The former Western Xia capital — desert, the great mosque and Helan rock art.
Yinchuan is the capital of Ningxia and the old capital of the Western Xia dynasty, a Tangut kingdom that once rivalled Song and Liao. Its grasslands hold the pyramidal Western Xia tombs, often called 'China's pyramids'.
It is also a Hui Muslim hub, with a grand mosque and a food scene straddling north-China and Silk Road flavours.
Here are the highlights worth your time in Yinchuan.
Pyramidal mausoleums of the Tangut kings.
Tickets ¥75Western Xia and Hui artefacts.
FreeA brick pagoda with a rare square plan.
FreeAncient petroglyphs on the mountain faces.
Tickets ¥60A Song-era pagoda in the city.
FreeA lake-and-dune wetland nearby.
Tickets ¥60Yinchuan has its own kitchen — here are the dishes to try.
Boiled lamb with salt — Ningxia's pride.
Noodles in lamb-poppy gravy.
Fried wheat ribbons, a Hui festive snack.
A mixed lamb-offal stew.
Tea with Ningxia's famous wolfberry.
Hui food stalls after dark.
Wolfberry-tea spots.
Evening music in the parks.
High-speed from Xi'an (~3 h).
Yinchuan (INC) is international-ish.
To the tombs and Shahu.
Works with foreign cards.
Line 1 covers the core.
Where you stay shapes the trip. Three good bases:
Near the mosque.
Quiet, for sunrise.
Practical.
History buffs, Muslim-culture travellers, desert fans.
