The Baotou Ferry in Houtao

The Baotou Ferry in Houtao

The Baotou Ferry in Houtao is located along the Yellow River, bordering Houtao to the west and the Shuimochuan Plain to the east. It has been a renowned city beyond the Great Wall since ancient times.

The Baotou Ferry in Houtao is situated where the Yellow River, after flowing through Qiantao, continues northward into Inner Mongolia. Blocked by the Yin Mountains, the river turns eastward, cutting through the alluvial plain between the Yin Mountains and the Ordos Plateau, and reaches Hekou Town in Tuoketuo County. This marks the end of the upper reaches of the river, with a total length of over 3,470 kilometers. The section of the Yellow River within Ningxia Province, from Dengkou (Bayanhaote) to Baotou, is referred to as Houtao. Qiantao and Houtao together are known as Hetao. As the old saying goes, “Of all the harms the Yellow River brings, only Hetao thrives”—with “Hetao” referring to this region. The Hetao area features flat terrain and fertile soil, but receives little rainfall. Therefore, as far back as the Qin and Han dynasties, residents began digging canals to divert water from the Yellow River for irrigation. Agriculture here is highly developed, earning it the reputation of being the “Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall” and the “Granary on the Frontier.”