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Shapotou Scenic Area
Shapotou Scenic Area, situated on the north bank of the Yellow River in Zhongwei County,150 km south of Yinchuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, crosses the southeastern border of the Tengger Desert. It is regarded as one of the five most beautiful deserts in China, and is widely recognized as the Capital of Sand.
What to see?
Standing on the sand hill, you can see the desert extending to the north, and to the south, a boundless oasis. Both the grandeur of the north of China and the elegance of the south come together in this lovely place.
Sand Slide
Shapotou International Sand Slide Center is the biggest natural sand slide field in China. It is also one of China's Four Sounding Sand Fields. It has a length of about 1,000 meters, a height of over 100 meters and a slope of 60 degrees. When the weather is fine, people sliding down the sand hill can hear the sound of sand underneath them, for all the world like tolling bells. It is adventurous, breathtaking, strange and heady experience-not designed for the weak of heart.
Yellow River Cableway Slide
The cableway slide across the Yellow River at Shapotou has won fame as the First Yellow River Cableway Slide. The cableway here is 820 meters long, 54 meters high above the water
and the slide is at an average speed of 8 m/s. The cableway at Shapotou is unique in China, in that it depends totally on gravity to set it in motion.
The Yellow River DriftFloating along the Yellow River on a sheepskin raft - the most unpretentious of vehicles - is something of a special thrill. When a sheep is killed the locals will remove the skin and skillfully make a balloon out of it. A number of these balloons are strung together to form a buoyant base for a floor of bamboos. This sheepskin raft may look flimsy, but it is eminently safe. The drift requires great courage, but this does not mean that it is unsafe. Experienced boatmen will make sure that you cannot only sense the excitement but also enjoy the
fascinating scenery along the way. The ruins of a part of the Great Wall built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) are there, as is the site of ancient waterwheels-an image of the Yellow River culture.
By the way, tourists can also enjoy the beauty and mystery of the desert from the vantage point of a camel's back. Sunset on the Yellow River and sunrise in the desert are particularly memorable. One can spend an evening in a
Mongolian camp or sit by a bonfire enjoying an ethnic-style performance or even take part in a dance. If one prefers a more gentle experience, one can take a yacht along the Yellow River and visit the show of local sand-controlling achievements.
Travel Tips
Add: Yingshuiqiao Town, Shapotou District, Zhongwei City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
Opening Hours:08:00-18:00
Entrance Fees: CNY 100
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