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View Plans & PricingArea: 17,448 km²
Population: ~1.1 million (2020)
Zhongwei means "guardian of the west" in Chinese. It is located in central-western Ningxia and is an important oasis city on the Silk Road near the Tengger Desert.
7.0/10 — Residents enjoy a balanced lifestyle with modern amenities and cultural richness.
Zhongwei Shapotou Airport (ZHY) has domestic flights. Zhongwei Railway Station connects to Yinchuan and Lanzhou. Buses and taxis serve the city.
Ningxia University (Zhongwei campus) and Zhongwei Vocational and Technical College are the main institutions.
Zhongwei lies on the edge of the Tengger Desert in Ningxia with a continental climate. It has the Yellow River, oases, and is famous for sand control and goji berries.
Visit Shapotou (where the Yellow River meets the desert), Tengger Desert, Gaomiao Temple, and Tonghu Grassland.
Day 1: Shapotou and Yellow River scenic area.
Day 2: Tengger Desert and camel riding.
Try Ningxia mutton, hand-grabbed lamb, goji berry dishes, and halal noodles.
Buy Ningxia goji berries, desert souvenirs, and halal snacks. Main shopping is in Shapotou District.
Local Vibe: Zhongwei is a Ningxia city where the Yellow River meets the desert. Locals are proud of Shapotou, where you can ride camels and slide down sand dunes, and their sweet goji berries. The city is dry, sunny, and a classic Silk Road oasis town that learned to entertain tourists.
Fun Facts:
• Shapotou near Zhongwei is one of China's most famous desert tourism spots, where the Yellow River flows beside the Tengger Desert.
• Zhongwei is a major production area for goji berries, one of China's most famous health foods.
• The city is an ancient Silk Road stop and has a mix of Han, Hui, and Mongolian cultures.
Zhongwei locals speak their own flavor of Mandarin. Try these phrases to earn a smile:
色俩目 (sè liǎng mù) — Peace be upon you — Hui greeting.
中 (zhōng) — Good / okay.
吃了么 (chī le me) — Have you eaten?
• Zhang Qian — The Han dynasty explorer passed through the Silk Road corridor near Zhongwei on his way to Central Asia.
• Hui Merchants — Hui traders traveled the Silk Road through Zhongwei, carrying goods between China and the northwest.
• Desert Conservationists — Local scientists and rangers have worked to control desertification and develop eco-tourism at Shapotou.
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