You have to visit Shapotou at least once! Experience the romance of the desert and the Yellow River

Dear friends, if you come to Ningxia, you must visit Shapotou! The beautiful scenery where the desert meets the Yellow River, exciting and fun activities will definitely leave you unforgettable memories. Please keep this guide! 📍Location: Zhongwei City, Ningxia, southeast edge of the Tengger Desert 🌟Highlights: One of China’s top ten most beautiful deserts, combining desert, Yellow River, oasis, and starry sky, with thrilling entertainment and poetic scenery ⏰Opening hours: April 1 - October 31, 08:00 - 18:00; November 1 - March 31, 09:00 - 17:00 Recommended duration: 1 - 2 days (the scenic area is divided into Yellow River area and desert area) 💰Tickets: You can buy tickets in advance on Trip.com, which is cheaper than buying on-site, and some dates have discount promotions. Various package tickets are also available, including different activities. 📌One-day highlight itinerary Morning (Yellow River area): • Shapotou Entrance → Yellow River Glass Bridge (overlooking the rushing Yellow River, super stunning) → Sheepskin Rafting (intangible cultural heritage experience, drifting downstream, the boatman’s Northwest folk songs are very touching) → Speedboat/Zipline (fly over the Yellow River, full of thrills! Choose one, zipline offers a more thrilling airborne experience) • Wang Wei Viewing Platform: Check in at the real-life scene of “The desert’s lone smoke rises straight, the long river sets round,” truly beautiful and perfect for photos. Afternoon (Desert area): • Camel riding across the Tengger Desert (the camel bells ring melodiously, as if traveling back to the ancient Silk Road, about 30 minutes, perfect for desert photography) → Desert dune buggy/Off-road vehicle (wild sand dune rush, experience the desert roller coaster thrill) → Sandboarding (slide down a hundred-meter sand dune, super stress-relieving, you can even hear the buzzing sound from the sand while sliding) • Evening: Find a high spot to watch the magnificent sunset where the desert meets the Yellow River, as beautiful as a painting. 🌙Overnight recommendations: • Desert Star Hotel (a popular check-in spot, you can watch the stunning starry sky lying in bed at night, but it’s relatively expensive) • Yellow River Hostel (Moroccan-style guesthouse, great for photos, relatively cost-effective) 【Top 5 Must-Do Activities】 1. Sheepskin Rafting: An ancient Yellow River transportation tool, leisurely enjoying the scenery on both sides. 2. Desert Camel Riding: Feel the vastness of the Silk Road caravan. 3. Sandboarding + Yellow River Zipline: Speed down the sand dune and then “fly” over the Yellow River, double the thrill! 4. Desert Off-road Surfing: Ride a modified jeep rushing between sand dunes, thrilling enough to scream. 5. Starry Sky Camping: The Milky Way is clearly visible in summer, and you can even take great photos with your phone. ❗Tips: 1. The best time to visit is from May to October, avoid winter sandstorms. Summer has a big temperature difference between morning and night, remember to bring a jacket. 2. The desert UV rays are very strong, sunglasses, headscarf, and SPF50+ sunscreen are essential to avoid sunburn. 3. Package tickets are more cost-effective; you can choose according to your preferences, for example, a 299 RMB package includes rafting, sandboarding, camel riding, etc. 🍜Food: • Yellow River Big Carp: Fresh and delicious fish with firm meat. • Zhongwei Stew Snacks: Various ingredients stewed together, rich in flavor. • Artemisia Noodles: Local specialty noodles with a chewy texture. There are also simple meals inside the scenic area, but prices are a bit high, it’s recommended to eat in the city.