The Main and as far as well can tell only Bus Terminal in Zhongwei is situated in the east of Town, at quite some distance from the city center represented by the Drum Tower (Gulou) and its roundabout. Although not situated in the city center, the Bus Station is easily located as it stands exactly due east from the Drum Tower at a few blocks distance and on the intersection of Gulou East Street (S201 Provincial Road) and the other main road in town, the S202 road leading southward down to the Zhongwei Yellow River Bridge.
Get your bearings easily by traveling from Drum Tower (Gulou) eastward along Gulou East Street (S201 Provincial Road) and look for the large modern complex on the south side of the road.
Hotels & Hostels in Zhongwei & Prefecture
For all information regarding the available Hotels and Hostels in Zhongwei City, as well as the village of Shapotou and the Shapotou Yellow River Scenic Zone, please click through:
Ethnic Minorities in Zhongwei & Prefecture
Zhongwei & City Today :
History of Zhongwei:
Zhongwei Climate & Weather :
Zhongwei Basic Knowledge :
This page was last updated on: July 12, 2017
The Zhongwei Report
Introduction to Zhongwei (中卫 ; ﺟْﻮ وِ)
Zhongwei Landmarks & Monuments
Zhongwei City & Area Maps
Location : (37° 30′ 36″ North, 105° 10′ 48″ East)
Elevation : No information available.
Surface Area: Total Surface area of the City Prefecture of Zhongwei is 16,986.1 km2 (6,558.4 sq miles)
Population: The Total Urban Population of Zhongwei City Prefecture was registered as 1,041,821 in the year 2008. However, Chinese population census and registrations are notoriously unreliable for a number of practical reasons.
The China Report
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A Full listing of Zhongwei City Landmarks, Monuments, Hotspots and other sites of importance in alphabetical order. Search through the list to find your Full Report and Photo-Virtual Tour of each monument or landmark within the City, or Region of Zhongwei Town in Zhongwei Prefecture in Ningxia Hui AR of China (PRC).
Public Transport in Zhongwei
MAIN TRAIN STATION OF ZHONGWEI (ZHONGWEI ZHAN):
Zhongwei
Zhongwei has a Railroad Station as well as a Regional Airport. Inconveniently, Airport, Station and Main Bus Terminal of the Town are located in different sections of town. Train Station in the North, Bus Station in the East and Airport in a rural section on the north-west rim of Town.
ZHONGWEI XIANGSHAN AIRPORT:
In 1958 A.D. the so-called "BaoLan" (Baotou to Lanzhou) Railway was completed, for the first time unlocking large parts of Inner-Mongolia as well as the Ningxia Plain of the Yellow River for railway transport and traffic. Previously all transport in the regions had been conducted by Camel Caravan, or when the season allowed by barge up- and down- the Yellow River.
With the construction of the hydro-electric dams and arrival of the Baolan Railway, the regions were ready for large scale industrial development. It was the start of the political era that would become known as "The Great Leap Forward".
There is no additional information available on the history of Zhongwei.
Originally the Town of Zhongwei which exists today consisted of a collection of rural farming villages of which eventually Zhongwei was the most central and thus most important. Within the town however, the old village districts can still be identified. Encompassing most of the land between the sandy desert and the fertile but sometimes dangerous river, the village of Zhongwei occupies the north eastern parts of the urban area, a section that conforms to the historic commandery founded upon the Great Wall of China traversing from east to west. The villages of Rouyanxiang and Zhenlouzhen, both situated to the east of Zhongwei on the northern bank of the river, have been incorporated into the Town as newly developing districts.
The villages of Dongyuanxiang and Xinbeixiang form the basis for the rural district found along the northern side of the railroad tracks that pass east to west through Zhongwei Town. Heavily threatened by advancing sands from the Tengger Desert, the district is of interest for any traveler looking for half buried ruins and other hidden remains of the
Zhongwei has a population of 1.012 million, 31.7% of which are members of other ethnic groups than the now dominant Han population. Most of these are part of the Hui ethnic group.
Apparently, the language spoken in Zhongwei Town and Region is dialect which is different from the language dialect that is most common within the rest of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. It also differs from the dialects found more to the south east in Shaanxi Province, and to the south west in Gansu Province. The Zhongwei dialect is also considered to be quite different from the dialect spoken on the other side of the Longyang Gorge of the Yellow River in Wuzhong Prefecture and in the Capital city of the region Yinchuan. This phenomenon formed a unique cultural feature in Zhongwei but is under threat from the increased mobility of modern times.
The area has a semi-arid continental monsoon climate and is subject to sand storms. Its climate features a late spring, a short summer and a long winter. The average temperature is 7.4 degrees Celsius with a range between 7.3 - 9.5°C.
Throughout the spring, the weather remains fairly cold and dry with often dust laden skies. The spring season has the highest frequency of dust storms and is therefor the least popular among visiting travelers.
In summer, temperatures are high but due to the dry air still fairly comfortable. Summer Temperatures often reach over 30 degrees Celsius, but with large temperature range between day and night, evenings are comfortable and a popular time for sightseeing, walks in the park and long dinners.
Winters come relatively early in Ningxia, which is mainly marked by the falling of day time temperatures. Winds rise more frequently, bringing cold gusts down from the Mongolian Plateaux. Although little precipitation falls as far south as the Ningxia Plain of the Yellow River, sporadic snow may fall by late October. Although the temperatures are less comfortable in fall and winter and the sun is slightly less glorious in the blue sky, the lack of rainfall makes sightseeing in Zhongwei and Ningxia perfectly feasible.
Zhongwei City (中卫 ) - Zhongwei city is but a small city when seen in a Chinese perspective. Counted as a remote and rural destination, at least until its connection to the local infra-structure of airport, highways, railways and high-speed train lines, Zhongwei is a small Town and a relatively out of the way destination by virtually all standards. Although minor in size the town of Zhongwei is however fairly renowned in Chinese history. Due to its geographic location, situated on the margin of the desert and the fertile
Yellow River (Huang He), Zhongwei is renowned for its specific natural scenery of the Yellow River slowing its pace after coming off the Tibetan Plateaux then turning away northward when meeting the sands of the Tengger Desert, creating a narrow green strip of fertile lands which sight contrasts with the golden sands of the desert and the slow moving brown waters of the Great River on the opposite side. In the bygone centuries it was counted as one of the most renowned scenic sights in the Chinese Nation sometimes hailed as the "Suzhou" of the north west.
In addition, the city of Zhongwei was also recognized as a (minor) pass city situated along
Zhongwei, the place where the Yellow River meets the Sands of the Gobi Desert creating a lush green zone.
the Great Wall of China of the Ming Dynasty Era (1368 AD - 1644 AD). An abundance of now continuously threatened remains of the mud built Great Wall that protected the city half a millenium ago can still be found, mainly
along the northern rim of the urban district of the City. As a result of these town main "cultural attractions" Zhongwei is recognized as one of the main scenic destinations in the wider regions of the Ningxia Plain.
Zhongwei Prefecture borders to the north on the Alxa League of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region which consist mainly of the barren sands and wastes of the Tengger Desert. To the north east and east lies the Wuzhong Prefecture of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Extending a fair length southward, to the south Zhongwei Prefecture borders on Guyuan Prefecture of Ningxia Hui AR, which is the southernmost prefecture of the Ningxia Region. On the east side Zhongwei Prefecture borders on Baiyin Prefecture the mining district along the Yellow River in Gansu Province.
VARIOUS LANDMARKS OF ZHONGWEI CITY:
Zhongwei has only a limited number of Town Monuments, all of which are found in the Chengguan District, i.e. the old town section. It should be possible to see all landmarks of this old town district, as well as the train station and the airport in one day. Some more time is advised for exploring the main landmarks found outside of town, which are the Great Wall of China and the Yellow River (Huang He).
The Famous landmarks of the Old Town of Zhongwei (Chengguan District) are the Drum Tower (Gu Lou), the Peoples Market, the Mao Zedong Statue at Peoples Square west adjacent the Drum Tower on Drum Tower west street and the Gao Miao Multi-Religious Monastery and Temple.
Additional landmarks and monuments are found north of Zhongwei along the rim of the Desert, and south of Zhongwei along the banks of the Yellow River. These include various parts of the Great Wall of China of Zhongwei (Prefecture), the scenery of the Yellow River and a small number of related sites to visit.
For additional historical sites to visit and explore, travel beyond the Yellow River and into Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region or adjacent Baiyin Prefecture of Gansu Province.
A Full Google Earth Supported Map of Zhongwei Prefecture in Ningxia AR by AsiaReport.com.
The China Report introduced on Levels of its Online Publishing's in April of 2009, including Ningxia Hui AR. Find Google Maps on nearly all Report & Photo Pages where appropriate and useful.
Airport:
Zhongwei Shapotou Regional Airfield.
YouTube Video: Impressions o/t Shapotou Yellow River Scenic Zone in Zhongwei Prefecture
Albeit seeing an increasing influx of Chinese internal tourism, today Zhongwei is a town with a mostly rural character. Located on the "wrong side" of the Yellow River awkwardly wedged between water and sand, the city of Zhongwei is not so much an industrial center but an agricultural center. Heavy industries are situated many miles up the river in Gansu Province, or on the south bank of the Yellow River (Huang He), such as the mining center of Baiyin across the western border in Gansu Province. Although ranked as a prefecture level city in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, a true "city" of Zhongwei does not exist. The nearest city is the regional Capital of Yinchuan found over a 100 kilometers to the north and further down the Yellow River. Instead, Zhongwei town is surrounded by rual village centers and tourism is mainly based upon the many visitors to the Zhongwei Great Wall of China scenic zone and the Shapotou Yellow River scenic zone and the nearby world famous Shapotou Desert Research Center.
ZHONGWEI PREFECTURE:
The Prefecture of Zhongwei is further sub-divided into only 3 units, one urban distict and two rural counties. Of the three sub-divisions of Zhongwei City a the main city blocks are situated in Shapotou District. The surrounding rural counties are Zhongning County and Haiyuan County. Of these Zhongning county is centered around the town of Zhongning, some kilometers to the east of Zhongwei. Haiyuan County focusses on the town of Haiyuan, which lies well to the south of Zhongwei City and the Yellow River. Thus Zhongning County extends to the east of Zhongwei City, whereas the Haiyuan County extends to the southern limit.
Zhongwei City recently saw the opening of its very own
China Report - Map of the Great Wall during the Ming Dynasty
Satellite image of China and North-East Asia, with a super-imposed schematic Map of the location and Path of the Great Wall as constructed during the Reign of the Ming Dynasty. Included for reference are City names, geographical features of landscape, Names and locations of Passes on the Great Wall of China.
Great Wall of China. There are however no tourist hotels in this area although plenty of tourists would like to wander there and explore the Great Wall ruins.
Schematic Map of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region with the locations of Main Cities + Towns and sites of Interest.
regional airport which makes direct travel to Zhongwei much easier. In addition the town is well connected to the still expanding national railway system.
GOVERNMENT OFFICES:
- Zhongwei Peoples' Government ; situated along S201 Road in the west of Zhongwei Town.
- Zhongwei District Peoples' Procuratorate.
- Zhongwei Tobacco Monopoly Bureau.
- Zhongwei Bureau of Education. In the east of Town along S201 Provincial Road which at this point is
known as Gulou East Street.
MEDICAL FACILITIES:
Zhongwei No. 2 Peoples' Hospital, and Dahe Hospital, Zhongwei Ren'Ai Hospital and the Zhongwei Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.
This is the best, largest and highest ranking medical facility in town.
DAHE HOSPITAL:
Situated along S201 Provincial Road on the east end of Zhongwei Town. It stands on the south side of the road in view of the Zhongwei Peoples' Government (HQ) Building which stands across on the north side.
RELIGIOUS:
Christian Anxiri Cathedral. In Liujaizhuang, south west of Peoples' Market. Stands on the west side of a narrow north to south street which has its south end at Binhe Police Station which in turn stands just west of the Western Hotel. For more information, see: "Landmarks & Monuments of Zhongwei Town and Prefecture".
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES:
- Sunny Beibei English School.
- Fenghua Art School.
- Tsinghua Child English School.
- Zhongwei Xiyuan Middle School ; west of town along S201 Provincial Road.
- Ningxia Zhongwei No. 1 Middle School.
- Zhongwei No. 4 Middle School ; located due east of Gao Miao Temple.
- Zhongwei No. 6 Elementary School.
- Zhongwei (East Street) No.2 Kindergarten
- New Century Kindergarten.
SHOPPING AND LEISURE:
- Sunny Business and Trade Plaza.
BANKS:
- Bank of China (multiple offices and ATM machines in Urban Zhongwei)
- China Construction Bank
- Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
- Agricultiral Bank of China ; in the east on S201 Provincial Road.
POST OFFICE:
- Railway Station Post Office, at the south west corner of entrance square to Main Train Station
(Zhongwei Zhan).
- East Street Post Office ; along Gulou East Street due East of Drum Tower (as the name suggests).
S201 Provincial Road:
The main road connecting Zhongwei to its villages and the outside world is the historically the S201 Provincial Road. Traditionally this is the only road on the northern bank of the Yellow River and it the past it led trading caravan's and local farmers directly up to the City Drum Tower (Gulou). Today the S201 Provincial road cuts from east to west through the Town of Zhongwei and for a long time formed its main traffic artery. It is still an important thoroughfare of town today.
In the east S201 Provincial Road connects with the S109 Provincial Road, which cuts southward heading across its Yellow River Bridge. In the center of Zhongwei Town S201 connects with S202 Provincial road which leads southward forming the most direct connection between Zhongwei Town and the southern bank of the Yellow River. On the south bank S202 connects with S101 and a few hundred meters further on with the G70 Danla Expressway, which today is the main traffic artery connecting Yinchuan and Zhongwei in Ningxia with Lanzhou in Gansu Province.
In the west S202 Provincial Road leads away to eventually connect to the Expressway, which at that point is designated as G2012 Dingwu Expressway.
S202 Provincial Road:
The S202 Provincial Road is a newer road which starts in the north as an intersection of S201 Road. Heading southward from there it is the S202 Provincial Road that leads directly down to the Zhongwei Huanghe Highway Bridge and across to the southern bank of the river and the bulk of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. On the south bank S202 intersects with the main G2012 Dingwu Expressway between Yinchuan in the north and Lanzhou in the south west. Beyond the Expressway, S202 continues southward crossing with G6 Danla expressway before reaching the town of Haiyuan, the center of the southernmost rural county of Zhongwei.
G2012 Dingwu Expressway:
The main highway connecting the regions is G2012 Dingwu Expressway which is situated south of Zhongwei Town on the opposite side of the Yellow River. To the west it travels to Wuzhong and on to Yinchuan, whereas to the west it travels to Baiyin City of adjacent Baiyin Prefecture in Gansu Province and beyond to Lanzhou City, the Capital of neighboring Gansu Province.
The Airport is situated due north-west of Town Center at some 15 minutes (or less) travel by Taxi, Car or Bus. Find the airport in Dongyuan District, north of the main train track (Baolan Line) and the Station.
Clearest and most direct route to the Airport leads from Gao Miao Temple and Monastery along S201 Provincial road westward. Follow S201 until reaching the local waterway (river is too much said) on the west end of urban Zhongwei. Turn up north, either following the road on the east bank (named: Shayao Line) to reach the village of Yaotan and reach the airport, or cross the river and turn up north on the next available road which leads through the fields to the same location (Shayao Village) from where it is but a short walk to the Airport and main Terminal.
The Main Railway Station of Zhongwei City, located due north of the Town Center of Zhongwei. It lies at a walking distance (a few blocks) from the town center. As the arrival point for many, the Main Station is home to a number of essential Services. The Trains provide easy connections daily to Yinchuan, the regional Capital up north and with Lanzhou to the south west along the Baolan Line.
Schematic Map of the Flow Path of the Yellow River through China.
Click Map to go to FULL Version !
wetlands in the desert north west of Zhongwei, a treacherous possible invasion route, today the desert has nearly swallowed all remaining water, the marshes as well as the Mongolian village of Tenggeli Sumu (Tengger Els).
There is no mountain or mountains near Zhongwei but beyond the south bank of the Yellow River begin the hills and carved gorges of the Loess Plateaux of the Yellow River Basin. Even further south, within Haiyuan County one begins to reach the foothills of the mountains creating the natural borders between the south of Ningxia and neighboring parts of Gansu Province. These are however mostly found in Guyuan Prefecture in the southernmost tip of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
The main river in Zhongwei is the Yellow River (Huang He) which after coming off the Tibetan Plateaux and having traversed the Gorges of the loess plateaux in neighboring Gansu
Province flows calmly south of the town center and through the northern part of Zhongwei Prefecture turning northward. The Yellow River Dam of Xingtongxia lies several 10's of kilometers further downstream, creating the large Xingtongxia (Bronze Gorge) Reservoir a regional scenic sight.
Zhongwei
The second, and only other large river within Zhongwei Prefecture is the Qingshui River, which flows from the south of the Ningxia region northwestward to cut through the eastern Zhongning District of Zhongwei Prefecture.
Roughly speaking the Qingshui River is a local tributary of the Yellow River, which flows down from Guyuan (in Guyuan Prefecture) to empty into the Yellow River near the town of Zhongning. As it passes for most of its length between mountains, the local road and railroad between Guyuan and Zhongning follow the trajectory of the river. The Qingshui River does not reach near Zhongwei city itself, which lies on the opposite north bank of the river.
The terrain of Zhongwei declines from west to the east, and from the south to the north. Mountains and loess hills constitute most of the territory. Desert, alluvial plains, terraces, mountains and basins are the main landforms. Immediately due north of Zhongwei lies the vast and waterless expanse of the Tengger Desert, extending north, east and west. Where in the past there was a narrow string of marshes and
A Full listing of Zhongwei Prefecture Landmarks, Monuments, Hotspots and other sites of importance in alphabetical order. Find your way about the vicinity of Zhongwei Town and see the various sights and scenes. Find the Landmarks and monuments of the outskirts of Zhongwei, Shapotou District and the rural counties of Zhongwei Prefecture in Ningxia Hui AR of China (PRC) including the most remote county of Tongxin technically under the administration of Wuzhong Prefecture).
