YinChuan, capital of NingXia province

With Nick in China ...

[640],shadow=true,start=,stop=
[320],shadow=true,start=,stop=

With Valerly Blank ...

[320],shadow=true,start=,stop=

Visitor guide to YinChuan, capital of NingXia province

Getting There

By Air: YinChuan Hedong International Airport (INC) is well-connected with major Chinese cities. The airport is about 25 kilometers from the city center, and you can take a taxi or airport shuttle bus to your destination.

By Train: YinChuan Railway Station offers regular train services to various cities across China, including Beijing, Xi'an, and Lanzhou. The high-speed train network makes travel convenient and efficient.

By Bus: Long-distance buses connect YinChuan with other cities in NingXia and neighboring provinces. The YinChuan Long-Distance Bus Station is the main hub for these services.

Accommodation

YinChuan offers a range of accommodation options, from luxury hotels to budget hostels. Some recommended options include:

  • Luxury: Kempinski Hotel YinChuan, YinChuan International Convention Centre Hotel
  • Mid-Range: Holiday Inn Express YinChuan Downtown, YinChuan XiYue International Hotel
  • Budget: YinChuan Youth Hostel, various local guesthouses

Attractions and Activities

Historical and Cultural Sites

  • Western Xia Tombs: Located about 35 kilometers from YinChuan, these ancient tombs are the resting place of the emperors of the Western Xia Dynasty. The site offers a fascinating glimpse into the history and culture of the dynasty.
  • NingXia Museum: This museum showcases the rich history and culture of NingXia, with exhibits ranging from ancient artifacts to modern art.
  • HaiBao Pagoda: Also known as the North Pagoda, this ancient Buddhist pagoda is one of the oldest and most well-preserved structures in YinChuan.

Natural Attractions

  • Sand Lake: A beautiful nature reserve located about 56 kilometers from YinChuan, Sand Lake is known for its stunning desert and wetland landscapes. Visitors can enjoy bird watching, boat rides, and sand dune activities.
  • Helan Mountains: These mountains offer breathtaking scenery and numerous hiking trails. The region is also home to ancient rock carvings and the Helan Mountain Scenic Area.

Modern Attractions

  • Drum Tower: A central landmark in YinChuan, the Drum Tower is surrounded by bustling markets and streets lined with shops and restaurants.
  • Zhongshan Park: A popular urban park that offers a peaceful escape with its beautiful gardens, lakes, and recreational facilities.

Dining and Local Specialties

YinChuan boasts a diverse culinary scene, with a mix of traditional NingXia cuisine and Hui Muslim specialties. Some must-try dishes include:

  • Lamb Kebabs: A local favorite, these skewered and grilled lamb pieces are seasoned with a blend of spices.
  • Hand-Pulled Noodles: Known locally as "Lamian," these noodles are served in a flavorful broth with beef or lamb.
  • Eight-Treasure Tea: A traditional NingXia beverage made with a mix of tea leaves, dried fruits, and herbs.

Shopping

  • Night Markets: Explore the bustling night markets in YinChuan for a variety of street food, local handicrafts, and souvenirs.
  • Shopping Malls: Modern shopping centers like Wanda Plaza and YinChuan Mall offer a wide range of international and local brands.
  • Local Handicrafts: Look for traditional NingXia crafts such as Helan stone carvings, wool products, and Hui embroidery.

Tips for Visitors

  • Best Time to Visit: The best times to visit YinChuan are during spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) when the weather is mild and pleasant.
  • Clothing: Dress in layers to accommodate temperature changes. Summers can be hot, and winters can be quite cold, so pack accordingly.
  • Language: While Mandarin is the official language, some locals may speak the NingXia dialect. It's helpful to have a translation app or phrasebook if you don't speak Mandarin.
  • Respect Local Customs: NingXia has a significant Hui Muslim population, so be respectful of local customs and traditions, especially when visiting mosques and Hui neighborhoods.

Conclusion

YinChuan, the capital of NingXia Province, offers a rich tapestry of history, culture, and natural beauty. Whether you're exploring ancient tombs, hiking in the mountains, or savoring local cuisine, YinChuan promises an unforgettable experience for every traveler.

NingXia map

Related Videos

 

Featured Videos

Hong Kong 香港 time-lapse scenes
Beautiful city-scapes ...
Amazing, beautiful ZhangJiaJie 张家界
In HuNan province. Plus a detailed documentary film. Discover why to the Chinese nature is not just a pretty background, but that human life is rooted in nature; that nature is as a holy text of which we are a part ...
A trip to JuYongGuan 居庸关 Great Wall – video
This section of the Great Wall of China is the closest to BeiJing city.
Tea in Chinese cooking
With Wild Girl in GuiZhou ... Bonus film - peaches ...
A wonderful family trip through China 中国
A must see, beautiful film if you're thinking of traveling to China - one of the very best films of its type : great adventures, lovely family. Places visited include BeiJing, Xi'An, ZhangJiaJie, GuiLin, Hong Kong, HuaShan, the LongJi rice terraces, and more ...
G.E.M. 邓紫棋
A selection of songs from HuNan TV's 'I am a singer' by Gem Tang ... G.E.M. was born in Shanghai but grew up in Hong Kong from age 4. She is fluent in Mandarin (mainland China), Cantonese (Hong kong and GuangDong) and English. Here is the musical phenomenon, the incredibly wonderous Gem Tang; she always gives it all ... Falling (original by Alicia Keys) ... 'If I were a boy' 《挑战碧昂丝》 (original by Beyonce) ... Something goes wrong with the mike or mix just before 45 seconds (lower volume), which must be pretty off-putting, but still the emotion and performance win through, despite a few duff notes (an effort for mix error compensation I would think). These things happen in live shows, and generally HuNnan TV does really good output. Listen to song two for a better measure of voice talent (not to mention piano skills). The mix is a bit off in other ways too, but still, a great turn and a song with an important message, for boy or girl - don't let 'the one' slip away ... 存在 ... Beyond《喜欢你》 ... We will rock you / We are the champions (original by Queen) ... Imagine (original by John Lennon) ...
Amazing, beautiful China 中国
Places include : BeiJing 北京 | Tibet 西藏 | The Three Gorges, YangTse River 长江三峡 | HongHu Lake, HuBei 洪湖(湖北) | ZiWei Flower Park, ShaoYang, HuNan 紫微花公园,邵阳 (湖南) | ZhangJiaJie 张家界(湖南).
China – a bird’s eye view – don’t miss it
With Stef Hoffer : Here’s a brief overview of some of the places visited in this video. After a short introduction, we begin this journey near the spectacular rice terraces of Yuanyang, before moving on to the captivating Buddhist temples of Dali. Via the peculiar Shilin Stone Forest and the ‘Rainbow Mountains’ of Zhangye, we arrive in Guangzhou (Canton), one of China’s largest cities. After the Yellow Mountains national park, and the intriguing ‘tulou’ buildings, we visit the Great Wall and the Leshan Giant Buddha, the largest such statue in the world. After flying through the ice and snow city of Harbin, where people enjoy a unique Winter event, we take a brief look at the imposing Yellow River, Hukou waterfall, Zhengzhou and Changsha cities, before stopping at the breathtaking Jiuzhaigou national park, filled with crystal clear blue lakes. The next place is the countryside in between rural Yangshuo and urban Guilin, easily one of the most popular tourist destinations in China, where the Li river meanders through bizarre karst scenery. For more diversity, we travel to Dunhuang to visit the arid Gobi Desert. We also have a look at a solar panel field and windmill park, before we fly over some heavy industry, including a steel factory, coal mine, oil refinery, concrete dam, shipyard, an oil rig, and a massive bridge. Hong Kong is our next destinations, before moving on to several places along the Yangtze river (or its distributaries), including Tiger Leaping Gorge, Chongqing, and Wuhan. On Hainan island we see the ‘tropical’ side of China, while in Xiahe and Tibet we visit the country’s highlands. From the frozen cities of Jilin and Xining we arrive in Qingdao, with its German colonial architecture and coastal vibe. In Macau we fly over the famous casinos, but also visit the Portuguese quarters, and after the rice fields of Longji (Dragon’s Backbone), we increase our altitude in the Yulong national park. After Hangzhou and Shenyang, we briefly look at one of China’s many ‘ghost towns’ and construction sites, before flying on to the surreal pillars of Zhangjiajie, and the (perhaps) equally stunning skyline of Shanghai. After showing the modern part of the city and the port (harbor), we also explore some of the disappearing neighborhoods, destroyed factories, and the strange looking ‘bicycle graveyard’. From the freezing ‘Xuexiang’ village and walled city of Pingyao we continue our journey in Xian, Shenzhen, Suzhou, and Changzhou. Finally, we take a look at the mesmerizing Yuanmou ‘Earth Forest’, Kunming city, and Lijiang, one of China’s most famous historic towns. Video chapters / timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 3:29 Yuangyang rice terraces 4:59 Chengkan 5:17 Dali 6:08 Shilin stone forest 6:50 Zhangye national park 7:55 Guangzhou 10:22 Huangshan national park 11:24 Fujian ‘tulou’ 12:03 The Great Wall 12:33 Leshan 12:55 Harbin 15:00 Yellow River 15:28 Hukou waterfall 15:50 Zhengzhou 16:20 Changsha 16:31 Jiuzhaigou national park 17:26 Yangshuo 20:25 Dunhuang 21:42 Qinghuangdao 21:58 Guazhou 22:47 Benxi, Fushun, Guangzhou, Hainan 24:19 Danjiangkou 25:12 Aizhai bridge 25:39 Hong Kong 29:19 Tiger Leaping Gorge 29:44 Chonqging 31:45 Yangtze River 33:03 Wuhan 35:41 Hainan island 38:02 Xiahe 38:51 Tibet 40:26 Jilin 40:44 Xining 41:25 Linxia 41:51 Qingdao 48:22 Macau 49:34 Longji rice terraces 49:59 Shexian 50:21 Yulong national park 51:42 Hangzhou 53:06 Shenyang 53:32 Shenfu ‘ghost town’ 54:26 Chengdu 54:46 Zhangjiajie national park 56:12 Shanghai 1:04:26 Xuexiang 1:05:49 Pingyao 1:06:28 Shenzhen 1:06:54 Xian 1:07:12 Suzhou 1:10:05 Changzhou 1:10:44 Yuangmou Earth forest 1:11:23 Kunming 1:12:43 Lijiang
Movie time – Let’s Get Married ! 咱们结婚吧 !
An awesome romantic comedy movie for Valentine's Day. Four couples with love, life and romance. Filmed in China (BeiJing and ShenZhen) and Italy (Rome, Matera). Directed by Liu Jiang ... Trailer ...

Tag search ?