Zhongwei Travel Guide

Population: 1,148,500

Area: 16,986 square kilometers (6,558 square miles)

Nationalities: Hui, Han

Administrative Division: 1 district (Shapotou); 2 counties (Zhongning, Haining)

Useful Telephone Numbers:
Tourist Complaints: 0953-7012620
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiry: 184

Location: Zhongwei City lies in the west-central Ningxia Province, bordered by Gansu Province in the west and Inner Mongolia in the north. Wuzhong City and Guyuan City are respectively situated east and south to it.

History: Thirty thousand years ago, human settlers had lived there. Before the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC) established shire to administrate this area, it was inhabited by ancient ethnic minorities, including Qiang and Rong. By the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Name of Zhongwei had been in used.

Physical Features: The terrain of Zhongwei declines from the west to the east, the south to the north. Mountains and loess hills constitute the most part of the city's territory. Generally, desert, alluvial plain, terraces, mountain and basin are the main types of the city's landform. The Yellow River flows through the northwest part of the city.

Climatic Features: Zhongwei is located deeply in the inland China close to desert and so far away from the sea, hence, it enjoys a semi-arid continental monsoon climate accompanied with desert climate. The weather features late spring, short summer and long winter. It is windy and there is a lack of rain in this area. June to August is the period gathering majority of a year's rainfall.

When to Go: May to October

Special Local Products: watermelon, pear, apple, medlar, yellow wine, golden thread jujube

Scenic Spots:
Shapotou: Located 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of downtown Zhongwei, Shapotou is a 2,000 meters (2,187) long and 100 meters (328 feet) high sand mound on the north bank of the Yellow River, the south edge of the Tengger Desert. It is also an echoing sand mountain singing as people sliding down the slope.
High Temple (Gao Miao): Located north of the old Zhongwei City, the High Temple was a complex of temple architecture first built in the Ming Dynasty. It was renovated during the Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). On a 4,100 square meters terrace, more than 260 rooms are constructed, praised to be the outstanding representative of Ningxia's ancient architecture.

Tourist Tips:
1. From the Yinchuan bus station at the South Gate, buses to Zhongwei depart once an hour and get there in about three hours. In addition, direct buses to Shapotou and the High Temple are also available in this bus station as well as in the tourism bus station at the North Gate.

2. Zhongwei Bus Station is located in Chengdong Dajie, Shapotou District. Otherwise, the High Temple is near from the railway station, from which the temple can be reached by foot.