Sand sliding
Down towards the Yellow River.
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The place where the golden dunes of the Tengger Desert meet the Yellow River, in the city of Zhongwei in western Ningxia, and one of the first tourist areas to be rated 5A, China's top grade. The site is split into a river area and a desert area, linked by a suspension bridge over the Yellow River, with plenty of activities for an extra fee: sand sliding from the dune tops down towards the river, camel rides in the desert, crossing the river by zip line or cable car, and floating on traditional rafts made of inflated sheepskins. Shapotou is also home to a well-known desert research station: since the 1950s workers have held the dunes in place with plants and straw to keep the sand off the Baotou–Lanzhou railway, and the site has the China Desert Museum and an exhibition on fighting desertification. A single ticket costs CNY 80 from April to October and CNY 45 for the rest of the year, covering the river and desert areas, the suspension bridge and the desert museum, and the site is open from 8 am to 6 pm in season and 9 am to 5 pm in winter, per visitor guides. The sand is hot at midday in summer, so bring water and sun cream, and do not walk barefoot on the dunes.
Down towards the Yellow River.
On the river.
In the Tengger Desert.
Shapotou District, Zhongwei, about two hours' drive south-west of Yinchuan
Shapotou is in Zhongwei, about two hours' drive from Yinchuan; a tour or a car with a driver is easiest, or the train to Zhongwei and then a taxi, per visitor guides.
Mostly yes, as restaurants run by Hui Muslims are common in Zhongwei and across Ningxia; look for the halal sign, as some other Chinese restaurants serve pork.