Yinchuan (yín chuān 银川), the capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (níng xià huí zú zì zhì qū 宁夏回族自治区), lies to the west of the Yellow River and to the east of Helan Mountain (hè lán shān 贺兰山). The landform is divided into two main parts, the mountainous region in the west and south and the plains in the north and east. The average altitude of Yinchuan is 1,100 meters (about 3,609 feet). Lying in the central section of Ningxia (níng xià 宁夏) Plain which is irrigated by the Yellow River, Yinchuan holds abundant water resources and enjoys the reputation of 'a land of fish and rice in the frontier'. Yinchuan is a multi-nationality city including Han (hàn 汉), Hui (huí 回), Manchu (mǎn zú 满), Mongolian (méng gǔ 蒙古), and Chaoxian (cháo xiān 朝鲜) peoples. Among them, the Hui people account for 26.3 percent of the total population and they have maintained the traditional folk customs and life style that are unique to other ethnic group.

 

A brilliant culture has contributed to Yinchuan being a famous tourist city. There are over 60 historical sites including mosques, pagodas, pavilions, temples, and imperial tombs as well as natural scenery such as Helan Mountain, Sand Lake Scenic Resort (shā hú 沙湖) and Shapotou(shā pō tóu 沙坡头), etc. Map 

 

Yinchuan is a famous ancient fortress, which has more than 1300 years' history. Since the ancient times, it has been the important frontier defensive city in the northwestern part in China. And it was called the Jiangnan on the fortress.

 

About 200 thousand years ago, Chinese ape-men lived here. The city of Yinchuan was first built in the early times of Tang dynasty, till now, it has 1300 years' history. In the times of emperor Wudi in Han, there was a city called Diannong. The people of Han nation called it Lv City, but the people of Xiongnu and Xianbei nations called it Yinhan City. And this city was Yinchuan in the past. In the early period of 5th century BC, the emperor of Hsia called Helianbobo built here as an advertisement and stationing place named Lizi Country. In 1227, after Yuan wiped out Xi-Hsia, the city was set up Xi-Hsia Zhongxing province. Then changed the name into Ningxia province. In 1958, Yinchuan became the capital city of Ningxia Hui nation Autonomous Region.

 

There are some historical relics in Yinchuan, such as Haibao Tower (hǎi bǎo tǎ 海宝塔), which is called Hebao Tower too and Xi-Hsia(xī xià 西夏) Tomb that the tombs of all the emperors of Xi-Hsia. There are five specialties called red, yellow, blue, white and black. They are Chinese wolfberry, licorice root, Helan Stone, fresh fur coat and black moss. And the five things have a favorable reception both in China and abroad.

 

Here you can taste the local dishes or snacks of rich Islamic flavor, such as Shouzhua Yangrou (shǒu zhuā yáng ròu 手抓羊肉). Hotels of different grades are available to visitors, providing you warm and comfortable places to relax yourself. For more information please Click Here.

 

Yinchuan, situated in the arid northwest of China, has a harsh climate. The temperatures of the four seasons are fairly distinctly separated here, although in any season the likelihood is that you will experience strong winds, dryness and frequent sandstorms. The average yearly temperature is between 8 and 9 degrees C. The coldest month of January averages minus 9, while the hottest month has an average of 23 degrees C. Annual rainfall, despite the picture on our right, is less than 8 inches.

 

According to records, the tombs were patterned after Song Tombs in Gongxian County, Henan Province. The West Xia Imperial Tombs adopted the zhao-mu burial system (the father is zhao, son is mu while grandson is zhao again.). East line and west line are formed from south to north with zhao on the left and mu on the right. Each imperial tomb is an individual and integrated group of architectures, sitting north and facing south in a rectangle.

 

 

Situated just 58kms northwest of Yinchuan, the Helen Mountain range is an impressive and truly stunning sight in stark contrast to the surrounding arid desert. These high mountains overlook the Yellow River and feature more than 5,000 images carved into the rocks. First discovered in the 1980s, the ancient images mainly feature animals, birds and rural scenes. Fantastically detailed, the carvings provide a rare insight into ancient life in this part of the world.

 

 

 

Mountain range of Liupan mountains (liù pán shān 六盘山) in northern China extending southward from the Hui Autonomous Region of Ningxia across the eastern panhandle of Gansu province and into western Shaanxi province. The range is formed by the uplifted western edge of the structural basin that underlies the Loess Plateau (an upland covered with wind-deposited silt) of Shaanxi and that continues northward to form the Helan Mountains west of the Yellow River near Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia.

 

Yellow River and Tengger Desert recreational and nature reserve park, experience magnificent scenery and raft down the Yellow River on rafts made of sheep skins, an unforgettably absurd experience.

 

 

Located in the desert, two big life-size forts have been built of clay in Ming and Qing periods of China. Many famous Chinese historical movies have been film at this set. When movies are being filmed it is also open to the public, walk around a village from the Ming and Qing periods, and dress up as a Chinese nobel or a savage warrior, with sword and helmets, ready for battle.

 

 

A transportation system of highway, railway and airlines in Yinchuan provides speed and convenience. There are several national highways leading to all parts of the country and more than 125 kilometers (about 78 miles) of expressways within the boundaries of the city. Baolan Railway (Baotou in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to Lanzhou in Gansu Province) and Zhongbao Railway (Zhongwei in Yinchuan Province to Baoji in Shaanxi Province) connect with all railway lines to every destination. In addition, flights from Yinchuan Hedong Airport take you to all the major cities of China. For more information please Click Here.