[Ningxia Seven-Day Fun Travel Guide] The slow life of the "South of the Great Wall" should be enjoyed like this!

Friends, if you think the Northwest only has deserts and camels, Ningxia will definitely overturn your imagination! This treasure land, known as the "South of the Great Wall," has the grandeur of vast desert smoke and the gentleness of a land of fish and rice. Spend seven days with me to fully experience the essence of Ningxia! Day 1: Arrive in Yinchuan, feel the slow pace Land in Yinchuan by plane or high-speed train, don’t rush to the attractions yet. After settling in, I recommend visiting Lanshan Park, where Roman-style architecture combined with lake and mountain scenery looks like a painting at sunset. At night, head straight to Huaiyuan Night Market, a paradise for foodies with spicy hot pot, lamb skewers, spicy strips, grilled eggs... Don’t forget to try the local Eight Treasures Tea, sweet and refreshing. Day 2: Time travel, explore the Western Xia Morning must-visit is the Western Xia Tombs National Archaeological Site Park. Those mysterious loess pyramids are actually the tombs of the Western Xia Dynasty, giving a strong sense of time travel. The museum’s artifacts and stories are worth a slow look. In the afternoon, drive 40 minutes to Zhenbeibu Western Film Studio, the filming location of "A Chinese Odyssey." Dress up as the fairy Zixia for photos, the atmosphere is instantly immersive! Day 3: Art feast + winery experience In the morning, drive to Helan Mountain Rock Art to see the "social media" of ancient nomads carved on stones, very interesting. In the afternoon, pick a winery at the foot of Helan Mountain (Xige and Zhihui Yuanshi are good choices) to visit. Ningxia’s wine now wins international awards! Taste the wine, take photos, and pretend you’re on vacation in France. Day 4: Sand Lake wonder → Zhongwei Sleep in and then head to the Sand Lake Ecotourism Area, a unique wonder of half lake and half sand in the country. Take a boat through the reed marshes and see various water birds, very healing. After playing, drive straight to Zhongwei (about 2 hours), stay in Zhongwei city center at night, and enjoy a bowl of authentic Artemisia noodles. Day 5: Desert carnival day! Today’s highlight is Shapotou Tourist Area! This is the best place to enjoy desert activities: camel riding, sand sliding, riding sheepskin rafts, and the thrilling zipline over the Yellow River... Daredevils must try! At night, you can stay at a star hotel in the desert or experience desert camping to watch the dazzling starry sky, definitely worth it. Day 6: Route 66 → Beichangtan In the morning, check in at Zhongwei’s "internet-famous" Route 66, a straight road stretching to distant mountains, with photos that have a western movie’s desolate feel. Then drive to the nearby Beichangtan ancient village, where original adobe houses and elderly residents make time seem to slow down. Return to Yinchuan in the afternoon. Day 7: Leisurely wrap-up, buy some specialties The last day can be relaxed. Visit the Ningxia Museum to systematically learn about the history of this land, or stroll around the Drum Tower and Jade Emperor Pavilion area. In the afternoon, go to specialty stores like Bairuiyuan to buy some goji berries (Zhongning goji berries are the best) and Eight Treasures Tea as gifts for family and friends, then head home satisfied! Helpful Tips: 1. Transportation: Ningxia’s attractions are quite spread out; renting a car for self-driving is the most flexible choice. If you’re worried about fatigue, chartering a car or joining local day tours is also convenient. 2. Clothing: Big temperature difference between day and night! Short sleeves during the day, but definitely bring a jacket for mornings and evenings. For the desert, it’s best to wear high-top shoes to avoid sand getting inside. Sunscreen! Sunscreen! Sunscreen! Important to say three times. 3. Food & Drink: Ningxia’s lamb is not gamey at all! Must try hand-pulled lamb, ice-boiled lamb, and lamb offal stew. The noodles are also excellent, like saozi noodles and lamb hand-pulled noodles. 4. Accommodation: Staying in Yinchuan’s old town (Xingqing District) is more convenient for dining and shopping; desert camping in Zhongwei is unique but inconvenient for washing up, so choose according to your situation. How about it, feeling tempted? Ningxia is not big, but it has everything, a slow pace, and low costs. It’s definitely an underrated vacation treasure! Keep this guide and set off!