Ningxia, located in northwest China, is situated in the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River and the intersection of the desert and the Loess Plateau, bordering Shaanxi in the east, Inner Mongolia in the north, and Gansu in the south, which is a unique geographic location.
Since ancient times, the culture of the Central Plains and the nomadic culture of the north in the roots of the fusion, so that Ningxia not only has a distinctive landscape, but also has a mesmerizing border culture, to Ningxia can be immersed in the lakes and sands;
With the camel walking Shapotou feel the vastness of the desert aesthetics; in the Xixiar Tombs to meet the Oriental pyramids, can not be missed in the full of the Hui flavor of the local!
Only in the magical Ningxia, suitable for every rough and uninhibited free soul, come to explore!
Ningxia necessary pre-trip knowledge
Climate: Ningxia belongs to the temperate continental climate, four seasons are clear, summer time is short, rainfall is low, especially in July the temperature is the highest, the average temperature of 24 degrees Celsius; the winter is the impact of the Northwest Monsoon, the time is long, the day and night temperature difference is large. The temperature difference between day and night is large, of which January is the coldest, with an average temperature of -9 ℃, the annual rainfall between 150mm to 600mm, North less South, while the precipitation season for the summer and fall, winter and spring less.
The most suitable season for traveling to Ningxia falls between late spring warming and early autumn getting cold, about May to October each year, the temperature is most pleasant, before leaving, it is recommended to check the weather forecast for Ningxia.
Airport to/from downtown
Ningxia's only international airport, the Yinchuan Hedong International Airport, is located in the southeast of Yinchuan, about 20 kilometers from downtown, where you can take the airport bus to/from Yinchuan, with four routes to downtown in 30 minutes. There are four routes that take about 30 minutes to get to downtown, and the fare is 20~40 RMB (depending on the destination), and the frequency interval is 30 minutes.
In addition, there are also airport shuttle buses and cabs available at the airport for travelers to choose from. A taxi to the downtown area costs about 30 RMB, so it is recommended to communicate with the driver about the fare before taking the taxi.
Transportation in Ningxia
The major attractions in Ningxia are more dispersed, and more distance from the city, but almost all the attractions can be reached by bus (bus) or tour line, self-help travelers can check the bus time beforehand, arrange the process of travel, want to travel freely in Ningxia absolutely no problem!
These are the most popular ways to get the most out of your trip to Ningxia.
． Yinchuan Bus: In addition to the special lines during the peak tourist season, buses in Ningxia are also very convenient, and almost all attractions will be reached by bus, such as travelers who want to go to the Xixia Mausoleum, the Rolling Bell Mouth (Xiaokouzi), Zhenbeibao Western Film and Television City, Suyukou National Forest Park, Shuidonggou, Jinshuiyuan, and other attractions, you can take buses No.3, 11, 18, 20, 30, 37, 49, etc., in the downtown area of Yinchuan. You can take the 3, 11, 18, 20, 30, 37, 49 buses in Yinchuan city.
1. Sand Lake?
In the northwest of Yinchuan City, there is a combination of lake water, sandy mountains, reeds, birds and fish in the natural environment - Sand Lake, a unique ecological environment, the south of the endless desert, the northeast side of the reed swamps in clumps covered with lake water, very spectacular.
Being here, you can be completely immersed in the lake and sand colors, and there is a large area of about 500 acres of bird islands, where a large number of wild birds live and breed or cross the border.
Lucky tourists will be able to see black cranes, swans, gray storks, Chinese sand ducks, white-tailed sea eagles, great bustards, kites, eagles, and many other birds, including many nationally protected species, making this place a paradise for birds. It is also recommended that bird lovers come to Sand Lake in spring and fall every year, and it is the best season to enjoy the birds.
In addition, travelers to the Sand Lake, you can also experience water parachuting, surfing, desert sand sculpture, sandboarding ropeways, boating in the lake, natural baths and other recreational projects, is also quite suitable for friends who like to seek excitement.
Address: Shizuishan City, Pingluo County, the territory of the West Beach (Sand Lake Ecological Tourism Zone)
Open time ： 08:00~18:00
Tickets ： Peak season (4/1~10/31) 60 yuan; off-season (11/1~10/31) 60 yuan.
2. Shapotou Tourism Zone?
Shapotou is located in the city of Zhongwei, Ningxia, west of the southeast edge of the Tengger Desert, with a width of 2 kilometers, height of 200 meters, inclined 60 degrees of the big sandy slopes of the name, with the desert, the Yellow River, the mountains, the oasis, and let it become a popular attraction for travel in Ningxia!
To the north of the sandy mountains is the endless Tengger Desert; to the south is the verdant and lush desert oasis;
Coming here is the vastness of the desert, but also see the beautiful Jiangnan, the extremely unique natural and human sceneries, and also make Shapotou become the first batch of China's 5A-level tourist attractions!
Come to Shapotou, can also be slow with the camel in the vastness of the desert in the yellow sand sky, you can also take the cross-country soaring sand surfing.
Here also has China's largest natural sandboarding, from 100 meters of sand slopes downhill, the sand surface is issued "buzzing" boom loud, like a golden bell, travelers can also take the inflatable sheepskin made of the ancient means of transport - sheepskin rafts, across the Yellow River, it is well worth experiencing.
Address: Yingshuiqiao Township, Shapotou District, Zhongwei City, Ningxia Province (Shahu Ecological Tourism Zone)
Opening Hours: 08:30~17:30
Tickets: 100 RMB in peak season (4/1~11/30); 65 RMB in off-season (12/1~3/31); the cost of each experience varies.
Bus route: take the train from Qingtongxia Railway Station to Zhongwei, the ride is about 1.5 hours, after leaving the station, you can transfer to Shapotou Scenic Spot at the Zhongwei bus station, every half hour, the ride is about 1 hour
3. Qingtongxia 108 towers?
Constructed on the west bank of the Qingtongxia Reservoir on the slope of the "Qingtongxia 108 Pagodas" is one of China's ancient large-scale Lama Pagodas, the earliest was established in the Western Xia Dynasty (1038 ~ 1227), 108 Lama Pagodas from the very top to the bottom of the odd number (according to the 1, 5, 7, 9...) Staggered arrangement, the field of view far away from the open constitutes a 12-story equilateral triangle of the huge pagoda group.
The 108 stupas are all brick 3-meter solid lamasery pagodas, the top stupa, the largest, about 5 meters high, there is a small niche on the east side, below the base of the tower is a solid square.
If you look closely, you can find that, in addition to the highest layer of the stupa, the shape of the other layers of the stupa is different, from top to bottom, 2 to 6 layers of the stupa body for the gourd, 7 layers of the cylindrical, 8 to 11 layers of the Buddha's body for the folded belly, the 12th layer of the base of the cross-folded angle, the stupa body for the overlaying mantle, travelers can be in the magnificent group of pagodas, to see the subtle changes.
Although the Qingtongxia 108 towers of the construction of life has not been examined, but it can be known that this group of towers for the Buddhist memorial tower, the Buddhist belief that there are 108 kinds of life troubles, in order to eliminate the troubles, to wear 108 beads through the beads, chanting 108 times, ringing the bell 108, 108 towers are also born as a result.
If you are traveling here, you may want to count the 108 pagodas one by one. It is said that counting one pagoda removes one worry, and waiting for all the pagodas to be counted, you can get rid of all the worries in your life and bring good luck and good fortune.
For more information, please click: Ningxia｜Counting the 108 towers, the trouble is dispersed! Qingtongxia Yellow River Grand Canyon, ferry boat tour of the Yellow River
Opening time: 08:00 ~ 18:30
Tickets: 60 yuan
Route: you can start at the Yinchuan South Gate bus station, take the "Yinchuan-Qingtongxia town" bus coach, in the town of Qingtongxia Visitor Center, walk to arrive, the ride about 1.5 hours
4.
The tombs of the Xixia emperors and kings are located in the western suburbs of Yinchuan, the alluvial fan on the eastern foot of the Helan Mountains, which covers an area of about 50 square kilometers of the huge site, *** there are nine emperor's tomb and more than 200 accompanying tombs scattered among them, the scale of the Ming Dynasty Mausoleums in Beijing is not comparable.
It is not only China's largest existing, the most complete ground site of one of the emperor's mausoleum, but also one of the largest existing Xixia cultural sites.
The most unique feature of the Western Xia royal tombs, is that its architectural pattern not only absorbed the length of the two generations of Tang and Song imperial tombs, but also by the influence of Buddhist architecture, building different from the appearance of the imperial tombs of the past generations.
Each mausoleum is located in the north-south direction, in a vertical rectangular shape, with a grand scale and independent and complete, is composed of the Que Tai, God Wall, Moon City, Inner City, Pavilion, Corner Terrace, Hall of Dedication, etc., and blends the cultures of various parties, presenting an eclectic architectural features.
Although the tomb was destroyed by the Mongols in 1227, travelers today can still experience the once glorious culture of the Xixia Dynasty through the broken walls.
In particular, the octagonal tower-shaped mausoleums made of loess and more than 20 meters high are "Oriental Pyramids" and the three tombs currently open for viewing in the Scenic Area - Yuling, Jialing, and Tailing - are the best places to learn about the history of the Western Xia Dynasty.
Address: East foot of Helan Mountain, Xixia District, Yinchuan City
Open: 08:00~18:30
Admission: 75 RMB for adults, half price for students (including the Xixia Museum, Xixia Historical Museum, Xixia Monument Forest, the Third Mausoleum, and the ruins of the First and Second Double Mausoleums); round-trip electric car ticket is 20 RMB
.Route: you can start in Yinchuan Crescent Plaza car, take the "Yinchuan Tourism Line 1 (Tour 1 line)" to the Western Xia Tombs, the ride is about 40 minutes
5. Zhen Beibu Film and Television City?
Located in the Xixia District of Yinchuan, Zhen Beibu Film and TV City is known as the "Hollywood of the East", where nearly a hundred Chinese films and TV dramas have been filmed, including Red Sorghum directed by Jiang Wen, Journey to the West with Loud Words, The Prickly Mausoleum, The Inn at the New Dragon Gate, and the TV drama Qiao Jia Dai Yuan, etc., which were all shot in this area.
Zhenbei Castle was originally set up as a border fortress to defend against foreign invasion during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and now the Ming and Qing cities in the film city are still yellow, old and desolate, reflecting the rough and barren look of the times for hundreds of years, which has made this place a gem of Chinese film and television.
Movie-loving travelers can't miss this place. Jiang Wen fans can see the classic Moon Gate in Red Sorghum, the brewery, the sedan chair that Jiu'er (played by Gong Li) rode in when she got married, and the vats and bowls that held the wine;
Star fans can see the Bull Demon King's marriage platform, the Monkey King's Water Curtain Cave, the Longevity Monk's Torture Platform, the Spider Monk's Coil Cave, etc.
The city is a great example of how the city can be used as a place to live, and it is also a place where you can see a lot of people's favorite films and movies.
Not only can you linger in the movie street scenes and houses, you can also change into costumes and experience the life of the characters in the movie, and travel back in time to the movie.
Address ：Zhenbei Fort, Xixia District, Yinchuan City
Opening hours: peak season (4/15~10/15) 08:00~18:00; off-season (10/16~next year 4/14) 08:30~17:30
Tickets: Adults 75 yuan, primary and secondary school students half-price, college students and elderly people aged 60 to 69 years old 75% off.
6. Suyukou National Forest Park?
In the Xixia Dynasty, the royal family regarded Mount Helan as a sacred mountain, which shows the importance of the mountain in the eyes of the Xixia people, and in the depths of the mountain, there is a Suyu Kou National Forest Park, which has a fascinating and rich forest, and it is also the desire of many travelers.
Suyuqou National Forest Park is composed of scenic spots such as Helan Mountain Museum, Sanqing Guan, Cherry Valley and Helan Mountain Que. When you come here, you can feel the towering magnificence of the Suyukou mountains, amidst the lush forests.
Can see oil pine, juniper, spruce, cherry, lilac, Mongolian lentil and so on all over the valley, sharp-eyed lucky friends also have the opportunity to see the rock sheep, red fox, dog badger, vultures, horse deer, horse musk, pan sheep, great bustard and other wildlife here.
Away from the hustle and bustle of the world, the Suyuqou National Forest Park can be fully engaged in the embrace of nature. You can also visit the Helan Mountain Museum to see the history, culture and ecological development of Helan Mountain;
In the 2-kilometer-long Cherry Valley, you can look out over the canyon and see clusters of cherry trees, which is very spectacular and charming.
Address: Yinchuan City, northwest of the town of Helan Mountain National Nature Reserve
Open: 07:30 ~ 19:30
Line: You can start from Yinchuan Crescent Plaza car, take the "Yinchuan Tourism Line 2 (tour line 2)" to the Suyukou station off, the car ride to save one hour
7.
Helan Mountain has a sacred and irreplaceable position since ancient times, but also nomadic peoples such as Xiongnu, Xianbei, Turkic, migratory birds, Tubo, Danghang and other northern nomadic peoples to hunt, live and reproduce in the place, and therefore the Helan Mountain contains a lot of profound traces of history.
One of the most famous than born in the 10,000 years ago "Helan Mountain petroglyphs", mainly distributed in the north section of the Helan, mostly carved in the hinterland of the cliffs, the content of the ancient human figures drawn on the rocks.
Records of grazing, hunting, rituals, war, entertainment, dance, coitus and other scenes of life, as well as sheep, cattle, horses, camels, tigers, leopards and other animals, some of which are realistic, while others are abstract totem symbols, both historical and artistic value.
In the hinterland of the Helan Mountains, which is more than 200 kilometers long from north to south, there are more than 20 surviving petroglyphs, including petroglyphs in Shizuishan City, Pingluo County, Helan County, Qingtongxia City, and Zhongwei County, but the most representative of them all is the Helankou petroglyphs.
Among them, you may want to look for the Sun God murals, where the eyes of the deity with eyes wide open, the head radiating lines symbolizing sunlight, and the totem scars are still clearly visible, which shows the worship of the sun at that time, and attracts tourists who are interested in archaeological history.
If you are strong enough, you may want to continue along the scenic trestle, at the end of which is a Helan waterfall, which is a small surprise of the journey.
Address: Helan Mouth, East Foothill of Helan Mountain, Helan County, Yinchuan City, Ningxia
Open: 08:30~18:00
Route: Adults 60 yuan ACCESS: You can start from Yinchuan Crescent Plaza, take the "Yinchuan Tourism Line 2 (Tour 2)" to the station of the petroglyphs of the Helan Mountains, and get off, the ride is less than 1 hour. The journey will take about 1 hour.
8. Liupan Mountain National Forest Park?
Located in the south of Ningxia, in the center of the triangle formed by Xi'an, Yinchuan and Lanzhou, Liupanshan is one of the youngest mountains in China.
The mountain spans Jingyuan County, Lund County, and Yuanzhou District in Ningxia, and is long and narrow, with high and steep peaks. It is common to see cliffs and gorges in the mountains, as well as streams crisscrossing the mountain due to the steep terrain.
Every steep fall will become a spring waterfall, and then formed pools, waterfalls, springs, streams and other bodies of water, for the Northwest China is quite rare scenery.
Among them, Liupan Mountain Park is densely forested, with a coverage rate of more than 80%, which is an important water conservation forest base in Northwest China, and can be said to be a green wetland on the Loess Plateau.
The vast Liupanshan Mountain has many tourism resources, including Liupanshan National Forest Park for the Liupanshan Mountain in the attractions of the most concentrated area, including the Liangtianxia, Erlong River, Xiao Nanchuan and other important attractions.
Walking through the 10-kilometer Liangdian Gorge on a hot summer day, you can see the mountains embracing you, and the clear streams at the bottom of the canyon, and along the Erlong River, you can arrive at the richly forested Xiaonanchuan Gorge.
Eventually, in the deepest part of the forest, you will see the Xiaonanshan Waterfall with its waterfalls and rapids, which is suitable for travelers who love nature, leaving behind the reality of the mundane dust, and coming to Liupanshan Mountain to enjoy a touch of coolness and Zen.
Address: Jingheyuan Town, Jingyuan County, Guyuan City
Open: 08:00~18:00
Route: Adults 65 yuan; students & 60~64 years old elders half ticket; children under 120 cm & elders over 65 years old free of charge ACCESS: recommended chartered car! To get to the scenic spot, charter a car from Jingyuan County to the scenic spot, the fare is about 60 yuan
Please click on this link: Traveling to Ningxia, what are the must-eat dishes? The first thing you need to do is to take a look at it, and I'm not going to tell you all about it here!
The... Wolfberry
China's largest wolfberry production base in Ningxia Autonomous Region in Ningxia County, due to geography and altitude, climate and other favorable conditions, the abundance of excellent quality of wolfberry, wolfberry nature of the sweet, with nourishing the liver and kidneys, beneficial to the essence of the eyes, moistening the lungs efficacy.
Therefore, many travelers come to Ningxia, will not miss this both health and delicious gift, in addition to dried wolfberries, the local development of many wolfberry products, such as wolfberry nougat, coffee, milk tea, cereal crisp, and so on, is also very popular with the travelers.
. Sand Porcelain Utensils
Ningxia's sand is very unusual, and it's even more perfect when it's transformed into a take-home artwork-cum-gift, as Ningxia has combined the rugged Ningxia sand with the celadon of southern China in recent years.
Launched a series of sand porcelain products in the South China River, rough sand porcelain as the surface of the cup, the cup is the elegant Jiangnan celadon, whether it is a cup lid, tea cups or cups have a taste of the design, very suitable for gifts as companions.
. Wine
Ningxia is one of the earliest regions in China to introduce grapes, due to the excellent natural conditions, wine from the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains, has been the world-renowned best producers, Ningxia has up to more than 70 wineries, and has even been speculated to have the potential to become the next Napa Valley and Bordeaux.
Ningxia wine concentration falls around 13.5 degrees, the taste is lighter, softer, moderate acidity with a special smell of raw green, which is Ningxia wine is the most unique place, the red wine research travelers visit Ningxia, may wish to pick one or two wines, taste some.
So mesmerizing and magical Ningxia, worthy of your visit, don't you think? What other great introductions do you have, feel free to share!