{"id":16567,"date":"2018-09-05T10:54:45","date_gmt":"2018-09-05T02:54:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/?p=16567"},"modified":"2018-09-06T09:27:33","modified_gmt":"2018-09-06T01:27:33","slug":"how-to-visit-yinchuan-in-2-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/ningxia-travel\/yinchuan-travel\/how-to-visit-yinchuan-in-2-days","title":{"rendered":"How to Visit Yinchuan in 2 Days"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yinchuan (\u94f6\u5ddd) \u00a0is the capital city of Ningxia ( Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region ) in the northwest of China. \u00a0If you are planning Yinchuan tour<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong> Yichuan is your jumping-off point to other places in Ningxia and Alxa (Alashan) League in Inner Mongolia as well with its plentiful flights and trains connecting the major cities in China.<\/p>\n

Yichuan itself is worth your exploration for 1-2 days with its unique landscape and historical sites. Sandwiched by Helan Mountains on the west and Yellow River on the east, Yichuan basin is a livable and beautiful place. It has survived the barren plains and stark mountains that characterize most of the areas in Ningxia.<\/p>\n

Yinchuan is the ancient capital of Western Xia Dynasty (1038 – 1227 ), a state established by Tanguts. \u00a0Yinchuan was also the frontier of Chinese empires in the past 2000 years. Yinchuan boasts a few historical sites that bring you back in time and place to its splendid past.<\/p>\n

How to plan your 2-day Yinchuan tour<\/a><\/strong>? \u00a0We’ve listed some essential places to visit for a 2-day travel plan that may help plan your own Yinchuan 2-day trip.<\/p>\n

First Day<\/strong>
\nYichuan is divided into three districts – Xingqing District (\u5174\u5e86\u533a), Jinfeng District (\u91d1\u51e4\u533a) and Xixia District (\u897f\u590f\u533a). Xingqing District is the former old city with some remaining historical sites, \u00a0the most commercial area in Yinchuan; Jinfeng District is a new zone designed for the government offices, a political center in Yinchuan; Xixia District is an education and economic center in Yichuan with many colleges and universities \u00a0and economic \u00a0development zones.<\/p>\n

It is preferable to book your hotel in Xingqing District to have a better feel of the authentic Yinchuan’s local common life. Jiefang Road (\u89e3\u653e\u8def) and Minzu Road (\u6c11\u65cf\u8def) are the main East-West and North-South axis streets in Yinchuan.<\/p>\n

Now walk from East Jiefang Road to the west direction and start your morning stroll of the city highlights in Yinchuan.<\/p>\n

Soon you will see a massive traditional building at the crossroad of East Jiefeng Road (\u89e3\u653e\u4e1c\u8def) and Yuhuangge Road (\u7389\u7687\u9601\u8def) \u00a0which is known as “Jade Emperor Pavilion Tower”, \u00a0the only ancient high wooden structure built in Qing Dynasty with a height of 22 meters.<\/p>\n

\"Jade<\/a>
Jade Emperor Pavillion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Continue to stroll along East Jiefang Road, you soon come across another huge traditional building known as “Drum Tower” \u00a0standing on the crossroad of West Jiefang Road (\u89e3\u653e\u897f\u8def) and Gulou Nanbei Street \u9f13\u697c\u5357\u5317\u8857(Drum Tower South North Road ).<\/p>\n

It was originally built in 1821 in Qing Dynasty, a square structure with a \u00a0height of 36 meters<\/p>\n

\"Yinchuan<\/a>
Yinchuan Drum Tower<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Turn left and follow Gulou Nanjie also known as Gulou Pedestrian Street (\u9f13\u697c\u6b65\u884c\u8857), a vehicle-free shopping street south of the Drum Tower.<\/p>\n

The over 200 meters walking street is packed with department stores \u00a0and even vendors, a good place to see the commercial aspect of Yinchuan.<\/p>\n

\"Gulou<\/a>
Gulou Pedestrian Street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the south end of the Walking Street is the east-west Xinhua Street(\u65b0\u534e\u4e1c\u8857). You turn right on East Xinhua Street and soon you come across the north-south Minzu South Street (\u6c11\u65cf\u5357\u8857).<\/p>\n

Minzu Street is the north-south axis of the old city of Yinchuan ( Xingqing District).<\/p>\n

\"At<\/a>
At the crossroad of Minzu South Street and Xinhua Street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Continue to move on along West Xinhua Street (\u65b0\u534e\u897f\u8857), you soon will come to a crossroad intersected by West Xinhua Street and South Jinning Street(\u8fdb\u5b81\u5357\u8857). A high pagoda surrounded by a red wall on the southwest corner of the crossroad. The red wall surrounded pagoda is Chengtian Temple (\u627f\u5929\u5bfa).<\/p>\n

Chengtian Temple Pagoda was originally built in 1050 AD in Xixia Dynasty (1038 – 1227 ). It was later reconstructed for several times due to the earthquakes, fires and wars. The pagoda is 63.5 meters high, \u00a0an 11-storey pavilion-style\u00a0octagonal \u00a0brick pagoda.<\/p>\n

\"Chengtian<\/a>
Chengtian Temple Pagoda<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After visiting Chengtian Temple, you may continue to walk or take a taxi to Nanguan Mosque (\u5357\u5173\u6e05\u771f\u5bfa). Nanguan Mosque is located at the crossroad by Changcheng Road (\u957f\u57ce\u8def) \u00a0and South Yuhuangge Street (\u57ce\u968d\u9601\u5357\u8857).<\/p>\n

Nanguan Mosque was first built in late Ming Dynasty. The present Nanguan Mosque was rebuilt in 1980 with an area of 2074 square meters.<\/p>\n

\"Nanguan<\/a>
Nanguan Mosque<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Your afternoon trip will be focused on Shuidongguo Site, about 25 km east of Yinchuan City, adjacent to the border of Inner Mongolia. Shuidonggou is the site of\u00a0he Paleolithic \u00a0Age with a history of over \u00a030,000 year.<\/p>\n

In Shuidonggou, you can see \u00a0the remnants of the rammed\u00a0earth Great Wall \u00a0in Ming Dynasty. Shuidonggou’s developer has built the site into a huge leisure park infused with recreational elements such as boating, camel riding, horse cart riding and so on. A through ticket costs RMB 140.<\/p>\n

Shuidonggou literally means “Water Valley Caves”. The zigzag valleys were formed by the digging for the earth needed to build the rammed earth Great Wall in Ming Dynasty.<\/p>\n

In some of the valleys, caves or tunnels were dug to for soldiers to hide defending the Great Wall in Ming Dynasty. Some valleys are now dammed to contain water, becoming a limpid lake for leisure boating, hence the name of Shuidonggou.<\/p>\n

Your visit begins with a special museum introducing the history of Shuidonggou in\u00a0the Paleolithic period.<\/p>\n

\"Shuidonggou<\/a>
Shuidonggou Prehistory Museum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Next walk past the ancient Shuidonggou Village giving you an impression of the village and people living 30,000 years ago. Shuidonggou Site was first discovered and researched by French Paleontologists Emile Licent and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin in 1923 (Licent& Teilhard de Chardin 1925). There are several excavation sites in Shuidonggou.<\/p>\n

The replica of the\u00a0 Shuidonggou Village<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The replica of the Shuidonggou Village<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The wild and unrestored rammed earth Great Wall in Ming Dynasty is one of your highlights in Shuidonggou.<\/p>\n

\"<\/a>
Unrestored rammed earth Great Wall in Ming Dynasty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Reed Valley is a beautiful place with a wooden path allowing you walking in the valley lined with reeds waving in the wind.<\/p>\n

\"Reed<\/a>
Reed Valley<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

East of the Reed Valley is Hongshan Lake ( Red Earth Hill Lake ), one of the valleys formed by the earth digging for the construction of the rammed earth Great Wall in Ming Dynasty.<\/p>\n

The 5-minute boating offers a chance to see the gorgeous valleys and the wild Great Wall snaking beyond the northern side valley.<\/p>\n

\"<\/a>
Hongshan Lake<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Visiting the valleys in Shuidonggou is just like running relay races . After cruising along the valley, you will be arranged to get on a horse cart for a romantic tour of the red-willow valley.<\/p>\n

\"horse<\/a>
horse cart for a romantic tour of the red-willow valley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After the horse cart, you will jump on a camel cart for an intrigue tour of the valley.<\/p>\n

\"Camel<\/a>
Camel carts<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the end of the camel cart ride, you start to explore the caves in the valleys which were once used as soldiers’ hiding caves, as a kind of dimensional military defense system \u00a0including the Great Wall<\/p>\n

\"sodiers's<\/a>
soldiers’ hiding caves (Tunnels)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After finishing the exploration of the caves (Tunnels), you will get on a truck for your final transfer back to the main entrance and end your trip to Shuidonggou.<\/p>\n

Second Day
\n<\/strong>Today, a full day excursion to the two most important attractions in Yinchuan – West Xia Imperial Tombs\u00a0 and Rock Art at Helan Mountains plus the site of West China Film Studio. The travel route of the three sites combined is a classical itinerary, a must see for first time visitors coming to Yinchuan.<\/p>\n

There are no public buses linking the three sites on a day trip. Basically you have to use a local travel agency for an organized day trip including the three sites. \u00a0It costs about RMB 320 per person for a shared group tour including the entrance fees.<\/p>\n

West Xia Dynasty was founded in 1038 and destroyed in 1227 by the Mongols which later established Yuan Dynasty ( 1279 – 1368 ). West Xia is a powerful state in the northwest of China and \u00a0rivaled Song Dynasty and Liao Dynasty. \u00a0The West Xia Mausoleum was the burial site of the 9 emperors and over 253 accompanying tombs \u00a0in Western Xia’s history.<\/p>\n

The site of \u00a0the West Xia Imperial Tombs is located 35 km west of Yinchuan and on the eastern slopes in the middle section of \u00a0Helan Mountains. The largest tomb ( Tomb No.03 ) \u00a0houses Li Yuanhao, the \u00a0founder of Western Xia Dynasty. The tomb used to an earth core covered by a traditional wooden structure\u00a0octagonal\u00a0in shape. Now only the earth core is left, resembling a wheat stack,<\/p>\n

\"Tomb<\/a>
Tomb No.03 of Western Xia Tombs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After visiting Western Xia Tombs, continue to drive northwards about 40 km along National Highway No.G110, passing by Western China Studio and Suyukou National Forest Park , reaching the site where \u00a0a large \u00a0amount of rock art discovered at Helan Mountain.<\/p>\n

Helan Mountain is a natural shield in the northwest of Yinchuan Plain. The rock engravings display abundant motif of \u00a0animals, plant, human face, life scene, symbols and patterns.<\/p>\n

\"<\/a>
rock art discovered at Helan Mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Explore the rock art dotted on the slopes on the eastern side of Helan Mountain.<\/p>\n

\"Explore<\/a>
Explore the rock art dotted on the slopes on the eastern side of Helan Mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the end of your exploration of the rock art, continue to drive back about 17 km, passing by Suyukou National Forest Park and reaching the Western China Studio.<\/p>\n

The famous studio was originally built based on two ancient fortresses – Qing Dynasty Castle and Ming Dynasty Castle. It showcases the vivid \u00a0scenes of \u00a0Cultural Revolutions, People’s Commune, old Yinchuan city and more scenes for film making. Many films and TV have been produced using the scenes here.<\/p>\n

The main entrance to the Western China Studio<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The main entrance to the Western China Studio<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Reproduction of the old Yinchuan streets<\/p>\n

\"Reproduction<\/a>
Reproduction of the old Yinchuan streets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An Office of \u00a0Zhen \u00a0Nan Bao Production Brigade of People’s Commune<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A brigade of People’s Commune<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Ming Dynasty Castle<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Ming Dynasty Castle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Qing Dynasty Castle<\/p>\n

\"Qing<\/a>
Qing Dynasty Castle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

Tip:\u00a0 Hassle-free Yinchuan Guided Tours
\n\"06611\"<\/strong>If you don\u2019t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,\u00a0 here are some options for Yinchuan Guided Tours:<\/p>\n

\n

Yinchuan One Day Excursion Tour<\/a>\u00a0 from US$ 95 p\/p<\/span>
\nYinchuan 3 Day Tour<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 from US$ 235 p\/p<\/span>
\nYinchuan Car Rental with Driver<\/a><\/p>\n

Further Readings<\/h2>\n
\n<\/div>\n

Top 10 Attractions in Yinchuan<\/a>
\nHow to Visit Yinchuan in 2 Days<\/a>
\nWestern Xia Imperial Tombs<\/a>
\nHelan Mountain Rock Art<\/a>
\nGreat Wall at Shuidonggou<\/a>
\nWest Film Studio<\/a>
\nYinchuan Taxi<\/a><\/p>\n

Any questions, just drop a line<\/strong>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yinchuan (\u94f6\u5ddd) \u00a0is the capital city of Ningxia ( Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region ) in the northwest of China. \u00a0If you are planning Yinchuan tour,\u00a0 Yichuan is your jumping-off point to other places in Ningxia and Alxa (Alashan) League in Inner Mongolia as well with its plentiful flights and trains connecting the major cities in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[178],"tags":[2725,2729,2724,2728,2727,2726],"class_list":["post-16567","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-yinchuan-travel","tag-how-to-tour-yinchuan","tag-how-to-tour-yinchuan-in-2-days","tag-how-to-travel-yinchuan","tag-how-to-travel-yinchuan-in-2-days","tag-tips-for-visiting-yinchuan","tag-yinchuan-travel-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16567"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16567"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16567\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23484,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16567\/revisions\/23484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16567"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16567"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16567"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}