Comfortable Family Trip to Zhongwei｜Desert and Yellow River Scenery + Nanny-Level Guide (Including Pitfall Avoidance Tips)

Traveling with kids and mom in Zhongwei! Rolling in the desert, strolling by the Yellow River, relaxing without rushing! Just came back from Zhongwei with my mom and kid, focusing on a relaxed and leisurely trip without exhausting ourselves! We deeply experienced the grandeur of the desert and the gentleness of the Yellow River. I've put together a super detailed guide to share with you, be sure to save it! 📅 Day 1: Departure, stay in the desert! On the way: Took the high-speed train from Xi’an North Station at 4 PM, arrived at Zhongwei South Station in 4 hours. The hotel shuttle picked us up right at the exit, very convenient. Where to stay: Sand Ship Desert Hotel (sleeping in the desert is super special!). Evening activities: After settling in, we caught the bonfire party and fireworks show, the kid was so excited. 📅 Day 2: Have fun in the desert! Daytime fun: Play right at the Tengger Desert outside the hotel! Karting on sand is thrilling, camel riding is slow and relaxing, sand sliding is fun (tickets can be bought individually or as a package, depending on your needs). Key tip: go sand sliding and take photos after 5 PM, the lighting is amazing, the sunset is stunning! Romantic evening: Another bonfire party, staff share star knowledge (the starry sky is super clear!), more fireworks, and everyone can sing karaoke, the atmosphere is great. Food: Lunch at the hotel canteen with dishes ordered, local watermelon is unlimited and super sweet! Dinner can be stir-fry at the hotel or DIY barbecue, very fun. 📅 Day 3: Full experience of grassland, Yellow River, and city Exclusive early morning: Get up at 5:30 AM to watch the desert sunrise! Afterward, enjoy sand sliding and playing with sand while it’s still cool, the kid loved it. Passing by the grassland: Around 10 AM, head to Tonghu Grassland, mainly for the scenery on the way. Stop to take photos of sheep and horses. Stroll by the Yellow River: Arrive at Yellow River Suji and Ming Great Wall Ruins around 11:30 AM (the two places are close). The Ming Great Wall is at the entrance of the guesthouse; climbing it offers a panoramic view of the Yellow River, it should be even more beautiful at dusk. Yellow River Suji is a stylish guesthouse cluster with a Moroccan vibe, featuring a café, bakery, and grocery store, perfect for photos! Lunch is recommended at the “Xiangke” restaurant inside Suji, try the cold mixed sand scallion salad. City stroll with kids: At 6:30 PM, go to Xiangshan Park (enter from the west gate), there’s a lotus pond, and further inside is an artificial beach and children’s playground! Kids can dig sand and play with water to their heart’s content, a great place to burn energy. Dinner & night view: Dinner in the city with flat bean noodles and hand-pulled lamb (delicious!). The Drum Tower night view is quite nice, with a night market nearby, but since the kid is small, we avoided the crowd. Transportation: The attractions are scattered this day, so we rented a car for 200 yuan a day. Stay in the city: Moved to Zhongwei Atour Hotel, fewer people, good service, and got a free upgrade to a suite! Free laundry and gym available, very comfortable. 📅 Day 4: Leisurely return After breakfast at the hotel, a 5-minute walk to Gaomiao. It’s a small park with an ancient temple inside, and many children’s play facilities where the kid played a bit more. At noon, took a flight back to Xi’an, trip perfectly concluded! ✨ Tested Practical Tips (to help you avoid pitfalls): 1. Desert sun and sand protection is top priority! Bring a hat, sun-protective clothing, high-top shoes/shoe covers, sunglasses, face mask/scarf, and sunscreen—none can be missed! 2. When choosing a desert hotel: tents and cabins mostly have shared bathrooms. If traveling with young kids or elderly, strongly recommend rooms with private bathrooms! All room entrances have sand, be mentally prepared. 3. Shapotou activities have restrictions: activities like zip-lining and bungee jumping are more suitable for older kids (8+) or brave ones, with many height, weight, and age limits. Playing in Tengger Desert is enough for younger kids. 4. Be cautious with the Wuhu crossing: this is a thrilling activity involving 6-8 hours of off-road driving over sand dunes, very bumpy, not suitable for young kids or elderly. We decisively skipped it.