Shapotou
» Yinchuan, Ning Xia

沙坡头

Royal Tombs of Western Xia Kingdom are the imperial tombs of West Xia(1038-1227).It is now a biggest and best preserved imperial tombs.

Lake Shahu (Sand Lake) is named after the desert to its south and the large lake to its north. It is called a 'shining pearl of a village.'.

Nanxun Gate is one of the six gates of Yinchuan Old Town. It is the only wholely-preserved gate.

Nanguan Muslim Mosque in Yinchuan is an architecuture with Arabic style. The whole building is beautiful and grand, taking on the specialty of Arabic architectures.

Jade Emperor Pavilion is the only preserved wooden tall pavilion in Yinchuan, with clever design and layers of eaves.

The Drum Towers in Yinchuan were built intensively, with beautiful shapes. It is one of the symbolic architectures of Yinchuan.

Haibao Pagoda is also called Bei Tower ( North Tower). It is the oldest architecture in Ningxia.

Chengtiansi Pagoda . People call it Xi Tower ( West Tower). It is the tallest brick tower existing in Ningxia.

There are a lot of old channels that needs the water from Yellow River for Irrigation. Tanglai Channel is the largest one among the 14 channels in Yinchuan.

Shapotou, situated in Zhongwei County, lies on the north bank of the Yellow River where it crosses the southeastern border of the Tengger Desert. Administratively it falls under Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region-some 150 kilometers (93 miles) south of Yinchuan City. Shapotou Tourism Area is regarded as one of the five most beautiful deserts in China, and is widely recognized as the Capital of Sand. Standing on the sand hill, one 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.

What to enjoy

The Yellow River Drift

Floating along the Yellow River on a sheepskin raft - the most unpretentious of vehicles - is something of a special thrill. The feat requires great courage, but this does not mean that it is unsafe. 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. 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.

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 (about 1094 yards), a height of over 100 meters (about 109 yards) 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 (about 897 yards) long, 54 meters (about 59 yards) high above the water and the slide is at an average speed of 8 m/s (about 26 feet per second). The cableway at Shapotou is unique in China, in that it depends totally on gravity to set it in motion.

Natural scenery

Besides, tourists can 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. On the foot of the dune, there is a verdant oasis, known as the bright pearl of the sand sea. There is a 30-mu orchid, which supplies tourists with such fruit as jujubes, grapes, peaches, apples and pears.

Activities in the evening

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 you prefer a more gentle experience, you may visit the show of local sand-controlling achievements.

Attractions around » Yinchuan, Ning Xia

Natural Scene

Shapotou

Historical Site

Cultural Site

Jade Emperor Pavilion

Nature Reserve & Scenic Area in Great China

One of China's four humming sand dunes is situated at Shapotou, where the slope rises to a height of 100 meters. The peculiar geological structure of the place causes the sand to emit, when sliding down the slope, a resonant noise that reverberates like the tolling of a huge bell or the beating of a big drum.

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Shapotou
» Yinchuan, Ning Xia

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