Yinchuan

The “Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall”: the World Heritage Western Xia Tombs, Zhenbeibao Western Film Studio and Helan Mountain rock carvings, plus wineries on the eastern foot of the Helan Mountains and Shahu Lake.

Yinchuan is the capital of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on the Yinchuan Plain along the upper Yellow River, with the Helan Mountains to the west and the river to the east, at about 1,100 m. Two thousand years of Yellow River irrigation created the lakes, wetlands and rice paddies of the “Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall,” and in the 11th–13th centuries it was Xingqing Prefecture, capital of the Western Xia dynasty. Sights fall into three areas. First, the eastern foot of the Helan Mountains (30–50 km west of the city), where the Western Xia Tombs (a World Heritage Site since 2025), Zhenbeibao Western Film Studio, the Helan Mountain rock carvings and over a hundred wineries run from south to north; this is the core of Yinchuan tourism and can be covered in a day. Second, the city itself: in Xingqing District, the Nanguan Grand Mosque, Chengtian Temple Pagoda (West Pagoda), Yuhuang Pavilion and Drum Tower, plus the Ningxia Museum (Jinfeng District), are reachable on foot or by taxi, and Huaiyuan Night Market is the evening food spot. Third, the outskirts: Shahu Lake (desert and lake) in Pingluo County to the north (about 60 km), and Shuidonggou (a Paleolithic site and Ming Great Wall) in Lingwu to the east (about 30 km). The best season is May–October: summers are dry and pleasant, averaging about 23°C; September–October is grape harvest season on the eastern foot of the Helan Mountains, when wineries hold picking and tasting events, and also when the reeds at Shahu Lake turn golden; winters are cold and dry, and some outdoor sights are bleak. Getting there: Yinchuan Hedong International Airport is about 20 km from downtown; Yinchuan Station has high-speed trains to Xi'an (about 3 hours), Lanzhou (about 3 hours), Zhongwei and Taiyuan; city buses are extensive, and for the Helan Mountains you can take a tourist route or charter a car (about 300–400 yuan/day), with a one-day charter covering the Western Xia Tombs, film studio and rock carvings being the easiest. Suggested time: 2–3 days, or 4 days if adding Shahu Lake, Shuidonggou or Shapotou in Zhongwei. Notes: the Western Xia Tombs require reservations in peak season; winery visits and tastings usually require reservations, and if driving arrange a designated driver; at halal restaurants do not bring non-halal food, and be sure to try hand-pulled lamb, babao tea and lamb offal soup; UV is strong and winds are high along the Helan Mountains; mosquitoes are plentiful at Shahu Lake in summer.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries