Shapotou (desert meets the Yellow River)
沙坡头旅游景区 · Shāpōtóu Lǚyóu Jǐngqū
Where the dunes of the Tengger Desert pour down to the Yellow River, near Zhongwei: sand sliding, camel rides, a zip line across the river and sheepskin rafts, plus the historic railway built across the sand.
Booking recommendedBring your passportFull day from Yinchuan (better with a night in Zhongwei)
Tip
Cross the river by zip line or cable car to the desert side and return by sheepskin raft; avoid the midday heat in summer. Staying a night in Zhongwei lets you catch sunset on the dunes.
- Opening hours
- April–October about 08:30–18:00; November–March about 09:00–17:30. To be confirmed
- Price
- Entry about ¥80 in peak season (April–October) and ¥45 in winter; camel rides, zip line, sand sliding, rafts and cable car all cost extra and add up quickly. Check when booking. To be confirmed
- How to book
- Buy online with your passport on the official site (spttour.com), its WeChat account or Trip.com and enter by QR code; book activities online in summer to avoid queues.
- Getting there
- Day trip: high-speed train from Yinchuan to Zhongwei South takes about 1–1.5 hours (second class about ¥65). From Zhongwei South it is about 26 km to the scenic area: taxi or DiDi about 30–40 minutes, or the summer tourist bus from the station (about ¥10). City buses also run from central Zhongwei. Check the last train back to Yinchuan before you go in To be confirmed
- Address in Chinese
- 宁夏回族自治区中卫市沙坡头区迎水桥镇沙坡头旅游景区
Photo: mayanming · CC BY-SA 3.0
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Checked against these sources on 2026-10-02. Rules change often, so confirm on the official site before you go.
Not yet confirmed by an official source: Price, Opening hours, Getting there
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