Source: CCTV.com

09-12-2006 14:12

Remotely stationed in the northwest of China, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is a small region with imposing landscapes. About 1000 kilometers to the west of Beijing, It borders Shaanxi province on the east, Inner Mongolia on the north, and Gansu Province on the South.

The total population of Ningxia is a little over five million, and about one third of which is Hui people. Due to its inland location, Ningxia features short and dry summer with long and cold winter.

Ningxia is one of the ten major pastures in China with 3 million hectares of exploitable meadows. It is also rich in mineral resources and agricultural produces.

Little known to the outside, and little visited by tourists; Ningxia actually has everything that makes a great travel experience. It was once an important stop along the north Silk Road, connecting the central Asia, north desert and inland plains.

Yellow River winds through Ningxia for about 400 kilometers and becomes the main source of irrigation here. It makes an abrupt turn at Zhongwei county upon entering Ningxia from the west, forming the spectacular Shapotou scenic zone.

There are many interesting ways to experience the yellow river at Shapotou such as taking a goatskin raft? The raft is floating upon 14 pieces of goat skin pumped with air. Can you imagine that it used to be the major vehicle to take people across the Yellow river 40, 50 years ago in this area?

Don’t shy away from the rafting just because it’s a tourist must-do here. Sitting on these simple goatskin dinghies and listening to the folk song “the yellow river has 99 bends,” you may think there is a better way than this to connect with the River.