Departing from Zhongwei! A One-Day Tour of Route 66 + Yellow River Hostel

As someone who must escape the cubicle for a while, this time I came to the Great Northwest.
Starting from Zhongwei, passing through Route 66, Beichangtan, and finally arriving at the Yellow River Hostel, each place captivated me, recharging my weary soul ⚡️.
ㅤ
In the morning, I drove from Zhongwei to Route 66, which is about 38 kilometers long. The road winds through the Yellow River canyon, with rolling mountains on both sides and vast Gobi desert landscapes, creating a strong visual impact. The Gobi wind blows sand against the car window. At the U-shaped bends, several groups of people gathered. I saw a couple taking photos of each other; the guy was half-squatting in the middle of the road, the girl holding her sunglasses and smiling with dimples. A truck passed by, kicking up dust that became the wildest backdrop 😎.
⚠ Recently, I heard Route 66 is closed, so please check the road conditions before you go~
ㅤ
Not long after leaving Route 66, I arrived at Beichangtan. At the village entrance, I met an elderly man selling red dates 👨‍🦳. He stuffed a handful of fruit into my pocket: "Try it, miss, if it’s not sweet, no charge." He pointed to a faded slogan on the wall, saying it was the "slogan from his youth." The smile in his wrinkles was warmer than the red dates. I kept taking photos of the adobe houses, and the old man suddenly asked, "You don’t have these clods of earth in the city, right?" It reminded me of the green plants on my desk 🪴—indeed, they lack this kind of grounded feeling.

When I drove into the Yellow River Hostel, the sunset 🌄 was dyeing the rammed earth buildings a honey color. At check-in, the host handed me a glass of chilled sour plum juice: "Just cooled from the well in the courtyard." Opening the door, the Yellow River was surging just a hundred meters away. The wicker pattern on the lounge chair exuded laziness. I wandered the alleys with my camera 📸; the curves of the rammed earth walls, the foxtail grass in the clay pots, and the thatched roofs swaying in the wind—every frame looked like it fell out of a Moroccan photo album.
ㅤ
As night fell, I slipped into a small bar in the hostel 🍸. Under the dim yellow light, the resident singer held a guitar and sang Northwest folk songs, the melody winding like the Yellow River. Looking up, the sky was full of stars 🌌, dense like scattered diamonds, with the Milky Way’s outline clearly visible. I ordered a beer and sipped slowly, chatting with fellow travelers about the road. The singing mixed with clinking glasses drifted into the starry sky. At that moment, I suddenly understood "My life should be wasted here"—not wasted in vain, but to slow down the busy self and catch those moments drowned by trivial matters.
ㅤ
🔖 Travel Tips
🔸 Clothing: The Northwest has a big temperature difference between day and night. Even in summer, it’s recommended to bring a jacket. For photos on Route 66 and Beichangtan, wearing solid-colored long dresses or denim looks great. The Yellow River Hostel suits ethnic-style accessories.
🔸 Food: There are few restaurants along the way, so prepare some snacks and water in Zhongwei city in advance. The Yellow River Hostel’s restaurant is relatively expensive, but you can also choose meals provided by the guesthouse.
🔸 Sun Protection: The UV rays in the Northwest are strong, so be sure to protect yourself from the sun. My friend didn’t wear a hat and got sunburned on her cheeks in half a day.
🔸 Accommodation: The Yellow River Hostel is very popular, so it’s recommended to book at least a week in advance, especially during holidays. I almost couldn’t get my preferred room at the time.
ㅤ
I am Xia Ji 🔆, a worker who recharges through travel~
For more detailed travel guides about Ningxia, feel free to follow me for updates.