Zhongwei
People's Republic of China · Asia
About Zhongwei
Zhongwei is a prefecture-level city of Ningxia, People's Republic of China. It has an area of 16,986.1 km2 (6,558.4 sq mi) and a population of 1,174,600 in 2019. By the end of 2024, the city's resident population will be 1,079,800, a decrease of 0.08 million from the end of the previous year, including 570,300 urban residents. The city is known for its wolfberry and Gobi watermelon cultivation. One of the world's largest photovoltaic power stations, Tengger Desert Solar Park, is located in Zhongwei.
Under general Meng Tian, the Qin captured the area of Zhongwei and established the Beidi Commandery. In 205 BC a city built at the current location of Zhongwei urban area, which would grow as irrigation systems were built to allow farming.
In 1226 Genghis Khan captured Zhongwei, and in 1403 the city was named Zhongwei, part of Shaanxi.
In 1920 Zhongwei was struck by the Haiyuan earthquake; and in 1926 the highway from Lanzhou to Zhongwei opened.
As of 2025, Zhongwei had a GDP of CN¥63.338 billion (US$8.867 billion) and a GDP per...
Zhongwei travel guide
Getting there
By train 1 Zhongwei Railway Station. is on North Street. (updated Feb 2020) Beijing - takes about 24 hours Guyuan - takes about 4 hours Lanzhou - takes about 6 hours Urumqi - takes about 20 hours Xian - takes about 13 hours Yinchuan - takes about 3 hours
By bus Long Distance Bus Station. is on East Street. (updated Feb 2020) Lanzhou - takes about 6-7 hours Yinchuan - takes about 2-3 hours Xian - takes about 12-14 hours
By plane 2 Zhongwei Shapotou Airport. 9 km northwest in the city, flights from Yinchuan, Yulin, Shanghai–Pudong, Xi'an, Beijing–Capital, Chongqing, Urumqi, and Fuzhou. (updated Feb 2020)
See
1 Gaomiao Temple. Multichambered Chinese version of Hell. Featured in the movie Kill Bill vol. 2 as the residence of kung fu master Pai Mei. Shapotou. 沙坡头, Resort situated between sand and water, Shapotou Desert Research Center. Tourist area combines Tenggeli desert, Yellow River, mountain and oasis. Tickets ¥90 for park entrance, you then have to pay more if you want to do the attraction. You can choose a lot of activities in the tourist area - ride a camel, drift Yellow River (extra tickets). Cultural & Sports Complex. There is a museum to the south of the city across the river, but it is closed. The area around it has a library, sports arena, cinema and a cultural centre.
Do
Changtan Village. Visit the working 18th-century waterwheel at Changtan village then go whitewater rafting down the Yellow River to Shapatou.
Eat
There are budget restaurants near Gaomiao Temple, some of which may look awful but serve reasonable food. Zhongwei is a Muslim city so pork is hard to find. Also, most people eat noodles instead of rice.
Sleep
Budget Zhongying Hotel (Zhongying Jiudian), Guluo South Street, ☏ +86 953 7091518, fax: +86 953 7091550. Yixing Hotel (Yixing Binguan), 2 Guluo North Street, ☏ +86 955 7017666, fax: +86 955 7019993.
Mid-range Zhuoyue Hotel (Zhuoyue Dajiudian), Guluo East Road, ☏ +86 955 7037999, fax: +86 955 7022628.
Splurge Zhongwei Hotel (Zhongwei Dajiudian), 53 Guluo North Street, ☏ +86 955 7025555, fax: +86 955 7028829.
Go next
Tengger Desert - one-day and multi-day trips into the desert can be arranged.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.