The Yellow River, Gobi Desert, vast sandy expanses… in this great land, only the wind and gravel are singing.
There are many forms of romance in the world, but I have always felt that the romance of Western China is something that only Chinese people can truly understand.
Among the F5 of the Northwest, Ningxia is particularly special. Its area is no larger than a little finger on the map, yet it is favored by a mountain (Helan Mountain) and a river (Yellow River), earning it the beautiful name of “Jiangnan on the Frontier.”
In recent years, the tourism industry in Zhongwei has flourished, but the hearts of Ningxia people definitely lean towards Helan Mountain.
Because the Yellow River is Ningxia’s mother river, and Helan Mountain is its guardian spirit—this natural barrier weakens the cold air flows coming from Siberia and blocks merciless dust storms, bringing Ningxia thousands of years of moisture and tranquility.
China certainly does not lack beautiful scenery, and perhaps the best opportunity to make these magnificent landscapes known to more people is through a hotel that leaves an unforgettable impression on guests.
The hotel I want to write about today is quite rare—it’s the most special hotel I’ve stayed in this year so far—the Yinchuan Anmo Hotel.
What makes it special is, first, its unique location—situated at the best viewpoint at the foot of Helan Mountain, with the hotel lobby directly facing one of China’s four natural sleeping Buddhas, the Helan Mountain Sleeping Buddha. There are so many 5A and 4A scenic spots within a 20-minute drive that they could be in conflict over visitors!
*The side profile of the Sleeping Buddha is quite obvious, isn’t it?
Secondly, the format is special. The Anmo Hotel is located on the eastern slope of Helan Mountain, which is the best wine-producing area in all of China without exception. The hotel even has its own vineyard; while other hotels might boast about their “beautiful greenery,” Anmo has taken it to the next level—there’s a thousand mu vineyard right in front of the hotel!
The Western Northwest has long been a “hotel desert,” and having a reliable new luxury hotel is something to be happy about, even more so because they have come out with an opening package!
The package for a garden view room at Yinchuan Anmo Hotel is 999 yuan for one night including breakfast; for two nights, it’s 1899 yuan.
Valid from May 13, 2024, to September 29, 2024, with an additional charge of 500-900 yuan per set during June to August.
The price is incredibly appealing! A rare hotel combined with local excellence gives Anmo the confidence to sell rooms at a calendar price of over 1800 yuan, and this is still in the off-season.
The opening package is just straightforward—it’s the absolutely essential room plus breakfast, and like the directness of the Northwest climate, it’s announced at a 50% discount!
You know how opening packages work; it’s highly likely that this price will be available only this once.
Additionally, all packages include: stargazing experience + intangible cultural heritage bamboo weaving + traditional incense sachets + Helan Mountain painting + two hours of Hanfu experience + a welcome gift upon check-in + first round of the MINI bar.
It’s super extravagant; this opening package nearly gives away all the hotel’s experiential offerings!
Just the stargazing experience alone would cost you 300 or 400 yuan per person at other hotels, wouldn’t it?
Ningxia is nicknamed the “Hometown of Stars,” and the Helan Mountain where the hotel is situated is renowned as “the place closest to the stars.”
No equipment is needed; all you have to do is look up and you’ll be greeted with a sky full of stars.
New redemption rights: Orders that are processed and checked in before June 20 will receive two complimentary glasses of red wine tasting (worth 98 yuan each).
I suggest you especially pay attention to the Dragon Boat Festival, which does not have an extra price increase, and the time around the Perseid meteor shower (around August 13).
There will be an additional charge from June to August, but trust me, that charge is definitely worth it. Let me analyze it for you.
This package includes a stargazing experience, which I participated in and found to be fantastic! Summer is the best time for stargazing when visibility is high and the Milky Way is easier to observe.
Now in May, I can already see the constellations clearly with the naked eye (I can even see moving satellites), and the observation conditions will improve even more in summer!
*We start with theoretical explanations, then practical stargazing; the instructor is very professional.
From July to September, grapes will be ripening, and at that time, guests will also be able to experience grape picking. You’d think it’s a hotel in a vineyard—picking wine grapes is surely a unique experience not to be missed!
1 Purchase Taobao Code: 18￥ MF1643 wpLAWGIoW01￥ https://m.tb.cn/h.gX1ikxu/
Furthermore, July and August are typically peak seasons in the Northwest. The summer sun can be really hot, but don’t be fooled, the Northwest has always been a very popular summer getaway.
During this period, hotels in the Northwest will raise prices; therefore, getting Anmo at the opening package price is absolutely worth it!
The Yinchuan Anmo Hotel began its trial operation last November; I stayed there for two nights and could not get enough of the beautiful views!
The hotel is made up of short buildings with red exterior walls, which minimizes the height (the highest being three stories) and employs colors close to the earth, making it perfectly integrated at the foot of Helan Mountain without appearing out of place.
Let me share more photos; this is where emoji should go 👉 “Aesthetically pleasing is truly remarkable!” “Sorry, but being good-looking can get you everything!”
Most of the main public areas of the hotel (not all) are concentrated in one building.
Starting from the lobby on the ground floor, I was dazzled by its beauty; the rounded design between floors is immediately obvious, even for someone like me who isn’t a wine connoisseur. It’s clear that the design was inspired by the oak barrels where red wine is stored.
The spiral staircase that goes through three floors is particularly eye-catching; it’s nicely called “Fuyiao,” a name that carries wonderful meaning. Promise me you will make sure to walk from the bottom to the top at least once.
Behind the lobby, there is a wine cellar, which is not yet in its final form as I was shown.
One floor up is the Chinese restaurant. Anmo has a total of three dining bars, with the Shanhai Tu Chinese restaurant featuring local and Cantonese dishes.
The walls are decorated with both red brick and green wood paneling, and the red-green combination becomes more visually appealing. The chandelier is designed in the shape of Ningxia’s specialty—wolfberry flowers.
I had two meals at Shanhai Tu; the taste was decent, with an average cost of around 300 yuan per person.
The best view in the hotel is from the lobby bar in the main building, where the Helan Mountain scenery can be enjoyed in full view, providing a stunning impact.
This is also the best angle to see the Helan Mountain Sleeping Buddha, and the hotel has set up seating areas and sunken booths on the terrace.
The scenery is beautiful, but the daytime heat in the Northwest can be tremendously intense, so I highly recommend you watch the sunset here!
Helan Mountain has a unique phenomenon during summer sunsets—the sun sets right at the position of the Sleeping Buddha’s eyes. Even the most steadfast materialist would believe in miracles at that moment.
Anmo’s afternoon tea is very substantial; so many items come in one set for only 198 yuan, which is a highly cost-effective deal. I haven’t seen hotels offer afternoon tea starting at 100 yuan in a long time.
The advantage of having its own vineyard must be utilized.
One side of the lobby bar features a dedicated tasting area, where you can enjoy wines from their vineyard as well as wines from other vineyards in Helan Mountain (there are over 200 vineyards in total). There are also selections from renowned wineries around the world.
Professional sommeliers will be there to recommend wines for you, and if you can’t decide, you can opt for their tasting package.
For only 99 yuan, you can sample three selected wines from local Helan Mountain vineyards along with a small snack. This is already a great value; in a bistro that specializes in fine dining, the price would certainly be much higher.
The all-day dining restaurant, Xixi Western Restaurant, is also on this floor.
Due to being in trial operation and having few guests, breakfast is served as a set menu, with both Chinese and Western options available.
During meal times, you can order at any hour, and while it’s Western food, it incorporates quite a few local ingredients, such as the famous Ningxia lamb and wolfberries.
This is basically the main building; the guest rooms are distributed across other interconnected low-rise buildings.
There are three types of views for the rooms: mountain view (facing Helan Mountain), vineyard view (overlooking the vineyard), and garden view. The garden rooms included in this package are mostly on the ground floor, each with a separate entrance and a small private garden.
Although the garden rooms are the basic option, I think they are very decent in all aspects; I stayed in this room type.
The room features a lot of original wooden furniture but does not have that common “chicken coop” vibe. Starting from 60 square meters, it is considered spacious for a resort hotel.
The first round of the mini bar is complimentary. The local brand of Xixia beer is delicious, with a strong malt flavor, rather than the bland taste found in some other beers.
The toiletries are from the high-end Spanish skincare brand, Evian; their supplies are very refreshing, with a clean fragrance.
The hotel also has some public areas in other locations outside the main building.
Besides the two main restaurants, Anmo also has a bar called Yima Wine House. It isn’t a trendy bar but rather focuses on relaxation and light enjoyment.
The indoor swimming pool is very beautiful, featuring a unique view of Helan Mountain.
When you swim in the evening, you’ll discover its hidden surprise—a ceiling adorned with lights resembling fragmented diamonds that mirror the beautiful starry night sky in Yinchuan.
There’s also a gym and a yoga room available.
Though the children’s activity room isn’t very large, it’s better than having nothing.
In the evening, besides the stargazing experience, there will also be a simple twilight ceremony in front of the hotel.
During the stargazing period (approximately 1 hour), all outdoor illuminating lights around the hotel will be turned off. The hotel at night is also very beautiful.
Currently, only the first phase of the entire wine town project has been completed, but the hotel’s functional areas are already very well developed.
With a few more public areas in the future, the experience will certainly improve further.
If you travel all the way to Western China, simply staying at a hotel would not be worthwhile. Thankfully, the location of Anmo is very convenient for connecting with numerous iconic sites in Yinchuan.
Let me recommend some activities in Yinchuan for you.
Yinchuan is the capital of Ningxia and can be roughly divided into two areas for exploration: the city area and Helan Mountain.
City: Ningxia Museum, Lanshan Park (for sunset), Huaiyuan Night Market.
Helan Mountain: Helan Mountain Rock Paintings, Zhenbeibao Western Film City, Xixia Tombs National Heritage Park, Helan Mountain Wineries.
Recommended Itinerary for Yinchuan:
Day 1: Arrive at the airport → Yinchuan Anmo Hotel.
Day 2: Yinchuan Anmo Hotel → Helan Mountain Rock Paintings → Baisikou Twin Pagodas → Xixia Tombs → Yinchuan Anmo Hotel.
Day 3: Yinchuan Anmo Hotel → Yinchuan City → Return trip/high-speed train to Zhongwei.
I’ve put together a map for clarity.
The furthest Xixia Tombs are about a 30-minute drive away, and other scenic spots are all within a 20-minute drive. Day 2 looks packed with sights, but the distances aren’t far, so it won’t feel like you’re rushing around at all.
Helan Mountain Rock Paintings
