(中卫沙坡头)

Zhongwei Shapotou(中卫沙坡头)

Ladies and gentleman，

Welcome to the Shapotou Scenic Spot.Shapotou lies 20 kilometers to west of Zhongwei County and 189 kilometers away from the capital city Yinchuan.This spot scenically integrates the desert，Yellow River，mountains，and oasis.Shapotou has both southern and the northern scenery and an unusual landscape，making it a national 4A level tourist destination and the state-level desert ecology nature protection area.In 2004 Shapotou was evaluated by CCTV as one of“the top-ten interesting places in China”.

The scenery in Shapotou can be summarized by the following line from a famous poem，“In the great desert one straight plume of smoke，by the long river at sunset a ball of flame”.Visitors can partake in traditional and modern kinds of recreation.Sand related activities include sliding in the sand，sand sculpture，sand bathing and therapy，playing soccer in the sand，and riding camels to fully appreciate the sand dunes.Visitors can also enjoy rafting on the Yellow River and crossing it using a steel wire.Finally，tourists can appreciate the grandeur of the desert sunrise and sunset and experience first-hand local life.In doing the latter，they can live in a tent，sit around a bonfire，participate in drinking and dancing celebrations，eat peasant food，and reston a kang-a heatable brick bed.

Now let's go to the Shapotou.The Sand Striking Bell is before our eyes，which is one of China's top four“singing sands.”We are now 100 meters above the Yellow River and we can get to the river by sliding down the sand.The sand one slides down here is very special.As you slide down it，you will hear a“buzz-buzz”because of the special geographical environment and geology of the place.Hence this slope is called the Sand Striking Bell.Looking up at the foot of the Shapotou，it seems people sliding down the sand are falling from the heaven.You will feel carefree and fully enjoy the ride!

In the northern part of the Shapotou is the vast Tenggeli Desert.Occasionally a camel team passes by to serenade the visitors with its camel bells.

There is a spring below the sand slope，which is named the Tears Spring and which flows into the Yellow River.In the south of the Tear Spring is an oasis.It provides a good view of the desert and the Bao-Lan Railroad runs through it.From the oasis，tourists can ride a camel into the desert to experience first hand desert travel and take photos of its unique and beautiful scenery.

In front of us is the sheepskin raft floating on the Yellow River.The rafts are made by inflating the skin of a sheep，and every sheepskin raft is made up of over ten inflatable sheepskins which are put in row and bundled and lashed on to a wooden frame.The sheepskin raft is very light，so it can be easily moved about.This special local product is heavily used for short trips up and down the Yellow River.

Shapotou is not only magnificent in scenery but also famous for the achievement of controlling the spread of the desert.This has been done by planting grass and numerous trees to halt the advancing sand dunes.

OK，now we start free activities.I wish everyone a good time!

各位朋友，大家好!

欢迎来到沙坡头风景区。沙坡头位于宁夏回族自治区中卫县城西20千米，距首府银川市189千米。景区内集大漠、黄河、高山、绿洲为一体，既具江南景色，又有北国风光，景观奇特，驰名中外，是国家4A级旅游区和国家级沙漠生态自然保护区。2004年被中央电视台评为“中国十大最好玩的地方”之一。

在沙坡头，“大漠孤烟直，长河落日圆”的意境得到了完美体现。传统和现代交融的众多游乐项目新颖独特，极富参与性;滑沙听钟，其乐无穷;黄河弄筏，古朴自然，有惊无险;乘“天下黄河第一索”飞越黄河，挑战自我，惊险刺激;沙雕、沙疗、沙浴和沙漠球类，融智慧、趣味、知识、健身为一体;骑骆驼畅游沙漠，体验沙海之浩渺，观大漠日出日落之壮美;夜宿大漠营地，观星赏月，品味沙漠月夜之神秘;住帐篷，燃篝火，饮酒吃肉，狂歌劲舞，回归自然，无拘无束;这里民俗淳朴，可以住宿黄河塞上人家，干农家活、吃农家饭、睡农家炕、享农家乐。

现在我们就去游览沙坡头。各位，中国四大响沙之一的金沙鸣钟就在我们的眼前。我们现在所处的位置离黄河水面垂直距离有百米高，大家可以通过滑沙到达。滑沙是这里的一大特色，大家可以从高约百米的沙坡头坡顶往下滑。由于特殊的地理环境和地质结构，滑沙时座下会发出“嗡-嗡”的轰鸣声，犹如金钟长鸣，故称为“金沙鸣钟”。从沙坡头下仰望，人乘沙流“飞流直下三千尺”，如从天降。无染尘之忧，有钟鸣之乐，其乐无穷。

沙山北面，是浩瀚无垠的滕格里沙漠。沙海深处时有驼队通过，驼铃响，但见骆驼昂首阔步，摇摇晃晃，骑驼人如浪里行舟，前仰后合，悠然自得。

沙坡下有一泉，叫泪泉，泉水清澈，常年不枯，自成小溪，流入黄河。泪泉以南，是一片郁郁葱葱的沙漠绿洲。大家可以在这里观赏大沙漠的景色，远眺包兰铁路，如一条绿龙伸向远方;也可以骑骆驼在沙漠上走走，照张相片，领略一下沙漠行旅的味道。

大家再向前看，滔滔黄河之中，羊皮筏子轻舟飞荡。这里还有一大特色就是乘坐羊皮筏子渡河。这种羊皮筏是将山羊割去头蹄，然后将囫囵脱下的羊皮扎口，用时以嘴吹气，使之鼓起，每个羊皮筏子就是由十几个充气的羊皮并排扎捆在木架上制成，一个人就能扛起，非常轻便。大家坐在羊皮筏上，筏工用桨划筏前进，非常有趣。

各位游客，现在我们开始自由活动。祝大家玩得开心!