Zhongwei Family Trip! 5 Days of Desert + Night Market Fun That You Won't Want to Leave

Unlock Ningxia Zhongwei with your kids, packing the desert, Yellow River, and delicious food all into 5 days! This trip is both exhausting and joyful, and the kids keep talking about the little camel every day after coming back～

DAY1️⃣ Hohhot → Zhongwei: Save Time with Sleeper Train
Booked a sleeper train departing at 7 PM and arriving at 7 AM, perfect for traveling with kids! The kids played with toys for a bit then fell asleep, waking up just as we arrived in Zhongwei. No hassle throughout the journey and saved a night’s accommodation, great value for money～

DAY2️⃣ Shapotou: Fully Experience the Yellow River Desert
Right after getting off the train in the morning, we took a taxi to the pre-booked Shapotou guesthouse (chose one near Shuichemen, super convenient), rested for half an hour, and the guesthouse owner took us directly to the Shuichemen entrance of the scenic area.
We bought a double ticket package for 618 yuan plus transportation tickets. Kids under 1.2 meters are free, but the "Flying Yellow River" (100 yuan) and sheepskin raft speedboat (60 yuan) require extra tickets, so ask in advance to avoid panic on site～
💡Must-remember mom’s route:
1. Take the speedboat on the left side after entering → after getting off, take the cable car on the right side to experience Flying Over the Yellow River (with an instructor guiding the kids, very reassuring)
2. After getting off the Yellow River cableway, the package allows one more cable car ride up to the Wang Wei statue, perfect for photos with the desert and Yellow River in the frame
3. Pre-order KFC online and pick it up at the restaurant next to the statue, no need to queue and waste time
4. After eating, take the shuttle bus to the desert area, ride camels first (kids loved petting the little camels), then try the dune buggy (more thrilling than other desert activities, kids screamed all the way)
5. Return to the Yellow River area to go sand sliding, then take the sheepskin raft out of the scenic area, almost no unnecessary walking!
In the evening, the guesthouse owner picked us up, and we ate local dishes at the farm opposite, the lamb was super tender～

DAY3️⃣ Shapotou → Tengger Desert: Stay in the Desert and Stargaze
Tengger Desert is a bit far from Shapotou, but the pre-booked desert hotel arranged a pick-up, very hassle-free! We chose a viewing room with a private bathroom, better than expected. The hotel has its own restaurant and convenience store, so no worries about meals or shopping.
In the afternoon, a study guide led the kids in desert learning activities, teaching about desert vegetation and how to get water in the desert. Although the kids got a bit heat-stroked (remember to bring a small fan and electrolyte drinks), they recovered after resting～
At dusk, we took the kids to slide on the sand behind the hotel, watching the sunset dye the desert golden, breathtakingly beautiful! At night, we joined a bonfire party, played tug-of-war with other families, watched fireworks, and looked up to see a sky full of stars. It was the kids’ first time seeing so many stars, and they were so excited they didn’t want to sleep～

DAY4️⃣ Zhongwei → Yinchuan: Stuff Yourself at the Night Market
Took a high-speed train to Yinchuan and stayed at a hotel near Gulou. We planned to take the kids to Lanshan Park to watch the sunset, but it rained, so we went across the street to buy Ningxia specialties (goji berries and eight-treasure tea make great gifts).
At night, we rushed to Huaiyuan Night Market! It’s really big and fun to explore. Bought grilled eggs, spicy porridge, and hand-grabbed pancakes for the kids, and treated ourselves to lamb trotters and yogurt. Everything was delicious, and we only went back to the hotel when our bellies were full and round～

DAY5️⃣ Yinchuan → Wuhan: Regretful but Fulfilling
Originally planned to take the kids to the Ningxia Museum but forgot it’s closed on Mondays (note this! Museums are always closed on Mondays). So we just strolled around the old streets near Gulou, bought some snacks, and headed to the airport. Although we didn’t make it to the museum, the kids said the desert and little camels were the most unforgettable parts of the trip, so it was very fulfilling～

Accommodation Tips: Top Luxury Wild Hotels Recommended
1. Shapotou: Choose the "Shapotou Desert Star Hotel," close to Shuichemen, with desert views right outside the window. You can see the starry sky at night and enjoy exclusive family activities where kids can play in the sand and do crafts while parents relax.
2. Tengger Desert: Stay at "Tengger Desert Banyan Tree," with independent viewing villas featuring private terraces, exclusive butler service, professional study activities, and the option to book a desert dinner, making the experience very special～