Shahu Lake sits beside Helan Mountain and the Yellow River, and is 42 kilometers away from Yinchuan, the capital Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. It is an ecological tourist area that features Jiangnan water towns and desert landscapes.

Within the lake area, tourists can see green rippling lakes, a beautiful lotus park, and stretches of reeds that give visitors the impression that they are in Jiangnan. However, once the boat approaches the desert area, the first thing that comes to their eyes is the hills of golden sand that is the magnificent force of the northern deserts. Notably, tourists also have the chance to see exotic sand sculptures by artists from all over the world. Each summer, there is an international sand sculpture festival here.