ningxia travel china guide

Ningxia Travel Guide - How to Plan a Trip to Ningxia

Located in Northwest China, Ningxia is one of the five ethnic minority autonomous regions in China with the full name Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Of the population of 5.62 million, one third are Hui minority people, and the capital city of Ningxia is Yinchuan .

Situated by the middle reaches of the Yellow River , Ningxia borders three provinces: Shaanxi to the east, Inner Mongolia to the west and north, and Gansu to the south. Lying on the Silk Road , Ningxia is an important transition zone linking West China with East China.

Recommended tourist cities in Ningxia include Yinchuan, Zhongwei, and Wuzhong.

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4 highlights of ningxia, the best times to visit ningxia, ningxia transportation, ningxia's special food, history and culture, most popular ningxia tours.

Ningxia features strong Hui customs, mysterious Western Xia Dynasty (1038–1227) culture, ancient Yellow River civilizations, magnificent desert scenery, and excellent wineries.

1. Enjoy Desert Scenery in Zhongwei

Zhongwei provides wonderful entertainments and unique accommodation in the desert.

There are three popular deserts in Zhongwei: Shapotou Tourism Area, Jinshahai Scenic Area ('Gold Sand Sea'), and the Tenger Desert.

Shapotou is highly recommended . It not only offers a lot of exciting activities such as sand sledding, camel trekking, dune buggying, speedboating, and sheepskin rafting, but also provides a unique planting wheatgrass squares experience. These squares are China's secret for turning desert into grassland.

If you are looking for a wonderful desert accommodation experience, then we recommend Jinshahai Scenic Area. It has a special steam-train-themed hotel. You could choose to live in a room transformed from a carriage or stay in a desert tent.

The Tenger Desert is more suitable for backpackers who seek adventure and a wild experience.

• Recommended tour: 3-Day Zhongwei Desert Tour with Winery Experience
• Contact us if you have any questions or requirements

2. Explore Mysterious Western Xia Dynasty Culture in Yinchuan

The Western Xia was a kingdom dynasty in medieval China founded in 1038. It ruled over a large area in what is now Ningxia, Gansu, northern Shaanxi, and western Inner Mongolia.

One of the best places to explore its culture is the Western Xia Imperial Tombs . Nine emperors and more than 140 royal family members were buried there.

The mausoleums of the Western Xia Dynasty are very mysterious. Until now, no one has been able to decipher their architectural form and cultural connotation. The tombs are in the shape of pyramid, hence its name: "the Pyramids of China".

Contact us if you want to plan a trip to Yinchuan.

3. Discover China's Best Wine-Producing Region — Helan Mountain

The vineyards at the eastern foot of Helan Mountain are located in the 37–39°-north-latitude zone, which is recognized as the best grape growing zone. It has many excellent wineries.

Xige Estate is a top winery: the largest for fine wine production with the most international first-class level wines so far in the Helan Mountain area.

Other outstanding wineries include Yuanshi Vineyard, Chateau Legacy Peak, Helan Qing Xue Winery, and Domaine des Aromes.

The Rock Paintings in the Helan Mountains are also worth a visit. You can see the life of ancient mankind 3,000 to 10,000 years ago recorded in images.

4. Learn about Hui Culture in Wuzhong

Wuzhong is a good place to learn about Hui ethnic culture: enjoy morning tea with a full selection of Hui food and visit a Hui family.

All our tours are customizable. Contact us to create a Ningxia trip according to your group size, time, budget, interests, and other requirements.

See more on Top 10 Things to Do in Ningxia .

April to October is the best time period to visit Ningxia.

Ningxia is dry and windy, featuring a late spring, a short summer, and a long winter. Temperatures range widely from day to night.

Early September to early October is the season for picking grapes. If you are interested in wine, we can also arrange a winery visit for you — fall would be an excellent time for it.

Flying to Yinchuan or Zhongwei is recommended. Yinchuan has more flights to choose from.

Major cities such as Beijing (2 hours), Shanghai (3 hours), Xi'an (1½ hours), Chongqing (2 hours), Chengdu (2 hours), Hangzhou (3 hours), Guangzhou (3 hours), Kunming (3 hours), Xining (1 hour) have direct flights to Yinchuan.

Beijing (2 hours), Xi'an (1½ hours), Chengdu (2 hours), and Chongqing (2 hours) also have direct flights to Zhongwei.

Bullet train is the most common way to travel between cities in Ningxia . Bullet trains from Yinchuan to Zhongwei take 1½ hours. Yinchuan–Wuzhong takes half an hour and Wuzhong to Zhongwei takes 1 hour.

Ningxia cuisine mainly features Muslim flavors , especially the distinctive flavor of Hui ethnic cuisine.

People in Ningxia are particularly fond of mutton and noodles . Due to climate reasons, the quality of Ningxia pastures is excellent. Plus, the land is high in mineral content, especially rich in selenium. Thus, Ningxia mutton is the best in China: tender and not odorous.

Steamed lamb meat in clear broth, braised tendons of mutton, boiled chopped sheep innards, and 'hand-grab' mutton are famous dishes.

• Contact us to create a trip based on your needs

Ningxia features a long history, about 30,000 years ago, there have been human beings living in the region. Since theWarring States Period (475–221 BC), Qin State established 3 administrative units in Ningxia.

For a long time, Ningxia was a part of Gansu Province , and until the year of 1929, Ningxia was changed as a province. Ningxia got its name in the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368), which means the stabilization in the Western Xia (a regime founded by Qiang Minority during 1038 and 1227). After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Ningxia was given a full name of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in 1954.

Hui minority is the main nationality in Ningxia, and Hui people take Islam as their religion. There are two famous traditional festival for Moslems: Eid-ul-Fitr (the 'Festival of the Breaking of the Fast') and Eid-ul-Adha (the 'Feast of Sacrifice', the great festival of Islam, which is also known as Baqri-Eid–the 'Cow Festival').

Mosques are Moslems' places of religious worship, and also places of social contacts for Moslems. For costumes, the main deference between Hui people and Han people comes from the dress on the heads. Men usually wear black or white skullcaps, and women always wear endshield with the colors of white, cyan and green according to their ages.

There are many taboos on food. Hui people do not eat pork, dogs, horses, donkeys and mules. If animals are killed by people from other nationalities or die naturally, the Hui people should not eat them. Only those that are killed by the special cook or the imam from the mosque can be eaten.

No jokes about food are acceptable, and any food that is unacceptable by the Hui people can not be used to make metaphors; for example, one should not say that the color of chili is as red as blood. See Halal food in China

All our tours are customizable. Contact us to create a trip according to your group size, time, budget, interests, and other requirements. Our most recommended Zhongwei tour:

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A Traveler’s Guide to Ningxia, China’s Wine Country

If you’re looking to broaden your China travel horizons beyond the usual sightseeing and outdoor activities in 2021, then make sure you put Ningxia on your agenda. This small province in western-central China is one of the world’s most exciting up-and-coming wine regions, making for a host of experiences you won’t find in many other places in China. Here is a traveler’s guide to exploring Ningxia.

Getting oriented

Bordering Shaanxi, Gansu, and Inner Mongolia, Ningxia is one of the country’s least populated areas and isn’t well-visited by local or international tourists, so you’ll have plenty of space to explore. Ningxia is an autonomous region, the homeland of the Muslim Hui ethnic minority, who make up around 30% of the population. Although it is one of China’s newest provinces (it was separated from Gansu province in 1958), its recorded history dates back to 200 BC and beyond.

Your visit will likely begin in the provincial capital of Yinchuan. Although there are no high-speed trains to Shanghai or Beijing (a Beijing line is purportedly due to open in 2022), the city has daily flight connections to major cities around China. There is not a huge amount to see in the city, but it is interesting to see how the Hui culture has left its mark on the local architecture, with Islamic designs blended together with traditional Chinese styles.

In the footsteps of dynasties

Yinchuan is a good jumping-off point to explore Ningxia’s main historical and cultural sights. Just 33km west of the city, the Western Xia Tombs are Ningxia’s number one attraction, the last vestiges of the Tangut civilization, which ruled over the area more than 1,000 years ago. The weather packed earth tombs — all that’s left of what was once a vast complex of mausoleums — rise out of the desert like beehives. The onsite museum holds an interesting selection go artifacts unearthed at the site.

The province is also crisscrossed by ancient sections of the Great Wall, some dating back to the Warring States period (475-221 BC); the weathered, rammed earth construction offers an interesting contrast to the rigid Ming dynasty sections that surround Beijing.

Raise a glass

While Ningxia’s cultural sights and stunning scenery alone make it worth a visit, what really sets the province apart is the local wine industry. Ningxia has a long historical legacy of viticulture, introduced by travelers on the Silk Road, and this was bolstered by preferential government policies designed to stimulate agriculture and the economy in the region. Now, on the fertile loess plains of the Yellow River, sheltered by the Helan Mountain range, wineries such as Silver Heights, Kanaan, and Helan Qingxue are producing vintages that give Old World wines a run for their money. You can enjoy these bottles in cities all over China, but there is no better place to try them than at the vineyards themselves.

Ningxia may not rival Napa or Barossa Valley in terms of facilities as of yet, but wineries such as Silver Heights have cottoned on to the importance of wine tourism. Owner Emma Gao is an enthusiastic host, and you can sample some of their exciting vintages before staying overnight at the winery. While the best time to visit Ningxia’s wineries is during the mild weather in the spring or when the grapes are being harvested in late summer/early autumn, there is something interesting to see whatever season you visit. For example, during Ningxia’s freezing winters, when temperatures plummet to -13℉, the vines have to be buried under heaps of soil — often by hand — to ensure they aren’t damaged.

Shifting sands

Walking around lush wineries like Silver Heights, it’s hard to believe that the rest of Ningxia is mostly dusty deserts and wind-swept plains. If you have visions of yourself as a modern-day Lawrence of Arabia, the best place to explore the desert is around the city of Zhongwei, about a three-hour drive southwest of the Helan Mountains.

Just outside of Zhongwei, Shapotou is Ningxia’s most touristy area, with many visitors drawn in by the contrast between the sweeping curves of the Yellow River and the sand dunes of the Tengger Desert rising behind. After a long day of camel riding through the desert or surfing down the sand dunes, retire to one of Huanghe Suji’s stylish cluster of B&Bs, equipped with all mod-cons but in a style that blends seamlessly into the surrounding landscape.

In 2021, look out for our UnTour Food Tours x WildChina co-branded wine tours to Ningxia, where you’ll meet Emma Gao and other winery owners and get a better understanding of why Ningxia wine is quickly becoming known as some of the best in the world.

Virtual Travels to Ningxia

Take this virtual escape to Ningxia, China’s wine country with our Taste of China episode, where we explore the region’s food and wine.

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Squeezed between Inner Mongolia, Gansu and Shanxi, Ningxia is the smallest of China’s provinces, and an autonomous region for the Hui minority. Geographically, the area is dominated by coalfields and the Yellow River, without which the hilly south of the province, green and extremely beautiful, would be barren and uninhabitable desert. In the west of the province, however, the river does actually run past desert dunes at Shapotou, near the city of Zhongwei – one of the most visually arresting sights in China. Other sights include the capital Yinchuan, which makes a pleasant stopover, and one relic from an obscure northern branch of the Silk Road, the delightful Xumi Shan Grottoes, located well away from the Yellow River in the southern hills.

Despite a certain degree of industrialization in modern times, Ningxia remains an underdeveloped area. For visitors, the rural scenes provide the charm of the place, but this province is one of the poorest in the country.

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This 5-day family trip is a magnificent opportunity to experience the beautiful outdoor settings of Guilin and Yangshuo. Walk, cycle and raft through awe-inspiring scenery, including dramatic limestone karst mountains, and learn about the everyday lives of the Zhuang and Yao ethnic groups.

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Hui (回, húi) is a vague term, applied to followers of the Muslim faith all over China who have no other obvious affiliation bar Islamic dress and the absence of pork in their diets. Most Hui are descended from Middle Eastern traders who arrived in China over a thousand years ago; men can usually be distinguished by their skullcaps, women often wear headscarves or veils, while the sprouting of minarets is the most obvious sign that you’re in a Hui-populated area. While remaining Muslim, the Hui have otherwise long since integrated with Han culture; barring a few Persian or Islamic words, they speak Chinese as their mother tongue.

Ningxia is the officially designated homeland of the Hui, who today make up about 30 percent of the province’s tiny population of four million. However, most Hui do not live in Ningxia at all, but are scattered around neighbouring regions – particularly Gansu and Shaanxi – to the point where they often seem strangely absent within what is supposed to be “their” land. In Ningxia, as with all the autonomous regions of the Northwest, the central government has steadily encouraged Han immigration – or colonization – as a way of tying the area to the Chinese nation, but the situation of the Hui people is not comparable with that of the disaffected Uyghurs or Tibetans, since there is no talk whatsoever of secession.

The Hui population of Ningxia’s major cities is rather low, but to immerse yourself more fully in the culture take a trip to Guyuan, the Muslim districts in Xi’an, or the Lanzhou–Linxia route in Gansu province.

By the banks of the Yellow River 16km west of Zhongwei, SHAPOTOU is a tourist resort whose main pleasure is in the contrast between the leafy, shady banks of the river, and the harsh desert that lies just beyond. The resort is a Disneyfied place, with cafés, outdoor restaurants and various activities on hand – ferry rides, ziplines over the river, sand-sledding and camel rides. There’s very little shade, so bring a hat and sunscreen. There are two main entrances, one to the south, and another high up to the north; the latter is preferable, since from here you can slide down a huge sand dune to get to the main resort area. Most people come on a day-trip, but you can easily spend an enjoyable night here.

The capital of Ningxia, YINCHUAN is a bland modern city possessing little of essential interest bar the Islamic designs incorporated into many of its buildings, some of which pulse with green neon at night. From 1038, however, Yinchuan was capital of the Western Xia kingdom, an independent state which survived for less than 200 years. It was virtually forgotten about until the early twentieth century, when archeological remains started being recognized for what they were; you should definitely make a visit to their weathered mausoleums, some 20km outside the city.

The Western Xia kingdom

The ancient Western Xia kingdom (1038–1227 AD) encompassed a vast expanse of land, overlapping regions of what is now Ningxia, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces. Established by the nomadic Dangxiang clan of Qiang ancestry, the kingdom had twelve kings and developed its own written language, which combines influences from Mongolian, Tibetan and Chinese. The Western Xia territory survived prior to independence by playing off the Song or Liao dynasties against each other. In 1038, Li Yuanhao, leader of Western Xia, was militarily powerful enough to oppose Song jurisdiction and thus this third kingdom was created. A prosperous period ensued as the kingdom benefited from controlling the trade routes into central Asia. The new era saw a time of great cultural development, a state academy was erected, and future officials took Confucian examinations. Less emphasis, however, was placed on military matters, and in 1227 the Western Xia were obliterated by the Mongol empire of Genghis Khan.

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updated 26.04.2021

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Ningxia Travel Guide, How to plan a Ningxia trip

• 01. Step 1: Where to go in China
• 02. Step 2: When to go in China
• 03. Step 3: How to Visit Tibet in 2021 — Suggestions and

Ningxia is a province located in the northwest region of China. It is known for its natural beauty, including the Helan Mountains and the Yellow River. The province is also home to the Hui people, a Muslim ethnic group in China. The capital of Ningxia is Yinchuan. The economy of the province is primarily based on agriculture and mining.

Ningxia s bordered by the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the north and west, Gansu Province to the south and Shaanxi Province( Xian ) to the east. To the north and west of Ningxia is the vast Gobi desert Alxa League , which stretches across northern China and southern Mongolia. The Gobi desert including  Badain Jaran Desert is known for its arid landscapes and extreme temperature fluctuations.

• Chinese name : 宁夏 / níng xià
• Area : 66,400 square kilometers
• Population : 6.8 million people as of 2021
• Capital : the capital and largest city is Yinchuan
• Nationalities : home to the Hui people, a Muslim ethnic group in China
• History : can be traced back to the Western Xia dynasty, which existed from the 10th to 13th centuries.
• Famous for : wine industry, carpets and embroidery.

Brief History

Ningxia has a rich history dating back to the Han dynasty, which ruled from 206 BCE to 220 CE. During this period, Ningxia was part of the Hexi Corridor , which was an important route for trade and communication between China and Central Asia.

In the Tang dynasty (618-907 CE) , Ningxia was known as the Ning Prefecture and was an important military stronghold for the Chinese empire. It was also a center for Buddhism, with many temples and monasteries being built in the area.

During the Ming dynasty (1368-1644 CE) , Ningxia became part of the Ningxia Garrison, which was responsible for defending the region against Mongol raids. It was also during this period that the Yellow River shifted its course, causing widespread flooding and devastation in the area.

In 1929, Ningxia became a province of China, but it was later merged with the neighboring province of Gansu in 1954. In 1958, it became an autonomous region, with the capital city of Yinchuan.

Since the 1980s, Ningxia has undergone significant economic development, with a focus on agriculture, mining, and energy. It is also known for its wine industry, with several wineries producing high-quality wines using grapes grown in the region.

Today, Ningxia is home to several ethnic groups, including the Hui, Han, and Mongol people. It is also known for its scenic natural beauty, including the Helan Mountains , the Yellow River , and the Shapotou Desert .

Why Ningxia

Traveling to Ningxia offers a unique and off-the-beaten-path experience in China, as it is a region that is still relatively unknown to many oversea travelers. Ningxia is home to a rich history and culture, with sites such as the Western Xia Tombs and the Nanguan Mosque showcasing the region's Islamic heritage. The stunning landscape of the Helan Mountains and the Tengger Desert also offer opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking and sandboarding.

Additionally, Ningxia is known for its delicious halal cuisine , which is influenced by the region's Hui ethnic minority. The local dishes, such as hand-pulled noodles and lamb skewers, are a must-try for foodies.

Traveling to Ningxia provides a unique opportunity to discover a lesser-known part of China, immerse oneself in the region's culture and history, and enjoy its natural beauty and cuisine.

Attractions, what to visit

Nestled in the heart of northwestern China, Ningxia boasts a plethora of stunning attractions that showcase the region's rich cultural heritage, including ancient historical sites such as the Western Xia Tombs, the awe-inspiring beauty of the Yellow River and Helan Mountains, the fascinating museums like the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Museum and the Chinese Islamic Cultural Museum, and the unique cultural experiences of the Hui ethnic minority group, all of which combine to create an unforgettable and enriching travel destination.

Top attractions in Ningxia >>

Food and restaurants, what and where to eat

Ningxia's cuisine is characterized by its unique blend of Halal Muslim and traditional Chinese flavors, featuring a variety of lamb and beef dishes, hand-pulled noodles, stuffed buns, and local specialties such as Liangfen (a jelly-like dish made from mung bean starch) and Suanmiao (fermented vegetables).

Food in Ningxia >>

Hotels, where to stay in Ningxia

Ningxia, is home to a variety of hotels ranging from luxury resorts to budget-friendly accommodations, offering travelers comfortable and convenient options to explore the region's natural beauty, cultural heritage, and delicious cuisine.

Shangri-La Hotel, Yinchuan : This five-star hotel is located in the heart of Yinchuan and offers luxurious rooms and suites, an indoor pool, a fitness center, and multiple dining options, including a Chinese restaurant and a rooftop bar.

Kempinski Hotel Yinchuan : This elegant hotel features spacious rooms and suites, a spa, an indoor pool, and a variety of dining options, including a Chinese restaurant and a steakhouse.

Ningxia Plaza Hotel : This five-star hotel is located in the center of Yinchuan and features stylish rooms and suites, a spa, an indoor pool, and multiple dining options, including a Chinese restaurant and a Japanese restaurant.

Zhongwei Shapotou Yellow River Hotel : This luxurious hotel is located in Zhongwei, on the banks of the Yellow River, and offers spacious rooms and suites with river views, a spa, an indoor pool, and a variety of dining options, including a Chinese restaurant and a Western restaurant.

Hyatt Regency Jinghua : This newly opened hotel is located in the city of Jingyuan and offers luxurious rooms and suites, a spa, an indoor pool, and multiple dining options, including a Chinese restaurant and a rooftop bar with panoramic views.

Weather, the best time to visit Ningxi

It is best to visit in Spring and Autumn for its mild temperature and beautiful scenery .

The best time to visit Ningxia would be from late September to early October , as this is when the weather is mild and the region's famous grape harvest is taking place. This is also the time when the region's vineyards are at their most beautiful, with the grape leaves turning golden and red. Additionally, the region's annual Wine Festival is held during this time, providing visitors with a chance to sample the local wines and experience the local culture.

When visiting Ningxia, it's best to plan your trip in advance, as some of the sights and activities can be quite remote. Additionally, be sure to check the weather and dress appropriately, as the province can be quite hot in the summer and cold in the winter.

Ningxia weather >>

Itineraries, how to plan a Ningxia trip

A trip to Ningxia could include exploring the stunning landscape of the Helan Mountains, visiting the ancient capital of the Western Xia Dynasty at the Xixia Tombs, experiencing the unique culture and customs of the Hui ethnic minority in the city of Yinchuan, tasting the region's delicious halal cuisine, marveling at the intricate craftsmanship of the Shapotou Scenic Area's sand dunes and viewing platforms, and ending with a peaceful retreat to the serene beauty of the Qingtongxia Reservoir.

Day 1: Arrive in Yinchuan, Western Xia Tombs, the Nanguan Mosque, Old Town of Yinchuan

Day 2: Helan Mountains, Hike in the stunning Helan Mountains, Helan Mountain Rock Art

Day 3: Zhongwei, Tengger Desert, Experience the thrill of sandboarding and camel riding at Shapotou Scenic Area, Zhongwei Gao Temple

Day 4: Qingtongxia Reservoir, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Museum

Day 5: Departure, Say goodbye to Ningxia and depart for your next destination

Ningxia travel itineraries >>

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Ningxia Travel and Tours Guide

Ningxia Travel Guide

Yellow River traverses into Ningxia and flows north to Inner Mongolia . Before leaving Ningxia, the river zigzags in the border area of the two regions and forms the Ningxia Plain which is benefited by the river water through gravity-fed irrigation. Ningxia is considered as a pearl in the northwest of China, and gain the fame 'the Rich South in Northern Frontier' from ancient times to present days, much thanks to the Yellow River. It is one of the four most well-irrigated plains of China, together with ones around Hangzhou , Chengdu and Guangzhou .

Since the Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC) of China, many irrigation projects have been built in the part of Ningxia like Qin Channel of Qin Dynasty, Hanyan Channel of the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD), Meili and Taiping Channel of the Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368), Tongji and Qixing Channel of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), Hexi and Zhongwei Channel of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) and lots more. The dense irrigation work in Ningxia and advanced agricultural technique makes terrain in the plain a very fertile one and the green silo of China's barren west.

Ningxia turns out many famous specialties. Argali sheep hide and wool, Facai, wolfberry fruit, licorice root, and Helan stone are collectively known as the region's 'five treasures' which are in colors of red, yellow, blue, white and black respectively. Argali sheep hide is among the best in the world. Only Facai plant brings the region a lot of fortune in its export to Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and the Southeastern Asian countries.

The world renowned Great Wall extends through part of Ningxia. There are sections of Great Wall built in Qin, Song (960 - 1279), Ming and Qing dynasties of China in the region. Though visitors may be familiar with the section of the Great Wall near and around Beijing , the ancient Great Wall in Ningxia is of more historic significance due to its natural existence. With time endurance, the Great Wall section in the region has undergone thousands of years of in barren Northwest China and left with only 20 percent in good shape. On the other side, the time makes the section of Great Wall a witness of Chinese history. It is said that the true appearance of Great Wall could be found in Ningxia region.

At the foot of the Great Wall near Guyuan County, visitors can still find historic leftovers such as ancient stoneware, slates and other tool remnant in the long history of China. There are also color earthenware pieces with beautiful patterns, iron weapons or tools as well as coins of the Han Dynasty, buried in this wonderful land. As there were lots of stations near Great Wall along the famous Silk Road , the region used to be dwelled by large numbers of soldiers and farmers in different reigns of Chinese history. This is also one main battlefield of Huns, Mongols and West Xia ethnic warriors in its glorious past.

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Traveling to Ningxia, the Smallest Province in China

Ningxia (宁夏), whose capital is Yinchuan (银川), is technically the smallest Chinese province, but also an autonomous region in China on the border with Inner Mongolia with a population exceeding six million three hundred thousand inhabitants.

In Yinchuan, there’s an airport with a discreet network of connections, but this shouldn’t scare you off: Ningxia is very small, you can easily get around by bus and train. The complete name for this place (Ningxia Huizu Zizhiqu, 宁夏回族自治区) gives us information about the ethnicity of its inhabitants: Ningxia is in fact the main dwelling place of Chinese of the Hui ethnicity (even though there’s no shortage of Han, especially in the capital). In 1954, Ningxia was incorporated into Gansu (甘肃), but in 1958 it became an autonomous region.

Ningxia, with a surface area of about 66,400 square kilometers, is a very harsh territory that alternates between bare mountains and dusty plains; additionally, this area is practically divided in half by the Yellow River.

Ningxia, as part of the 黄土高原 (Huangtu Gaoyuan), known as the Loess Plateau, is primarily made up of arid mountain chains and high-altitude plains. It is important to mention the Loess Plateau because it’s thanks to this that the Yellow River got its name: Loess is a sedimentary rock that gives a yellowish color to the waters of this famous river.

In any event, be careful when choosing the right time to go to Ningxia: autumn is cold, winter is long and freezing, summer is hot and dry, but Spring is a nice season aside from the fact that it rains a lot. The average annual temperature varies between 5 to 9 degrees Celsius.

Ningxia continues to be one of the poorest areas of China, characterized by an economic disparity between the northern area (which is richer and more fertile) and the southern one (dry and scarcely populated); Ningxia’s economy is largely based on its mineral riches (about 34 types of minerals).

To close this brief introduction only one thing remains: the highest peak, 苏峪口 (Suyukou), has an altitude of 3,566 meters.

Why go to Ningxia?

Before going on with the article, I would like to mention three reasons to go to Ningxia: one historic, one cultural, and one adventurous.

Ningxia, long contested by the Mongolian and Chinese empires, is today rich with historical evidence: Buddhist statues, royal tombs of very ancient dynasties, and cave inscriptions. Ningxia was a frontier area that separated nomadic breeders and sedentary farmers, a fact that made it a very appealing land for the “non-Chinese”. The empire then sent its legions to reclaim the land, making Ningxia a battleground for a long time.

From a cultural point of view, Ningxia is interesting because it is inhabited by the Hui Muslim ethnic minority. This minority has many distinctive traits: habits, food, clothing.

From an adventure point of view, Ningxia offers lots of opportunities: you can camp in the desert, navigate the traditional rafts on the Yellow River (make sure that the raft is in good condition!) and you’ll have to speak Chinese because the Hui are not used to seeing Western tourists (neither are the Chinese), so it will be rare to find someone who knows how to speak English.

Yinchuan and its surroundings

Yinchuan (银川), the capital, is located between the Yellow River and the 贺兰 mountain chain, which shelters Ningxia’s capital from the sand brought by the winds from the Gobi Desert. Even though there’s a prevalence of Han Chinese, in Yinchuan you’ll find tons of mosques (500). Road signals are written in both Chinese and Arabic, and the cuisine is mainly Arabic. Yinchuan was the capital of the Tangut Empire Xi Xia (1038-1227).

Yinchuan can be divided into three parts: the New City (Xixia Qu, 西夏区), the Central neighborhood (Jinfeng Qu, 金凤区) and the Old City (Xingqing Qu, 兴庆区). The majority of historical and cultural sites of interest (and hotels!) are concentrated in the Old City.

Halfway between the New City and Old City is the 宁夏博物馆 (Ningxia Bowuguan) or “ Ningxia Museum ”: this is a vast, well-organized museum of 4 floors, which preserves a rich collection of ceramics that go back to the time of the Silk Road, along with very old copies of the Koran. In total there have to be about 10,000 artifacts.

Inside the Old City, you’ll find the famous Chengtiansi Pagoda , 承天寺 (also called the Western Pagoda, 西塔). Even though it’s been rebuilt many times (the last time after a tremendous earthquake during the Qing era), this 11 story pagoda has a height of 65 meters (note that there’s no elevator inside!) and goes back to almost 1,000 years ago.

About 20 kilometers west of Yinchuan, in Zhenbeibao 镇北堡, there’s the China Western Film Studio where they’ve already made more than 200 films, such as Red Sorghum , the film taken from the novel of the same name (Hong Gaoliang, 红高粱) written by Mo Yan and winner of the Nobel Prize for literature in 2012. About 33 kilometers from Yinchuan, at the foot of Mount Helan, there are the famous beehive-shaped imperial tombs of the Western Xia (Xixia Wangling, 西夏王陵).

Unfortunately, without special permission, you can only visit one 23 meters high tomb (the tomb of Li Yuanhao). In this area there are also the most famous cave inscriptions (Helen shan Yanhua, 贺兰山岩画) going back about 10,000 years and representing more than 2,000 pictograms: animals, hunting scenes, people’s faces, and even something that looks like our concept of extraterrestrials. The cave inscriptions were discovered in 1969.

A dozen kilometers west of the cave inscriptions are the Twin Pagodas of Baisikou (Baisikou shuang ta, 拜寺口双塔) which are sadly not accessible but offer an amazing image standing out in front of the mountains. Among the pagodas and cave inscriptions, there’s also a beautiful forest park, 苏峪口国家森林公园 (Suyukou Guojia Senlin Gongyuan), or “ Suyukou National Forest Park ” of about a million hectares.

To best admire the luxurious green of this park, you can easily take a chairlift. This park is rich in culture and history: in fact, each valley and mountain has its own name and history that you can learn onsite.

25 kilometers east of Yinchuan there’s the Shui Dong Gou archaeological site , 水洞沟, which was transformed into a park split into two parts: the first part is a museum that contains paleolithic artifacts (there are thousands!); the second consists of an unrestored section of the Great Wall that can only be reached after spending a bit more: first you have to take an electric vehicle, then take a boat trip then a ride on a camel-drawn cart, all extra expenses in addition to the price of an entrance ticket.

After this mini adventure you reach a fort with a network of galleries that contain trapdoors, false passages, and once, explosive traps. In ancient times, this part of the Great Wall was a military fortress dedicated to defense. It’s a shame that there are no tourist guides who know English.

Considering all the things to see and experience, Yinchuan would be an excellent starting point to also visit Inner Mongolia.

Zhongwei and its surroundings

Zhongwei (中卫), with its nearly one million residents who live together in a rather relaxed manner, is known for being the prettiest, most welcoming city in Ningxia; in addition, it’s the ideal place to take a nice ferry ride on the Yellow River, or, why not, an excursion out to the Tengger Desert (Tenggeli shamo, 腾格里沙漠). This desert, with a surface area of 42,700 square kilometers, borders part of the Great Wall of China while in the north it fades into the Gobi Desert.

Returning to the point on hand, what is there to see in Zhongwei? First of all, there’s the very famous 高庙 (Gaomiao), or “ Gao Temple ”, a very varied place of worship which during its long history was used by Buddhists, Confucianists and Taoists. The Gao Temple would have been built during the time of the emperor Ming Yong Le (1403-1424).

There’s a long and very fascinating history behind this very unique temple (one of the few in China to be used by such different entities), the history that can be imagined through the variety that is still evident in its many architectural styles.

During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) it was turned into an anti-aircraft shelter; now there are halls where you can see images and sculptures of the damned (most likely Buddhists) from their severed tongues and so on. This hell is composed of 9 floors where you can find different things from top to bottom.

About 17 kilometers from Zhongwei, at the point where the dunes of the Tengger Desert and the Yellow River meet, there’s the Shapotou 沙坡头 recreational center (famous mainly for its research center that studies the progression and stabilization methods of the dunes).

Originally it was built in 1984 for the safety and protection of the plants and animals of the Tengger Desert. Today, you can descend by hang gliding along wires that cross the Yellow River in this area; you can also do bungee jumping or go sand sledding.

You can also get back on the Yellow River on a 羊皮筏子 (Yangpi fazi), or “sheepskin raft” (a traditional raft). Shapotou has become an actual amusement park; imagine that it was listed in the Top 10 most entertaining places in China! This is not even considering that in Shapotou you can have easy access to the Tengger Desert by either a guided or independent excursion.

Guyuan and the surrounding area

Guyuan (固原) is a small city in the south of Ningxia that isn’t a tourist destination at all. Moreover, being rather undeveloped, it’s recommended that you bring cash with you in the event that you don’t find any ATMs ( even though now there’s Wechat… ).

This city is important because it is here that the Xia civilization was born and even today there are many traces of it. The Buddhist caves Xumi Shan 须弥山, about 50 kilometers away, are one of the city’s main attractions. The construction of these caves, located near the old Silk Road (there are lots of forts with Indian and Central Asian influences), began in 368 A.D., even though the caves were rebuilt several times. Today, these caves were put on the list of the 100 most vulnerable sites because they’ve often been damaged by earthquakes, sand erosion, acts of vandalism, and a rather apathetic administration.

The 132 caverns, or caves, house more than 300 Buddhist statues that go back to around the year 1,400, Tibetan inscriptions (about a dozen), eleven stelae, and even more. Cave number 5 (clearly the numbers came later) holds a very large statue portraying the Maitreya (the Future Buddha), some 21 meters high.

The most beautiful statues are protected by the Yuanguang and Xiangguo Temples, where you can comfortably enter to see the statues better, many of which retain their original color. From the decorative elements found in these caves, many historians have reached the conclusion that they were once the dwelling place of Buddhist monks. Linguistically speaking, “Xumi” is the Chinese transliteration of the Sanskrit term “sumeru”, which indicates the Buddhist paradise.

Another place that absolutely deserves a visit is 六盘山 (Liupan Shan), or “ Mount Liupan ”, (2,928 meters tall): the place where according to many historians Gengis Khan was buried in 1227. The legend says that Gengis Khan got sick and reached this mountain to heal himself – unsuccessfully – with medicinal herbs.

This is probably just a legend (it’s likely he died elsewhere), but in any event, this legend was taken advantage of for purposes of tourism. In 1935, Mao Zedong came to Mount Liupan and later composed a collection of poems called 《清平乐·六盘山》(Happiness and peace, Mount Liupan). Not to be missed is also the Mount Liupan National Forest Park (the entrance fee is around 70 Yuan).

I hope that this brief description has given you the desire to visit this little-explored land. As you can see, there are few tourists and Ningxia is still one of those few areas where a Westerner is looked at with great wonder and curiosity. Visiting Ningxia is certainly one of those few experiences that will let you find the China that once was and that is slowly disappearing.

Bon Voyage!

[Photo Credits ( Creative Commons License ): Carsten Ullrich , Hayden Opie , Shang Ning ]

About The Author

Armando Turturici

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Visit Ningxia Local Wineries to Taste the Best Wines in China

Speaking of best wine producing countries, in addition to France, Australia and Italy, you shouldn’t forget China. China's vast territory and rich climate types provide good innate conditions for grape planting. Coupled with the huge domestic market potential, China's wine industry is developing in full swing.

Among all wine-producing regions in China, Ningxia, located in the valley between the Yellow River and the Helan Mountains in northwestern China, is one of the most important one. It is considered to be one of the most potential wine-growing regions in China, and is also known as the "Bordeaux of the East". Over the years, Ningxia has won many world-class honors in the wine industry. In the Decanter World Wine Competition in 2018, a total of 183 wines from China won medals and awards, while Ningxia ranked first in China's medal list, with a total of 88 wines winning medals and awards. Not only that, Ningxia has been rated as a Chinese Wine Star Region by the French wine review magazine for many times, and it has also been rated as “a tourist destination that can produce the best Chinese wine” by the New York Times . Even the famous wine master Jancis Robinson has included Ningxia in her book "World Wine Map", and put a great importance to it.

According to the news released by the Ningxia Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in December 2021, the output of Ningxia wine has exceed 130 million bottles in 2021, with an estimated total value of 30 billion Yuan. Ningxia currently has about 38,000 hectares of vineyards, which is the second largest in China. The local grape varieties mainly include Cabernet Sauvignon , Dragon Ball, Merlot, Chardonnay, Welsh Riesling (also known as "Glorious Fragrance"), Riesling and so on.

Recommended Ningxia Winery Tours:

5 Days Ningxia Discovery Tour from Yinchuan to Zhongwei

• 6 Days Ningxia Luxury Homestay Tour with Winery Visit

Why Ningxia is ideal for Grape Plantation and Wine Production?

Ningxia, specifically the eastern foot of Helan Mountains, is a "golden zone" for growing wine grapes. Why?

Firstly, Ningxia has ideal weather and environment advantages for grape planning - plenty of sunshine (2851-3106 hours of sunshine), abundant heat (≥10 °C, effective accumulative temperature about 3300 °C), large temperature difference between day and night, precipitation less than 200 mm, good water-heat coefficient, and the irrigation of the Yellow River, bringing strong light and cool nights to local vineyards, while the significant temperature difference between day and night can help the grapes to ripen slowly, thus balancing the acidity and phenolics in the fruit.

Secondly in terms of topography, Ningxia has a great land for wine grape growing. The eastern foothills of Helan Mountain located at 37°43'--39°23' of north latitude is recognized by wine industry as the "golden zone" for wine production. It is protected from the invasion of Tengger Desert and Siberian cold current by the 200-kilometer-long Helan Mountain range. The altitudes of grape fields are about 1,100 meters above sea level which is the "golden altitude" for growing wine grapes. Furthermore, the galloping Yellow River water provides a convenient irrigation source for grape growing. In addition, the planting soil here is gravel soil with good air permeability and rich minerals.

To take advantage of the useful climate and environment in the foothills of the Helan Mountains, Ningxia has imported nearly 20 grape species that can produce world-class quality wines.

All the above factors have helped Ningxia become one of the best wine production centers in China even the world.

Top Ningxia Wineries

In total, there are about 200 wineries in the Ningxia, most of which are located at the foothills of Helan Mountain. In addition to local boutique wineries, Ningxia has also attracted investment from some famous foreign wine groups. For example, the world-renowned luxury goods group LVMH Group invested 175 million Yuan to establish Chandon in Ningxia in 2012 to produce high-end sparkling wine. In addition, Helan Qingxue Vineyard, Silver Heights, Kanaan Winery and many other well-known domestic wineries are located here.

Currently, many wineries in Ningxia provide special programs for tourists which allows not only vineyards visiting but also wine drinking. Below are some recommended wineries to visit.

☛ 3 Days Yinchuan History and Culture Tour with Winery ☛ 6 Days Ningxia Luxury Homestay Tour with Winery and Desert Camping

Helan Qingxue Winery (贺兰晴雪)

Helan Qingxue Winery was established in 2005, and its name was taken from one of the eight scenic spots in Ningxia Helan Qingxue, meaning one can even bright snow covers Helan Mountains even in hot June. Helan Qingxue Winery has introduced 16 varieties of French wine grapes, with a planting area of more than 133,000 square meters, an underground wine cellar of 1,000 square meters, and an annual production of 50,000 bottles of wine.

The flagship wine is Gabelan Claret which often wins awards in various international and domestic competitions, of which the most famous is the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).

Address: Western Xia Plaza, Xixia District, Yinchuan (银川市西夏区西夏广场西北200米)

Silver Heights Winery (银色高地)

In 2010, Jesse Robinson visited China and was delighted to find that "another new star in the Chinese wine industry", which is the Silver Heights Winery.

At 1,200 meters above sea level, the vineyards of the Silver Heights are among the highest in China. The owner, Ms. Gao Yuan, once worked in a French winery and obtained the French national winemaker certificate. Therefore, Silver Heights also uses traditional French winemaking techniques, inheriting the wine style of the old world.

The winery's most high-end wines are the Silver Heights Quege and Emma 's Private Collection, but the latter is only produced in special years.

Address: Jinshan Village, Helan County, Yinchuan (宁夏回族自治区银川市贺兰县金山村)

Domaine des Aromes (博纳佰馥)

Domaine des Aromes is also a quality winery in Ningxia, and it is also a very rare winery in China that adopts the "Biodynamic Skill". The owners, couples Peng Shuai and Sun Miao, once studied wine growing, wine tasting and international trade in France. The name they gave to the winery is also quite charming, which means fragrant winery.

The purpose of using Biodynamic Skill is to make a wine that is entirely dependent on the grapes themselves. In order to test the potential of Ningxia wine, they first brewed the 2013 natural wine by biodynamic method + a small amount of manual intervention. After success, they improved step by step, and finally achieved zero sulfur addition.

The naming of wines of Domaine des Aromes is also very interesting. Among the three main wines, "Bona Baifu " is aged in 100% oak barrels, while "Baifu" uses a slightly smaller proportion of barrels, and "Fu" is completely additive free.

Address: Beijingxi Road N.1855, Yinchuan (宁夏银川市北京西路1855号)

Xige winery (西鸽酒庄)

Xige Winery is ingenious in architecture. It is a huge circular building with the characteristics of ancient Chinese city and a modern sense, built with nearly 200,000 Helan Mountain stones.

The total construction area of the winery is about 25,000 square meters, including wine brewing area, oak barrel wine cellar, filling area, bottle aging wine cellar, professional tasting area, tourist reception center, manor hotel and organic specialty restaurant. It is supposed to produce 10 million bottles annually.

Xige Winery passed the world's highest standard "BRC International Quality Certification" in October 2019, becoming the first winery in China to pass this certification.

Address: Xige Road N.1, Gezishan, Qingtongxia, Wuzhong, Yinchuan (宁夏吴忠市青铜峡市鸽子山西鸽路1号)

Kanaan Winery (迦南美地)

Kanaan Winery is an boutique winery located at the foothills of Helan Mountain in Ningxia . Kanaan is the holy land of the Israelites. In "the Old Testament", Kanaan is "the place flowing with milk and honey" and the "land of hope".

Kanaan Winery was founded in 2011 by the German-Chinese Ms. Wang Fang. She was born in a wine family. Her father, Mr. Wang Fengyu, was one of the pioneers of Chinese wine industry. It was under the influence of her father that Ms. Wang Fang returned to Ningxia with a longing for the revitalization of Chinese wine and started her winemaking career.

Because of her bold winemaking style and her daring to break the rules, Ms. Wang Fang is called "Crazy Fang" by the industry. In just a few years, the wines produced by Kanaan Winery have gained an international reputation. In 2019, Ms. Wang Fang was also rated as one of the Ten Most Influential Women in the Chinese Wine Market by British wine magazine Drink Business.

Address: West Side of Xixia Square, Beijing West Road, Xixia District, Yinchuan (宁夏银川西夏区北京西路西夏广场西侧)

Travel with Us to Visit A Featured Winery in Ningxia

China Discovery is honored to be partners of many great wineries in Ningxia. Together with these wineries, we have designed some Winery Visiting Programs for our customers to unlock the mysterious charm of winery industry in Ningxia. Joining in our Winery Visiting Programs, you can not only visit the grape fields and wine production facilities, but also can try some authentic local wines. Some programs provide opportunities to have lunch/dinner even stay a night in their guesting rooms, for example Xige Winery.

Travel with us, besides visiting wineries and tasting wines, you will also be brought to explore Ningxia’s unique travel destinations, such as historical sites of Western Xia Kingdom, Tengger Desert, Yellow River, etc., with our private tour package which covers winery experience, Ningxia classic itienrary, accommodation, meals, etc.

How to Plan A Ningxia Tour

How to Get to Ningxia: It is easy to take a flight to Yinchuan from Beijing (2.5h), Shanghai (about 3h), Xian (about 1.5 h), Guangzhou (about 3 h), Shenzhen (about 3.5h), Chengdu (about 1.5 h), Chongqing (about 2h), etc.

Best Time to Visit Ningxia: May to October is the best time to visit Yinchuan. It is cold in late autumn and winter (November ~ next February) and rather windy in early and mid-spring (March and April).

Generally, most highlights of Ningxia gather in Yinchuan. A classic Yinchuan tour takes 3 days, and you can appreciate the amazing culture of the Western Xia Dynasty as well and the featured exotic charm quite different from the major cities in China. On your arrival day, take a short visit to the landmarks in Yinchuan City , such as Haibao Pagoda, Drum Tower, China-Arab Axis, etc. Then, spend a full day admiring the rich culture and art Ningxia in the Western Xia Imperial Tombs and the Rock Painting of Helan Mountain . Of course, you won’t miss one of the top wineries where a cup of wine is offered. Before leaving, get an excellent view of Yinchuan in Ningxia Museum and visit the underground tunnels in Shuidong Cave in half a day.

☛ 3 Days Yinchuan History and Culture Tour

A Ningxia tour with itinerary only in Yinchuan is not complete. For more incredible landscapes, don't hesitate to extending your tour to Zhongwei . The top-haves include a visit to Shapotou Desert with beautiful wilderness and interesting activities and a peaceful and luxury accommodation in Suji Yellow River. For travelers in search of adventure, take a Jeep Safari through Tengger Desert . With more time, go to Guyuan to be awed at the valuable grottoes art in Xumishan Grottoes. See all Ningxia Tour Packages>

☛4 Days Best of Ningxia Tour with Tengger Desert Adventure ☛ 5 Days Ningxia Discovery Tour from Yinchuan to Zhongwei Shapotou ☛ 6 Days Ningxia Luxury Homestay Tour with Winery and Desert Camping

All Ningxia Travel Information

• Top 9 Ningxia Things to Do
• Top Wineries in Ningxia
• Western Xia Imperial Tombs
• Helan Mountain
• Xumishan Grottoes
• Tengger Desert
• Yinchuan Travel Guide
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Top 3 Ningxia tours chosen by most customers to explore Ningxia in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.

4 Days Best of Ningxia Tour with Tengger Desert Adventure

Yinchuan / Tengger Desert

Yinchuan - Qingtongxia - Zhongwei

6 Days Ningxia Luxury Homestay Tour with Winery and Desert Camping

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• Yinchuan Overview

Chinese Name : English IPA : Location : Population (city) : Language : Zip code : Tel code : Time zone :

Yinchuan is the capital of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China, and historically it was the former capital of the Western Xia Empire of the Tanguts. It has an area of 8,874.61 km2 (3,426.51 sq mi) and a total population of 1.99 million. Its built-up area is home to 1,290,170 inhabitants spread between three urban districts. The name of the city literally means “silver river”.

Facing the Yellow River in the east, Yinchuan enjoys beautiful natural scenery and favorable conditions for agriculture and has long earned the fame of a “River Side City in the Northwest” and “Home to Fishes and Rice”. Yinchuan is now the permanent site for China-Arab Expo which is an international platform for cultural and economic exchanges between China and Arab countries.

Yinchuan (Ningxia) Travel Guide introduces useful travel information of Yinchuan including travel tips, attractions, top things to do, tours, transportation, weather, climate, food, restaurants, accommodation, festivals, nightlife, activities, education, shopping, photos and maps.

Other Destinations in Yinchuan

• Helan County
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• Yinchuan Attractions

Yinchuan (Ningxia) Attractions include a list of top things to do and must-see attractions in Yinchuan. All attractions picked by our seasoned travel advisors and rated by our customers. Following is the list of Top 10 Attractions in Yinchuan by TripAdvisor. [...]

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• Yinchuan Tours

Yinchuan (Ningxia) travel packages list all of Yinchuan tours, Yinchuan day tours, Ningxia tours itinerary with Yinchuan and China tours including Yinchuan. Plan Yinchuan tours including 1-30 days trip and tours, Yinchuan food culture tours, join group tours and sightseeing tours. [...]

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Climate & When to Go

Yinchuan (Ningxia) Weather and Climate describes information with temperature, precipitation, Geography, What Clothes to Wear in Yinchuan, weather and climate by month, climate graph, 15 days Yinchuan weather forecast. Find out the best time to visit Yinchuan and see the season highlights in Yinchuan. It also tells you what to wear in different seasons and Clothes packing for your Trip to Yinchuan. [...]

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Transportation

Yinchuan (Ningxia) Transportation Guide serves you detailed transport information and introduces fights to Yinchuan, Yinchuan high speed trains, Yinchuan trains, Yinchuan Cycling, Yinchuan buses, Yinchuan Bus Stations and Railway Stations, Yinchuan taxis and ways of getting in and around Yinchuan. [...]

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Festivals and Activities

Yinchuan (Ningxia) Festivals and Events introduce a brief introduction of festivals and activities and tell travelers Top Things to Do for Yinchuan festivals Tours and important Yinchuan events and activities including Exhibition, Conference, Trade Show, Expositions and Trade Fairs. [...]

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Yinchuan (Ningxia) Travel FAQs and Tips introduce the city and zip codes, post offices, useful numbers, hospitals, banks for foreign exchange, Government and famous universities. When plan your trip to Yinchuan, view our answers to questions about Yinchuan travel to get better understanding of Yinchuan. [...]

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Useful Maps

Yinchuan (Ningxia) Travel Maps in English includes Maps List of Yinchuan Tourist Attractions, Maps of Yinchuan Hotels, Maps of Yinchuan Tours, Yinchuan Subway Maps, Maps of of Transportation. It show the specific location maps of main roads, Transportation, railway, stations, Bus Stations, Airports, expressway, administrative division, famous tourist attractions, travel and tours, universities, banks and hospitals. [...]

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• Yinchuan Accommodation

Yinchuan (Ningxia) Accommodation and Hotels Booking introduces Where to stay in Yinchuan and the recommended Yinchuan 5-star luxury hotels, Comfortable 4-star, Economic 3-star and Cheap Hostels recommended by TripAdvisor. [...]

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Shapotou National Nature Reserve

Shapotou National Nature Reserve Travel Guide

Shapotou, situated in Zhongwei County, lies on the north bank of the Yellow River where it crosses the southeastern border of the Tengger Desert.Administratively it falls under Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region-some 150 km (93 miles) south of Yinchuan City.  

Shapotou National Nature Reserve integrates the view of desert, Yellow River, mountain and oasis.  Here you could ride a camel to discovery one of the five most beautiful deserts in China -- Tengger Desert, it is widely recognized as the Capital of Sand. Standing on the sand hill, one can see the desert extending to the north, and to the south, a boundless oasis. Both the grandeur of the north of China and the elegance of the south come together in this lovely place.

Shapotou also has "the first rope bridge of the Yellow River ", the ancient waterwheel represented by the Yellow River culture, and the oldest “boat” of transport on the Yellow River -- sheepskin raft.

Here you could also discover how Chinese make the desert an oasis.

Travel Packages

8 Days China Exotic Desert G...

Half to one day trolling tour in downtown Guilin City

How to discovery downtown Guilin with social distance? Trolling is the best choice. Trolling around Guilin downtown, you could not only enjoy pretty scenery at close range, but also do some exercise...

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Shizuishan Travel Guide

Shizuishan facts, the coal city producing anthracite.

Situated in northern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Shizuishan City neighbors Yinchuan to the south and Inner Mongolia to the north with the Yellow River flowing along its east side. Located between the national coal fields of Ningdong and Mengxi, Shizuishan produces high-quality anthracite, gaining the name of “western coal city”. Shizuishan not only has vast deserts but also boasts green natural landscapes composed of lakes and mountains. The Shahu Scenic Resort featuring rippling lakes and endless deserts and Helan Mountain with a large scale of rock paintings are two highlights.

Shizuishan Attractions - Things to Do

Shahu scenic resort.

Located around 56 kilometers (35 miles) north of Yinchuan, the scenic area is a famous attraction combining South China water towns and desert landscape. The Sand Lake is a paradise of birds and fish. 

Helan Mountain

From early times, it is where ancient northern minorities lived, multiplied and worked. They have chiseled the scenes of their living and production on rocks in Helan Mountain, which reproduces their social customs and life interests. Along the 124 miles long Helan Mountain interior place, covering over ten hill mouths ranging from north to south, there are over 20 groups of rock paintings which embrace over 10,000 paintings. They are said to be the masterpieces of Qiangrong, Xianbei, Xiongnu, Yuezhi and other minority groups who created them during Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC-476 BC) to West Xia Dynasty (1038-1227).

Yuhuang Pavilion

Located in the county town of Pingluo, this historical relic, built in the Ming Dynasty, (1368-1644) is the largest Taoist site in Ningxia. During the fourth and fifth lunar months, an annual grand temple fair is held. 

Beiwudang National Park

Lying at the east foot of the Helan Mountains, this ecological tourist zone is made up of a forest park, the building complex of Beiwudang Temple, a geopark, valley and ancient tree fossils. 

How to get to Shizuishan

Shizuishan is 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Xining, and 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the Yinchuan Hedong Airport . From the Dawukou Bus Station, there are many buses departing to Yinchuan every few minutes. In addition, buses to the Yinchuan Hedong Airport are also available here. Buses from Dawukou to the Sand Lake depart every an hour.

Enjoying a temperate continental climate, Shizuishan is rich in sunshine. Summer is hot and short, while the winter is chilly and long. The Shizuishan weather is relatively dry all the year round, and the temperature varies greatly between day and night. September to October are best time to tour around.

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Ningxia Travel Guide

When to visit Ningxia ? The best time to visit Ningxia is from May to October. The International Yellow River Art Festival of Yinchuan is held in September. The thing to be remembered is to pack both spring and autumn clothes at this time. Winter clothes are needed in October.  The spring weather is warm and the summer is short here. Late spring and early summer is a golden time for traveling, and the Flower Festival (May to June) is also held during this time. The rainy weather mainly occur during June and September... Ningxia Climate & Weather

How to reach Ningxia ? Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is located in northwest China and into the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. It is bordered by Gansu to the south, Shaanxi to the east, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the north. Today, transportation in Ningxia has made great progress, and a transportation network of civil aviation, railways and highways has been established. It is very convenient for tourists to enter and exit Ningxia by plane, train and bus... Ningxia Transportatio n

Ningxia Travel Tips

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Presidential Palace

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