Although Helan Mountain is not as majestic and vast as the mountains in the south, it still possesses a unique quality.
I felt that Ganzhou was the best among the places I visited in Ningxia, Ganzhou, Silver City, and Wuwei. It's close to the Yellow River, the Tengger Desert, and Tonghu Grassland, with particularly beautiful scenery. Wuwei felt like a small town (actually a city). It's just a large county, but there aren't many places to play or eat, and the population quality is relatively low. Nevertheless, this small town has a small airport. You won't believe it! The country has done so much for the north. Ganzhou Railway Station, Ganzixing's Fire Rock Fortress Geological Park.
I suggest driving through Ningxia. There are no traffic jams on the road, the highways are very few cars, and the roads are also very new. Ningxia has the Yellow River, desert, grassland, Gobi, northwest sunsets, and crimson landforms. There's also the Northwest Film City and many historical sites. Most of the scenic spots are relatively far from the city center, so driving is more convenient, and the itinerary is more relaxed.
The wineries are also worth visiting, but I didn't have time to visit them all, because there are so many! So, choose the ones you like. The red wine inside can also be bought. It's worth mentioning that the housing prices in Ningxia are very low. The cheapest one in Silver City is only around 2000-3000 per square meter. Ningxia is indeed sunny and dry. When I went from Guangzhou, I quickly got sunburned, and later I saw locals dancing square dances in full gear to realize how underestimated the intensity of the sun was. Therefore, the advice is to definitely bring sunscreen, moisturizing skincare products, an umbrella, and a hat.
Even in the hottest summer, it's best to bring loose-fitting long-sleeved and long pants. Let me give you a warning: Ningxia and its surrounding areas should only be visited once, because many people like to travel to many places in this region, but as someone who studied in Ningxia, I strongly advise against visiting every place, because they are very similar to each other. Ningxia is located on the upper Yellow River, so there will definitely be many people recommending it to you. You will be recommended to visit Ganshui Mountain, Sand Boat Head, Sand Lake, and the Tengger Desert. First, I recommend Ganshui Mountain.
Although Ganshui Mountain is not as majestic and vast as the Southern Ten Million Mountains, it has its own unique charm. The first time I climbed Ganshui Mountain, I felt 'desolation' for the first time, probably because I came from the South and had seen enough mountains and rivers. Seeing these bald mountains, I didn't have any interest. However, Ningxia is located on the edge of the Yellow Earth Plateau, with few mountains nearby, and when you reach the highest point, you will feel a different scenery from the mountains in the South. The rest, I only recommend the Tengger Desert, because other places are basically the same or similar, or the facilities for playing are exactly the same. Why do I recommend the Tengger Desert? Because there's also Tonghu Grassland beside it. Self-driving friends can play desert, grassland, and Yellow River together.
