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Brief description |
 Yinchuan is the captal of Ningxia Hui Automomous Region, which is located in northwest China along the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River. The terrain of the Region is arid and in many parts mountainous, but the city of Yinchuan enjoys the shelter of the Helan Mountains to the west and access to the waters of the Yellow River, leading to its reputation as ''a land of fish and rice on the frontier''.
Yinchuan's population has a diverse mix of ethniCities, including Hui, Han, Manchu and Mongolian peoples. Hui are the largest population & make up over a quarter of the residents. Many of the traditional folk customs in Yinchuan comes from the Hui, who have maintained their culture in a variety of ways. Halal food is popular across the city, and comes prepared in a style unique to the Hui. Visitors should seek out local dishes such as Qingzhen Yanggaorou (steamed lamb), Shouzhua Yangrou (boiled mutton), Yangrou Paomo (a mutton and beef soup), and Xiangsuji (spicy crisp chicken). Gaiwancha tea has provided refreshment to locals & travelers alike for over a thousand years.
The landscape around Yinchuan is not to be missed. The arid semi-desert landscape offers many attractions, from bird watching at Sand Laketo the singing sand-dunes at Shapotou, from camel rides over golden sands to sightseeing at the West Xia Tombs. For visitors looking for greener scenery, Helan Mountainand Zhongshan Parkare rewarding places to visit.
There are a number of buildings of religious significance: Nanguan Mosqueand Najiahu Mosque are the most famous of the many Hui mosques in this area. West Xia Museumhas many fine exhibits and displays including wood screen paintings from the Western Xia Empire. Even more ancient are the paintings and carvings on Helan Mountain which are estimated to be between 3,000 and 10,000 years old and have been listed as a UNESCO cultural site. There are over 60 sites in Yinchuan worth a look, including the Drum Tower, China Western Film Production Basein Haibao, the Chengtian Pagodaand the Jade Emperor Pavilion.
The famous 'Five Treasures' of Ningxia provide wonderful gifts and keepsakes. Licorice roots and black moss have been used in medicine for hundreds of years and are highly prized. Stones from the Helan Mountain known as ''Helan inkstones'' are pieces of deep purple or azure rock which make exceptionally high quality ink-stones for calligraphy. Tibetan lambskins are also a treasure of the area, as is the goji berry (often referred to as a wolfberry) which has recently found favor in the West as a ''superfood'': something the population of Yinchuan has known for years. |
Location /Climate |
The spring In Yinchuan is mild, and the summer short but quite hot, with average July maximums of 31C (87F). A cool autumn paves the way for long cold dry winters, when maximum January daytime temperatures are around -2C (28F), plunging to -16C (4F) at night. The climate in Yinchuan is generally dry - the annual rainfall is only around 200mm. As with most desert areas, the temperature plummets at night by around 15C, so visitors should ensure they pack layers.
Yinchuan sits in the north of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in the area of China known as the northwest. The Yellow river sits to the east of the city, and the forbidding mountain range known as Helan Mountain sits to the west representing the boarder with Inner Mongolia. Yinchuan rests between 37°29′-38°53 North Latitude and 105°49′-106°53′ East Longitude.
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Area & Population |
The city of Yinchuan covers an area of 3940 square km and has a population of 1,426,000 (2006), with 2 counties and 3 districts under its jurisdiction. The urban area of Yinchuan is 1482 square kilometers with population of 866,700 (2006). About 25 ethnic groups live in the city including Hui, Han, Mongol, Manchu and Chaoxian. The Hui population is around 360,400, which accounts for over a quarter of the inhabitants
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History |
There has been a settlement in Yinchuan for over four thousand years, but the establishment of a city here can be traced back well over 2 thousand years, to Emperor Hanchengdi's reign in the Han Dynasty when Beidiannong City was established in the east suburb of present day Yinchuan. Later, Li Yuanhao, leader of the Dangxiang ethnic group, established the Western Xia Dynasty (1038-1227), and made Yinchuan its capital. The Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was established in 1958 when Yinchuan became the capital city. Aside from being the capital, it serves as the political, economic and cultural center for the region.
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