Itinerary
Highlight
~ visit Western Xia Imperial Tombs and Museum;
~ wine tasting at prestige vineyards;
~ exhilarating 4WD rides up to the summit of Helan Mountain, in the desert and mysterious lakes;
~ hiking in the desert and off trail park;
~ Camel riding, sheepskin rafting, sand dune surfing experience;
~ star gazing opportunities during stay in luxury resorts;
~ savour Ningxia’s unique food culture.
Day 1 Arrive Yinchuan
Meet and greet upon arrival and transfer to hotel. There is free time at leisure. Tonight, the group gathers again for a welcome dinner – Yanchi Tan Sheep Hotpot (盐池滩羊火锅)!
This hotpot features tender, fat-marbled meat from Tan Sheep (滩羊) raised in Ningxia’s Yanchi. Grazing on natural herbs, the sheep develop fine-textured meat with a unique, mild and savoury taste. The meat is sliced paper-thin, so it cooks quickly in the broth and practically melts in your mouth. A beloved local delicacy in Ningxia.
Meal: Highlight Dinner
Stay: 4* hotel, Yinchuan
Day 2 Yinchuan
Today’s sightseeing,
Western Xia Imperial Tombs (西夏王陵) – exclusive tour with the Director (or the team) of Western Xia Research Institute on a journey to decode the mystery of a Lost Civilisation. Discover one of China’s most enigmatic historical sites – the royal mausoleums of the emperors in the Western Xia Dynasty (1038-1227). Carved into the foothills of the Helan Mountains, this complex of nine majestic, pyramid-like mausoleums and over 250 ancillary structures is a testament to the sophisticated Tangut civilization. Dubbed the “Oriental Pyramids” for their distinctive shape, these 40-meter-tall rammed-earth structures showcase a unique fusion of Buddhist, Tibetan, and Han Chinese architectural styles. The site’s bilingual Tangut and Chinese inscriptions and artifacts like gilded Buddha statues unearthed here speak to a multicultural empire. Offering a blissfully uncrowded experience, it’s a place for quiet reflection on a powerful, yet often overlooked, kingdom.
Western Xia Museum (西夏博物馆) – showcasing the history and culture of the Western Xia Dynasty. The museum displays over 2,000 artifacts and covers 9,000 sq M and has a grand architectural design connected to the towering Helan Mountain.
Château Chandon (夏桐酒庄) – the first winery in China under Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton (LVMH). Ningxia’s unique natural advantages: local climate, soil and environment are extremely suitable for growing high-quality grapes required for sparkling wine. Located at the foot of Helan Mountain, walk into the vineyard with modern intelligent technology and learn about the traditional craftsmanship of wine production. Taste 3 extraordinary sparkling wines.
Kanaan Winery (迦南美地酒庄) – one of the pioneers of premium Chinese wines, they may be the earliest wine family in China. Today, this father-daughter duo, brimming with warmth and hope, have become the old and young owners of a premium winery, where traces of love and dedication from different eras are left behind. Here, you can feel the owners’ preference for Riesling and horses, and of course, you can try the passion and richness of Crazy Fang’s Cabernet Sauvignon, also the unique taste of Helan Mountain.
Ningxia Night Market (宁夏观光夜市) – visit the city’s night market. It’s time at leisure to explore the market and savour some local delights.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: 4* hotel, Yinchuan
Day 3 Yinchuan – Hooke Park – Yinchuan
Nestled in the Helan Mountains straddling Ningxia and Inner Mongolia, Hooke’s Park (虎克公园): China’s best outdoor off-road park offers a unique blend of cultural heritage and adrenaline-pumping experiences. It is one of the three major global off-road meccas in the world. it is also a filming location favourite for many Chinese period dramas and movies.
As we walk, admire part of the Great Wall of China (明长城) built over many historical periods between the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) and the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). See the remains of the many forts and beacon towers (烽火台) along the wall.
Then we’ll take an exhilarating 4WD drive to ascend to the summit of Helan Mountain (贺兰山) – the highest mountain in Ningxia!
Château Pushang (蒲尚酒庄) – a winery renowned for crafting high-quality Marselan, regarded as the most representative grape variety in China. Step into its purebred vineyards to learn about the unique wine making style, and taste the distinctive flavour of Marselan dry red wine.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: 4* hotel, Yinchuan
Day 4 Yinchuan – Gunzhongkou National Park – Yinchuan
Located at the eastern foot of Helan Mountain, this mountain pass is surrounded by mountains on three sides and is open on the east side, shaped like a big bell, hence its name Gunzhongkuo (滚钟口). This was originally the palace of the founding emperor of Western Xia. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, there was also a large-scale construction here, and temples and pavilions were built. In spring and summer, the scenic area is full of tall fir trees and lush green.
We’ll take a 4.5-KM hike. Along the way, see Shengjing Memorial Archway (盛境牌坊) including Rock Carving Stone Group (岩画石群), Wind Chime Square (风铃广场), Helan Holy Land Landscape (贺兰胜境), also the Laojun Hall (老君堂), republican-era Culture Exhibition Hall (民国文化展示馆), finally to the top of Bijiashan Mountain (笔架山).
This afternoon, visit Silver Heights Vineyard (银色高地酒庄). Founded in 2007, the winery is located at the eastern foot of the Helan Mountains, 1,200 metres above sea level. One of China’s highest vineyards, Silver Heights is a remarkable winery with an ideal terroir for viticulture run by winemaker Emma Gao. It was the first garage winery in China, also the pioneering settlers of this land. Step into the vineyard managed by biodynamic methods and feel the special natural atmosphere, taste wines like Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon and more.
Yinong Winery (亦浓酒庄) – dine amidst vines at a private winery with a unique Chinese classical charm. Savour estate-grown vintages paired with most representative ingredients, the freshest local vegetables and tender meat, carefully cooked by local chefs. It is an unforgettable experience on your taste buds. Enjoy a night’s stay at this winery too.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: winery accommodation, Yinchuan
Day 5 Yinchuan – Zuoqi – Zhongwei
Late departure – transfer to Alashan Dream Park Desert Recreation Area (阿拉善梦想公园沙漠休憩地).
At the intersection of 3 lakes in the desert, change into 4WD vehicle, experience desert crossing traversing 3 lakes (with aerial photography): Camel Lake (骆驼湖), Ulan Lake (乌兰湖) and Jita Lake (吉他湖).
Due to the activity of micro-organisms in the water, the lakes in the desert become a myriad of colours. Each lake has its unique beauty. Ulan Lake is famously known as ‘the heart of the earth’ (‘地球之心’) because it looks like a red heart.
Zhongwei Night Market (中卫夜市) – wander at leisure to explore a wide variety of stalls brimming with local specialties: spicy lamb skewers, crispy flatbreads, and savoury noodle soups, just to name a few. Let the aroma guide you and relish authentic taste of Zhongwei at your own pace. A perfect way to dive into local culinary culture.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: 5* hotel, Zhongwei
Day 6 Zhongwei – Tengger Desert
The day kicks off with 5-KM desert hike on Tengger Desert (腾格里沙漠), the fourth biggest desert in China with a professional Desert Hiking Guide. Walk and see mesmerising sights of endless golden dunes. Your professional guide will introduce you to the unique living environment of the desert as well as some special animals and plants.
In the afternoon, transfer to Shapotou (沙坡头) – known as the ‘disney’ theme park of deserts.
Take the most representative traditional transportation on the Yellow River, the sheepskin raft* (羊皮筏子), to admire the magical natural scenery where the Yellow River, the oasis and the desert coexist. The rafts are made by bundling inflated sheepskins. Drifting on them, you feel the river’s roar and scenery.
Thereafter, indulge in thrilling sand dune sliding* – racing down 100-metre sand dunes with roaring sand, excitement and fun.
Check in to the luxury desert safari resort located in the heart of Tengger Desert. The resort is built around the theme of galaxy stars. Each cluster of rooms is like a star in the night sky, hence the name of the resort, desert galaxy. After dinner, head to the open-air viewing platform for another round of star gazing.
Tengger Desert is one of China’s best stargazing spots due to its high altitude, the air here is thin and clean with extremely low light pollution. It’s dry climate with little rainfall brings a high rate of clear nights, and the open, unobstructed views allow for clear observation of starry sky details. On clear nights, enjoy professional starry sky tours and stargazing experiences at the hotel. You may see the milky way and/or galaxy of stars.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Desert Star Galaxy Luxury Resort 中卫大漠星河沙漠野奢度假酒店
*age restriction – 60 years old and above not allowed for sand dune sliding; 65 years old and above not allowed on sheepskin raft.
NOTE: for October and November departures, desert activities may alter due to the change in desert sand condition.
Day 7 Tengger Desert – Yinchuan
Rest and relax in the resort. Later in the morning, enjoy a camel ride (沙漠骆驼) and Baji-car (沙漠巴吉车) on the desert.
Before returning to Yinchuan, make a stop at the 108 Pagodas (青铜峡108塔) – a remarkable Buddhist site significant for its architectural and artistic value, showcasing the traditional styles and craftsmanship of Buddhist stupa construction, believed to be built during the Western Xia Dynasty. Arranged in 12 rows following odd numbers from 1 to 19, they form a huge triangle along the mountainside, nestled on the west bank of the Yellow River. They have witnessed the historical changes in the Yellow River basin, reflected the cultural exchanges and integration between ancient border areas, and stand as a historical imprint of multi-ethnic cultural interactions. Take a 10-minute boat cruise on the Yellow River which features the core area of the Ningxia Ancient Irrigation Project.
Savour in Ningxia’s intangible cultural food heritage food – hand-pulled lamb (手抓羊肉) tonight!
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Specialty Dinner
Stay: 4* hotel, Yinchuan
Day 8 Depart Yinchuan
Rest and relax. Official check out time is 11 AM or 12 PM. Group departure transfer to the airport and the adventure in Ningxia concludes.
Meal: Breakfast