow River, Zhongwei is suitable for you who have no time but want to visit the northwest

I didn’t know much about ’s central defender, or even Ningxia as a whole. But after visiting , I discovered that this corner forgotten by the Grand Ring Road is really a treasure.

If you want to see the vast scenery in the northwest, but you really don’t have that much time to walk the circular route, then I highly recommend you to visit Zhongwei.

Although it is not as rich in variety of scenery as the Ring Line, it can be regarded as condensing the most anticipated highlights of the Northwest Ring Line. It is very suitable for travelers who just want to "taste a little bit".

Cities in the northwest rarely have holiday or parent-child attributes, but Zhongwei is an exception. You can have a good time and live well at the same time. The desert stars and Yellow River constellations can even be the reason for you to make a special trip to Zhongwei.

Desert Stars, open the door and see the endless desert. The hotel will also organize stargazing lectures in the evening. I heard that some children refused to leave after playing until they were finally dragged away by their mothers.

Huanghe Suji is located right on the bank of the Yellow River. It consists of 5 B&Bs with a sense of design, which is very suitable for young literary and artistic people. "Wife's Romantic Travel" and "Dear Inn" have all been filmed here.

Regarding how to live in Zhongwei, Xiyoujun has given you a very clear explanation before, so today I will specifically tell you how to play in Zhongwei. After studying these two guides, everything will be under your control. middle.

As usual, let’s talk about traffic issues first.

There are relatively few direct flights from Zhongwei (Shanghai and Xi'an have them), so you can use Yinchuan as a transfer point. It is very convenient to take the high-speed rail. It’s not a bad idea to stop by Yinchuan, and you won’t be disappointed if you head to Jiangnan. Please click here for the guide > "Yinchuan, how many treasures do you have on your body?" 》

The places Zhongwei plays are all in the suburbs, so there is no need to consider public transportation. We mainly rely on chartered cars. Fortunately, the chartered car fee here is not expensive, only more than 300 per day, which is very cost-effective per person.

Or rent a car and drive yourself to experience the "speed and passion" on the desert road.

Zhongwei is located where the Yellow River flows and is close to the Tengger Desert. To us, these two are both strange and familiar geographical terms. We can finally take advantage of this opportunity to turn words into concrete pictures.

The central defender is not big, so if you don’t want to travel in depth, 2 or 3 days will be enough. Even if you are too lazy to go out, there are things to do near the hotel.

Our goal is not to take the circular route, but still be able to appreciate the stunning original ecological scenery of the northwest.

Want to see the desert? here has!

As much as southerners long for snow, they look forward to seeing the desert. On the Northwest Ring Road, Mingsha Mountain in Dunhuang is a stop that cannot be avoided. In addition to Dunhuang, Shapotou in Zhongwei is also one of the four largest singing sands in China.

What is Mingsha? As the name suggests, when the dunes are blown by the wind or when someone walks on them, the materials in the sand rub against each other and make a sound. Of course, this has to be very quiet to hear.

Shapotou Scenic Area

Shapotou is on the edge of the Tengger Desert. Here you can not only play in the sand, but also in the Yellow River . There is a free shuttle bus between the two areas that runs every 5-10 minutes, which is very convenient.

The desert and the sea are actually similar. They both look vast and vast, but the waves turn into static ups and downs.

In the desert, surfing turned into sand washing. I climbed over the dunes in an off-road vehicle and was shaken until I couldn't find the north.

As a timid player, I chose a gentler motorcycle, and it can drive itself. You can also be an uninhibited desert rider.

The scenic spot is very "sensible" and has set up a photo and check-in scene at the turnaround point. It really understands the travel needs of contemporary people.

It takes about 5 minutes to drive from the desert to the Yellow River area. Behind the statue of Wang Wei at the entrance is the classic scene of "the sun sets over the long river". Of course, in broad daylight you can only see the "long river of scorching sun".

The recreational projects in this area have to go down a slope before you can play on the Yellow River. Sandboarding or taking a cable car are the best experiences.

If it's not too sunny, I think climbing sand dunes is also a kind of fun. A small sense of conquest.

The Hukou Waterfall shows the furious Yellow River, while the Zhongwei Yellow River is gentle and quiet. If you come in spring, you can see the clear and non-yellowing Yellow River (the two pools on the bank are clear).

This section of the Yellow River in Zhongwei is It's not navigable, so we can go down to the river and play. In the past, people living along the Yellow River relied on sheepskin rafts for ferries. It takes more than a dozen sheep to make a raft. The master said that the sheepskin in the past was of good quality and could be used for 10 years without deterioration.

It looks very simple, but its load-bearing capacity is amazing. The raft with 13 skins can bear a weight of 1 ton, so you don’t have to panic at all.

Like the Yangtze River Cableway in Chongqing, it has now taken a back seat and is more of a way for tourists to have close contact with theYellow Riverculture. When sitting on the raft and listening to the master singing local folk songs, it feels like time has gone back in time.

In addition, you can also take a speedboat, zipline, bungee jumping, and walk on the 3D glass bridge of the Yellow River. If you want to play more projects, it will be more cost-effective to buy a pass for the scenic spot, ranging from 200-300.

It is most convenient to visit Shapotou and stay in the desert stars. Firstly, the distance is close, and secondly, the hotel provides free pick-up and drop-off, which saves your worries.

Tengger Desert

If you plan to go to the Tengger Desert, don’t do anything in the Shapotou Desert area. Off-road vehicles and sandboarding are all available here.

The Tengger Scenic Area is deep in the heart of the desert, with higher sand dunes and more exciting places to play. The view is certainly better too. There are fewer people and the price is cheap, but the disadvantage is that it is far away.

If you want to experience Tengri in depth, you can try Desert hiking and desert off-road vehicle crossing Such activities. You can also arrange a night camping in Tengger. The sunset in the desert is no less beautiful than that on the sea. At night, everyone eats and drinks around the campfire. watch fireworks, It's so romantic.

@photographer Yang Siyu

Of course, the conditions for camping must be difficult, as simple dry toilets are used and bathing is not allowed. But the experience of falling asleep under a sky full of stars is indeed precious, as well as various desert creatures that you can't usually see outside.

@Photographer Yang Siyu

There are many oases in the Tengger Desert, and Swan Lake is a relatively nearby and relatively well-developed scenic spot (Yinchuan used to be closer). If you have a familiar driver/guide to lead the way, you can go to some lakes that do not require tickets, and the scenery is still beautiful.

@Photographer Yang Siyu

In order to ensure the safety of tourists, private cars are not allowed in the Tengger Desert. To participate in cross-country itineraries, you need to sign up for a group in advance. If you want to hike, you must find a professional guide, otherwise it is very easy to get lost in the vast desert.

@V.N

There are also several desert scenic areas such as Jinsha Sea, Sunshine Sand Sea, and Tonghu Grassland. Among them, there are accommodations in Jinsha Sea Scenic Area.

To summarize: All the sand play projects in scenic spots are similar. Shapotou is the most popular because it is the best developed and has the most abundant projects. And if you want to play on the Yellow River, Shapotou is the only choice.

Tengger is the most open and exciting. You can go hiking and camping, but the supporting facilities are not good enough, and it is difficult to buy water.

The other three can be considered as alternatives. By the way, Tonghu Grassland is not the kind of grassland you imagined. It is just an oasis in the desert, and it is mainly for playing in the sand.

Road blockbusters? You can take pictures here!

Route 66

The northwest scenery, half on the road. On the Northwest Ring Road, you can often encounter empty asphalt roads, which are especially suitable for filming road movies.

Even if you don’t take the Loop, you can still take great photos on Route 66 in Zhongwei. Guagua said that this road reminded him of the movie "No Man's Land", a lonely road surrounded by wilderness.

You can press the shutter anywhere here and the scene will look beautiful no matter how you frame it. This is its magic. To take photos of Route 66, it’s best to get up early or come in the evening. When the sun shines in the sky, the light is too strong, and everything appears white when photographed.

@伊云yiyun

If you have a drone, be sure to take it for a ride. It can help you see farther and broader scenery.

north long beach

Highway 66 continues along the Yellow River and reaches North Changtan.

This is an ancient village by the Yellow River. After the highway was built, young people chose to go out of the mountains to work, so naturally only the older generation remained in the village. They still live a self-sufficient farming life and live together with the mountains.

In autumn, dates and pears fall all over the ground, so you can eat them when you pick them up.

Come spring, you can see pear trees full of flowers. The Pear Blossom Festival is held here every April, which is probably the busiest time of the year.

@名图dream+

Seeing the folk houses here, I immediately understood where the design prototype of the Yellow River Suji came from. The rammed earth house is windproof and sandproof, and is completely in the color of the Northwest.

Magical landform? Here too!

Taking the Great Northwest Loop is simply one vivid geography lesson after another. For people like me who live in the plains, this is really shocking.

Although Zhongwei is not big, it also hides a treasure: Si Kouzi - two landforms can be seen in one scenic spot .

The scenic spot is divided into two parts: east and west. The east route is dominated by Danxia landform. This road requires more physical strength. There is only one way to go up the mountain, and then climb down by yourself. There is no shortcut.

@米人小宫

@Taro

The western route is dominated by karst landforms, with mountains There are holes everywhere. This is where Su Wu grazed his sheep. , emmm, He chose this The place is really high.

@Taro

The suspended bridge on the two peaks is an experience not to be missed on the western route . It is no less thrilling than an amusement park. At critical moments, walking on this bridge can save a lot of leg effort.

The temple entrance is quite large. If you want to fully explore the two scenic spots, it is best to set aside about 4 hours.

Northwest food? That must be arranged!

Friends who like to eat Northwest cuisine will not be lonely when they come to Zhongwei.

Because there are many tourists in Shapotou, there are many farmhouse restaurants, and the food is quite good. Leave Shapotou Half an hour's drive, So even if you live in a scenic area, You can still take a taxi Go downtown Take a walk and have a midnight snack.

@consciousness scattered

Piaozi noodles

The loach seed noodles are a kind of noodle unique to Zhongwei. The name comes from the seeds of the wild plant Artemisia argyi. It is usually served with tofu. You deserve this smooth and chewy taste.

Sweet and Sour Yellow River Carp

Needless to say, Zhongwei is right by the Yellow River, and you must try the freshly caught carp. However, if you want to eat this dish, it is best to call and make a reservation with the boss, otherwise it may be sold out if you go late (there are more of this dish in Shapotou Town).

Fried eggs with green onions

When I was in Yinchuan, I ate cold scallions. It was sour, sweet and very appetizing. The shallots eaten by camels can also be used to make scrambled eggs, which is a dish that is completely unavailable in the south.

Hand-caught mutton

How can you come to Ningxia and not eat hand-caught mutton? Not greasy or smelly, it will refresh your understanding of the deliciousness of mutton. Ningxia itself is a pastoral area, and it also produces Yanchitan sheep that have been on the G20 table. One person can eat half a catty without any problem.

Spicy Lamb

Lamb meat is more tender than mutton, which is satisfying for carnivores.

In addition, there are eight-treasure tea, hot noodles with oil flavor, flower steamed beef brisket...you can order them in different ways.

Recommended store:

Yanchi Braised Mutton Hand-caught Mutton Restaurant (Shapotou District)

Golden Leaf Restaurant (Shapotou District)

Yellow River Fish Restaurant (Shapotou District)

If you don’t pick up some skewers when you come to the northwest, your visit is in vain. Ordering a bottle of Xixia beer is the most authentic way to open it. The Shopping Mall Night Market in Zhongwei City and Xiangyang Pedestrian Street are both good places for late night snacks.

Recommended stores:

Yipin Edo Snack Bar (Xiangyang Pedestrian Street)

Roast the world (Xiangyang Pedestrian Street )

By the way, Zhongwei's specialty Selenium Sand Melon is super sweet, but it's too big. One can weigh 30 kilograms. This kind of watermelon pops out of the stone like the Monkey King. From a distance it is a wasteland ; from a close look there is an acre of melon field .

Because it grows in rocks, selenium melon contains some trace elements that are beneficial to the human body. It is delicious and healthy.

I think the impression of a city mainly comes from its food and architecture. GaomiaoAlthough is the only tourist attraction in the city, it is worth visiting. It was built in the Ming Dynasty and had become a large-scale building complex by the Qing Dynasty.

The Gao Temple is built on the mountain. To visit this attraction, you need to climb all the way up the stairs. It is indeed "high" enough. The buildings are interconnected. The ancestors built more than 200 temples on the hillside, which is not very spacious. The internal space is winding and maze-like.

Even The magical thing is that Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism coexist here, and one can read the tacit understanding of the harmonious coexistence of these three religions from the decorative elements of the buildings.

If you are a literary and artistic person who loves taking pictures, in addition to Gaomiao, the aforementioned Yellow River Suji is also a good place to take pictures. Even if you don’t live there, you can still visit it as a tourist attraction. Every corner is thoughtfully designed, and there's even an art gallery.

As a digression, if you have planted trees in the Ant Forest, then Zhongwei is a great opportunity for you to meet the Haloxylon ammodendron trees you planted. There is a forest in the Ant Forest that is planted in the Alxa League of Inner Mongolia next to Ningxia . It’s even closer from Yinchuan, only 200 kilometers away.

It's quite romantic to come all the way to see the trees you planted.

Since we can't go abroad this year, I guess there are many people planning to visit the northwest. After all, it is far away and special, and it can give you the feeling of "traveling far away".

Compared with taking the northwest ring route, Zhongwei is less popular , but the scenery you see can still satisfy your northwestern style'sfantasy. And the air tickets are very cheap, less than 300 one-way from Shanghai.

There is no need to study many guides, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery while lying in a hotel in Zhongwei; spending a day chartering a car will greatly enrich your impression of the northwest. You are actually only one plane ticket away from the great mountains and rivers of your motherland.