Zhongwei

Zhongwei sits in central Ningxia where the Yellow River meets the Tengger Desert, making it one of northwest China's most striking desert-and-river landscapes. Its economy combines desert and adventure tourism, wolfberry (goji) and other agriculture, and a fast-growing cloud-computing and data-center industry that has earned it the nickname 'Cloud City.' The famous Shapotou Scenic Area offers sand-sledding, camel rides, and sheepskin-raft crossings of the Yellow River. It has a temperate continental arid climate with hot summers and cold winters. For an international student, Zhongwei is a gateway to authentic desert experiences and Hui Muslim halal cuisine such as hand-grabbed lamb and eight-treasure tea.