{"id":2694,"date":"2024-12-14T11:46:22","date_gmt":"2024-12-14T03:46:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/applevacations.my\/blog\/?p=2694"},"modified":"2025-05-21T16:22:49","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T08:22:49","slug":"a-star-quality-destination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/applevacations.my\/blog\/a-star-quality-destination\/","title":{"rendered":"A star quality destination"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
ONCE A LITTLE-KNOWN REGION, NINGXIA IN CHINA IS FAST BECOMING ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S TOP ATTRACTIONS.<\/em><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Before the departure, all that I had learned was that Ningxia was synonymous with desert dust storms, sour milk and poverty, and was only a 5th tier Hui autonomous region with hardly any tourist attraction. If there was any, it must have been the Tengger Desert where one could lie down and stare at the countless stars above.
Fortunately, Xiaohongshu offered me some clue as to what the place had to offer: You will regret it if you give Ningxia a miss!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Although Route 66 is only 1.5 kilometres long, it has become a must-see destination among self-drive tourists in Ningxia\u2019s Shapotou for its absolutely awe-inspiring natural beauty.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As a trendsetter in the travel industry, Apple Vacations took the lead in opening up a cultural travel route to explore Ningxia in great depths. Although Ningxia is not a well-known holiday destination, it does have many hidden gems waiting to be discovered by adventurous travellers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might not be aware that there are some 1,862,500 ethnic Huis, or about 18% of China\u2019s total, living in Ningxia. Our tour guide Wang Yan said: Of the ten Ma-surnamed residents here, nine are Huis!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Hui Muslims of Ningxia are excellent cooks so make sure you check out the homestays for some home-cooked meals.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As a matter of fact, the Huis and the Hans have been living peacefully here for centuries despite their many differences. Inter-marriages are pretty common here, too. While having our dinner at a Muslim restaurant in Ningxia, we could see many Han customers enjoying hand-grasped mutton here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A city of mountains, the Yellow River, sand dunes, mausoleums and fortresses
Ningxia is known for its three mountains and one river (Helan Shan, Liupan Shan, Luo Shan, and the Yellow River); two dunes and one mausoleum (Shahu Lake, Shapotou and Western Xia Mausoleum); two fortresses and one wall (Jiangtaibao, Zhenbeibao and the Ancient Great Wall), presenting a strong cultural and unique natural vista.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Yellow River flows through Ningxia, and along the river you will find some lovely homestays like this one.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Qin Dynasty Great Wall measuring hundreds of kilometres and the site of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall lying in the wilderness have been dubbed \u201cChina\u2019s Great Wall Museums\u201d by historians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yinchuan, the city on the verge of desert<\/strong>
Our night flight cruised above the 2,100-year-old city of Yinchuan with its many dazzling lights and modern highrise towers. The city of Yinchuan lies a mere 15 kilometres from the desert, but thanks to the authorities\u2019 efficient desert control efforts over the last two decades, the city has managed to free itself from perennial dust storms that could last up to 300 days a year in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notably, Yinchuan\u2019s eight tree-lined thoroughfares crisscross the entire city, facilitating the movements of the city\u2019s residents. On both sides of these thoroughfares are flowering shrubs, lotus ponds, wetland parks and pedestrian walkways. This definitely doesn\u2019t look like any 5th tier city that I know! With a population of three million, the city\u2019s streets and buildings are all spotlessly clean!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discovering the beauty of Helan Shan<\/strong>
The 270-kilometre Helan Shan is one of very few north-south mountain ranges in China, with an east-west width of 20 to 60 kilometres. Oboo is the highest peak at 3,556 metres above sea level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helan Shan forms a natural geographical border in China\u2019s Northwest: Alashan Plateau and Tengger Desert to its northwest, and the Yinchuan Plain and Ordos Plateau to its east. Helan Shan also forms a climatic border between monsoon and non-monsoon climates. It is surrounded by three deserts \u2014 Mu Us, Ulaanbuh and Tengger, and as such, the moist oceanic currents have very limited influence over Helan Shan, while the area is frequently affected by the Siberian cold front. As a result, Helan Shan is very dry, with distinct seasonal changes and intense sunlight throughout the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We rode on one of the world\u2019s only three massive cross-country SUVs through the rough terrain to discover the hidden beauty of Helan Shan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a matter of fact, Helan Shan is also known for its colourful history, including the renowned Western Xia Mausoleums, rock paintings, Gunzhongkou scenic area, the Twin Pagodas of Baisikou, and Sanguankou Ancient Great Wall, among many other historical relics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The construction of the Great Wall of China continued from the Qin Dynasty all the way to the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty Great Wall in the Yellow River Basin outside Zhongwei City remains solid to this day after so many centuries!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wineries<\/strong>
At the eastern foothills of Helan Shan lies a vine corridor stretching over a hundred kilometres from Ganchengzi in the south to Shizuishan in the north. This is the biggest and most concentrated wine-producing area in China, with over 500,000 acres of land under grape cultivation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are more than 200 wineries littered around Helan Shan producing internationally acclaimed Helan Shan red wines. As a matter of fact, the soil at the eastern foothills of Helan Shan is perfect for grape cultivation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three decades ago, this whole area was still barren land but today, it has been transformed into a sea of green by the rapidly growing wine industry.
These wineries boast unique styles, while new wineries are being developed. Each of these wineries has its own unique wine varieties, cultures and services, offering their visitors enriched travel experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Desert Star Hotel<\/strong>
Located in the middle of the Tengger Desert in Zhongwei City, Desert Star Hotel is the brightest shining star in an otherwise barren desert where one can even see millions of stars reflected on the water<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Even though the Chinese reality show \u201cDad, where are we going?\u201d has made Desert Star Hotel vastly popular among the people, it is actually the fine sand quality of the Tengger Desert, as well as the resort\u2019s exceptional service quality that has wooed the visitors from near and far.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is not difficult to understand why Ningxia has been called the Hometown of Stars, with Tengger Desert a particularly marvellous spot for star-gazing. Desert Star Hotel in Shapotou district is a major tourist development project in Zhongwei City, and is the most luxurious desert resort in all of China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Desert Star Hotel is located in the heart of the desert at 37\u00b0 N and an altitude of 1,430 metres above sea level. The area boasts more than 300 days of clear sky every year. Owing to its remote location far from any human settlement, the area around the hotel is free from light pollution and is a perfect location for star-gazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More about Ningxia<\/em><\/strong>
For centuries Ningxia has been known as the \u201cJiangnan North of the Great Wall\u201d bordering Shaanxi Province to its east, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the west and north, and Gansu Province to the south.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ningxia is also the only Chinese provincial-level region located entirely within the Yellow River Basin that straddles 397 kilometres across Ningxia. Irrigation facilities from the dams constructed across the Yellow River have transformed the barren desert lands of Ningxia into vast grasslands dotted with lakes and farms. Because of this, travelling across Ningxia is like walking into a microcosm of China\u2019s varied ecosystems, from sand dunes into bustling cities teeming with greenery, completely out of your wildest imagination!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As if that is not enough, Ningxia is also known for its clear blue sky, pristine rivers, and prosperous cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/strong>
Generally speaking, Ningxia is often seen in the same light as desert, and what is really shocking is that in just twenty to thirty years, this minority autonomous region has been completely overhauled, to become the most sought-after holiday destination for millions of Chinese people, all because it is a perfect blend of nature and humanistic art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Western Xia Dynasty Royal Tombs has nine imperial tombs and over 250 graves. They are known for their ‘Eastern Pyramids’ architecture.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Thanks to Ningxia’s innovative ‘sand control’ system, sandstorms are no longer a problem now.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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