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the Degree Confluence Project
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China : Níngxià Huízú Zìzhìqū

3.5 km (2.2 miles) WSW of Gaoshawo, Níngxià, China
Approx. altitude: 1411 m (4629 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 38°S 73°W

Accuracy: 5 m (16 ft)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: GPS Reading #3: Ground Zero #4: The Confluence Hunter #5: Gate of Great Wall in Yánchí Town #6: Great Wall near the Confluence Point #7: View to the South #8: View to the West #9: View to the North #10: View to the East

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  38°N 107°E (visit #2)  

#1: The Confluence from 20 m

(visited by Rainer Mautz)

07-Jul-2011 -- This is the 17th out of 20 confluences that I reached on my bicycle trip along the Great Wall of China. The story starts at 41°N 115°E. The previous report is 37°N 108°E.

I got up at 4:30 AM in the town Dìngbiān (定边县) and hit the road at 5:15 AM. Dìngbiān is located in south-western direction exactly 70 km beeline distance from the confluence point. The country road 307, which is parallel to the motorway, goes directly to the confluence. Who imagines that such a desert road with a highway next to it would hardly have traffic, is misled. Heavy truck traffic heading towards the city Yínchuān (银川) is avoiding the road toll. This fact gave me a headache while cycling on that road.

Having cycled 35 km, I had breakfast in the town Yánchí (盐池县), which literally means ‘Salt Lake City’. In fact there is a salt lake nearby. China’s Great Wall runs through the town. In fact, The Wall comes very close to the confluence point, missing it by a view kilometers.

Riding closer towards the confluence point turned out to be fighting against a heavy headwind. The storm got so bad, that my cycling speed was averaging 11 km/h. Then I found out that it is faster to spurt a short distance as fast as I could (20 km/h) and then walk for a while (5 km/h).

I left the main road at the village Gāoshāwō (高纱窝乡), which is only 3 km from the confluence. I didn’t find a proper track to the farmstead called Mǎchǎng (马场) which is near the confluence. I followed an unused path with thorny plants and ended up having a flat tire. Repairing it in the heat without any shade or shelter was not a pleasure. Then I abandoned my bicycle and walked the remaining distance of 1.4 km to the point.

The confluence is on a sandy territory with some sand dunes to the south and the irrigated fields of Mǎchǎng to the south. Some grass is growing on that sandy ground.

I walked back to my bike, rode back to Gāoshāwō, had a watermelon and hit the road again. I stayed the night 40 km further towards Yínchuān in the town Nìngdōng (宁东镇).

CP Visit Details:

  • Distance to an asphalt road: 2.4 km
  • Distance to a road: 2.4 km
  • Distance to a track: 350 m (but to sandy to drive on
  • Distance of parking the bike: 1.4 km
  • Distance to houses: 1200 m
  • Time starting the hike: 2:10 p.m.
  • Time at the CP: 2:35 p.m.
  • Measured height: 1404 m
  • Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
  • Position accuracy at the CP: 3 m
  • Topography: slightly rolling hills
  • Vegetation: short grass
  • Weather: sunny, 33° C (felt temperature)
  • Description of the CP: In the prefecture Wúzhōng (吴忠) in the Autonomous Region Níngxià. Steppe.
  • Given Name: The Great Wall Confluence

Story continues at 39°N 106°E.


 All pictures
#1: The Confluence from 20 m
#2: GPS Reading
#3: Ground Zero
#4: The Confluence Hunter
#5: Gate of Great Wall in Yánchí Town
#6: Great Wall near the Confluence Point
#7: View to the South
#8: View to the West
#9: View to the North
#10: View to the East
ALL: All pictures on one page