Travel field note · 2026

Ningxia to Qilian, by Road

A northwest China road trip — from the Yellow River wetlands of Ningxia, across the Tengger Desert, up into the Qilian Mountains, and on to the grasslands of eastern Xinjiang. Nine stops, three vlogs, and the animals met along the way.

The route Video gallery

9 stops on the route

3 provinces & regions

3 travel vlogs

The Route

Ningxia → Gansu → the Qilian Mountains → eastern Xinjiang. Stops in order; the vlogs are tucked in where they were filmed.

1
Ningxia
Yinchuan — Yellow River Wetland Park

银川 · 黄河湿地公园

Starting point on the Yellow River, where reed beds and open water draw migrating birds.
2
Ningxia
Helan Mountains Rock Art

贺兰山岩画

Thousands of ancient petroglyphs carved into the canyon walls of the Helan range.
3
Ningxia → Gansu
Yinchuan to Baiyin, through the Tengger Desert

银川 → 白银 · 途径腾格里沙漠

A long desert crossing — the Tengger is one of China’s largest sand seas.
4
Inner Mongolia
Wuhai Desert

乌海沙漠

Dunes on the edge of the Ulan Buh, where the desert meets the Yellow River bend.
5
Qilian Mountains
Qilian — Tanyaogou Village

祁连山 · 炭窑沟村

Into the Qilian foothills — alpine meadow and pasture, and the trip’s richest wildlife.
6
Qilian Mountains
Qilian — Mati Temple (Horse Hoof Temple)

祁连山 · 马蹄寺

Grottoes carved into the cliffs, with herds grazing the slopes below — and a family of Eurasian eagle owls nesting in the rock.
7
Xinjiang
Barkol — Alpine Lake Wetland

巴里坤 · 高山湖湿地

A high-altitude lake and wetland on the grasslands of eastern Xinjiang.
8
Xinjiang
Mulei County — Maquanwan

木垒县 · 马圈湾

Rolling grassland and grazing land in the Mulei Kazakh Autonomous County.
9
Xinjiang
Qitai County — Jibuku River

奇台县 · 吉布库河

River valley and farmland on the northern edge of the Tianshan — the route’s far end.