Overview

China travel map - Ningxia Desert Getaway

The fascinated muslim culture, mystical ruins of Western Xia Dyansty and incredible scenery of deserts in Ningxia attracts travelers home and abroad. It is 5-day desert tours in Wild Ningxia - explore the Tengger Desert for sunrise and sunset and witness the long and vivid local culture along the way; hike the great wall of Ming dynasty in Helan mountains; experience the local Muslim traditions and foods, and visit other tourist sites in Yinchuan. The highlights of the trip include Ningxia Museum, Western Xia Imperial Tombs, Gaomiao Temple, Najiahu Mosque, Baisikou Twin Pagodas, Helan Mountain, Maowusu Desert.

Duration: 6 days & 5 nights

Destinations: Yinchuan - Tengger - Zhongwei - Yongning - Yinchuan

Customize Your Tour:
☑  Travel Dates  ☑ Your Interests  ☑ Your Travel Style

Day

Upon your arrival at Yinchuan airport, you will be greeted by local guide and driver. Enjoy the private transfer from airport to hotel. Get some rest in hotel. Early evening, set out with your guide for a walk over to Chengtian Pagoda, which was built in Western Xia period. It is a 64.5-meter-high octagonal structure in the Chengtian Temple in the southwest corner of Yinchuan. Later head to the Bell Tower commercial area for dinner arranged at a typical local restaurant. 

Meal: D

Enjoy breakfast at hotel before a 50 minutes ride to Western Xia Tombs. The group of tombs occupies an area of 50 square km including nice tombs of Western Xia Kings and 250-plus companion tombs buried with the remains of the major imperial family members and aristocrats. Later keep driving. Cross the Helanshan Mountain valley and then stop for a walk on the Ming Great Wall. The original wall was constructed in 1531 during the Ming Dynasty, around 50 kilometers in total. However, it has been gradually engulfed by sand.

Later we get into the territory of Inner-Mongolia to Tengeri Desert, which is an arid natural region that covers about 36,700 km2 .Watch sunset in the desert. Stay overnight at local yurt or home-stay at local farmhouse.

Meal: B, L, D

Western Xia Imperial Tombs

Get up early this morning for a sunrise in the desert, and then have a local style breakfast. Free at leisure to enjoy the desert. There are various optional activities, such as Camel riding, sand skiing, picking fruits & vegetables in the Green House… In the afternoon, we will drive to the camping site in the desert near a salt lake. Take a guided trek to the nearby grassland (1.5 hrs) where you may see sheep, cattle, camels, wild birds, beautiful flowers and meet local nomad people. Drive over 2hrs to Zhongwei. Stay overnight at Zhongwei Palace Hotel.

Meal: B, L, D

Have breakfast at hotel and then take a short ride for a visit to Gaomiao Temple. It’s a very unique combination of three religions, Buddhism,Taoism and Confucianism. Besides, the temple itself is beautiful as a group of well-preserved ancient buildings. After lunch, transfer to Qingtong Gorge city by a 2hrs ride. Here you will visit Yellow River Temple, take sheep-skin-raft or yart downstream the Yellow River to 108 Pagodas (the largest pagodas group in China) – approx. 2hrs. Later drive for Wuzhong which is around 1.5hrs away. 

Meal: B, L, D

Visit ancient Gaomiao Temple in Yinchuan

After breakfast, Visit Shuidonggou Ruins of Paleolithic age, hike along the Great Wall of Ming dynasty for approx 1 hr. Enjoy the breath taking view of the Maowusu desert, the Yellow River, together with the remains of watch-towers and ancient cities. On the way back Yinchuan, we will visit China Hui Culture and Customs Park, which is the only theme park in China that displays ethnic Hui culture, religion, and traditions.

Later visit Chinese Muslims Museum and unique Muslims street and Najiahu Mosque. You will also have opportunity to taste all kinds of local Muslim food. Then enjoy performance of the China’s First Large-scale Original Hui Nationality Dance drama- "the Moon Over the Helan Mountain", before leave for Yinchuan.

Meal: B, L, D

After breakfast, visit Baisikou Twin Pagodas of Western Xia period. The one to the east is a 13-layer affair in the shape of a right cone, while the one to the west has 14 layers and is slightly larger in diameter. The twin pagodas look exactly the way they were when they were first built during the Western Xia period. If time permits, we will continue to visit the Rock paintings of Helan Mountain. They were pictures drew and chiseled on the rocks by ancient ancestors in the long years using realistic or abstract artistic techniques. It records several aspects of ancient human social life in Yinchuan. After the tour, transfer to airport, for your flight to next destination.

Optional activity: One hour hiking along the Helan Mountain range. 

Meal: B, L

What's included

  • 1-on-1 Travel Consultant

    Your China based expert listens to your wishes carefully, provides professional advice, ensures unlimited itinerary revisions before done and 24/7 helpline service while traveling.

  • Private Local Guide and Driver

    Your guides are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, and your drivers are professional, polite and patient. They are very flexible to accommodate your personal needs and happy to show you the local attractions, history, culture, foods and real life. 
    Private transfers from hotel to attractions, airport or train station are also included.

  • Accommodation to Suit Your Preference

    In each place, we hand pick hotels ranging from luxury 5 star, superior 4 star to comfortable 3 star. Luxury or cozy boutique hotels and budget guesthouses are also among your choices. You could decide where to stay to meet your taste and budget.

  • Gourmet Meals

    Most of the hotels we select offer both Western and Chinese buffet breakfast. Lunch and dinner included are arranged in selected restaurants to taste authentic Chinese cuisine and local specialties. Thus you may also have a unique food tour.
    Meals specified in itinerary as B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner.

  • Attractions and Activities Listed on the Itinerary

    Our China tour packages have included the (first/main) entry to all attractions and the expenses of activities on the itinerary (except the optional activities).

  • Internal Transportation

    Based on your needs, we could make bookings of internal transportation, including domestic flights, inter-city trains, long-distance bus, etc.

Quick Question

Comments