After about an hour, we arrived at the Zhongwei No. 1 Courtyard Hotel near Shapotou Scenic Area. This is our third stop on this trip. One of the reasons for choosing this hotel is that it is very close to the gate of the scenic spot, and the other is that this is a Chinese-style courtyard with a strong ethnic style, which looks simple and elegant. The hotel is surrounded by farmhouses, less the noise of the city, but more cocks and dogs, and more fireworks. The hotel is divided into a front yard and a back yard. From the front yard to the back yard, you need to pass through a "Qin Garden". Whether the name has other meanings is unclear, but the scenery is pleasant and has the taste of Suzhou gardens.
The owner, Mr. Ma, is very nice and arranged us in the backyard. He also said that if we are going to the Shapotou Scenic Area, he can pick us up for free. After settling down, it was already past meal time, and the two children took the instant noodles they brought from Changsha to the "Peony Pavilion" in "Qin Garden" to eat. It was obvious that the two children liked the garden very much. There is a small yard dedicated to drying clothes in the yard. My mother and I took advantage of this spot to wash all the dirty clothes accumulated in the previous two days. It's not because of diligence, it's really that I underestimated the consumption capacity of the two children. If I don't wash them for the next few days, I can only choose clean clothes from among the dirty clothes. After finishing my work, it was almost three o'clock, and I went to Lao Ma's place to drink tea for a while. He heard that we had already played in the desert, and suggested that we should not go to the desert area in the Shapotou Scenic Area, not to mention that it is far from the gate, and it is too expensive. In fact, the activities to play are the same as those in the desert. He said to go for a stroll in the Yellow River area of the scenic spot, and take a sheepskin raft or something. It is on the left hand side of the gate of the scenic spot, which is close and unique.
In less than 5 minutes, the old horse sent us to the gate of the scenic spot. After entering the door, on the left hand side is the place to take the speedboat (sheepskin raft + speedboat is a ticket, take the speedboat to the upper reaches of the Yellow River, and then float down on the raft). Our cub once again enjoys the "advantage" of height, and the whole journey is free of charge. The speedboat is really fast, and it took us upstream in a short while. This is exactly the sandboarding spot introduced in the "Where is Dad?" column, and it is also the place where the two cubs are fascinated. Buy a ticket without hesitation, take the cable car to the top of the slope, and then line up to experience what it feels like to slide down such a famous sand track. After arriving at the bottom of the slope, I asked them if they had fun, and the two cubs said "fun" calmly, as if they were not as attractive as the "freedom of sandboarding" in the desert. After sand skiing, continue walking along the landscape walks on both sides of the Yellow River to the 3D Glass Bridge of the Yellow River. Strolling back from the glass bridge, the trees along the road were shady, and it didn't take long to come to the place where the sheepskin raft was sitting. I didn't listen carefully when the sheepskin raft was introduced, but I was amazed by the two northwest folk songs "Ningxia" and "Love in Ningxia" sung by the boatman when they were about to land. When going ashore, the boatman did not forget to ask us to help us to fill in a form at the shore service point and give us a good review. While I was filling out the form, I sighed: What a "roll" it has become, I am ashamed to be a boatman without any talent!
After getting off the sheepskin raft, we wandered around casually, and Master Ma took us back to the yard around 7 o'clock. Dinner is eaten at the farmhouse across the yard. Fruits and vegetables are picked from the ground, and carp is picked from the pond by yourself. The ingredients are not to mention, the price is acceptable, and the portion is very large. After dinner, it was already dark, and the Chinese-style courtyard was decorated with dots of lanterns, which felt like a dislocation of time and space.
After taking a bath in the evening, my wife took the two children to "exploration" in "Qinyuan". Considering that the high-speed train will go to Yinchuan at 10:30 tomorrow, I will pack my things in the room. After tidying up, I went for a walk in the garden, reviewed the whole day's experience, and the total cost was 1,400 yuan including board and lodging, amusement items, cold drinks and gifts, and I felt that the price/performance ratio was not bad.
In the early morning, the cub didn't need to be urged. As soon as he turned over, he got up and ran out to play with other children. After breakfast, my daughter must take me to "Qinyuan" for an introduction. There are lotus ponds, peony pavilions, wind and rain corridors, and a pigeon cage in the garden, where the pigeons are freed. In addition to all kinds of flowers and trees that I can't name, there is actually a vegetable garden, which is full of fruits. Back in the backyard, Xiao Zai was having fun with his friends. It seems that every child is a "social cow". Later I asked Xiao Zai what the name of the friend I just met was, and he said he didn't know. I asked him again, if you don't even know the name, are you having fun? He said happy! It turns out that the happiness of children is really that simple.
