Yinchuan is a less-known city among China’s provincial capital cities. However, it is not less-attractive. Since the magnificent Helan Mountain and majestic Yellow River together created Yinchuan Plain, the diversified cultures were born and prospered here. In addition, Yinchuan is also a top choice for travelers in search of quality wines, desert view and waterscape. Your trip in Yinchuan will never be monotonous. As the capital city and tourist distribution center of Ningxia, Yinchuan is also equipped with an international airport and several railway stations. From Yinchuan, you can travel to many other charming destinations in Ningxia, such as Zhongwei (Shapotou Desert), Guyuan (Xumishan Grottoes), Qingtongxia (QIngtongxia Gorge), etc.
What to See in Yinchuan
In Yinchuan City, there is a mix of different kinds of scenic spots, including ancient pagodas, modern buildings, archaeological sites, green mountains, etc. Check best-recommended attractions below or visit Top 9 Things to Do in Yinchuan for more details.
Western Xia Imperial Tombs - Chinese Pyramid
Location: East Range of the Helan Mountain, Yinchuan City (宁夏回族自治区银川市西夏区贺兰山东麓)
Western Xia Imperial Tombs, also called Xixia Imperial Tombs, are a group of tombs of ancient emperors. It is known as Mysterious Miracle and Pyramid in East. Because of its largest scale, well-preserved relics and majestic tombs structure, it is listed in China Cultural Heritage sites. Several museums equipped in the scenic area help travelers take a probe into the history and culture of Western Dynasty Kingdom.
Led by Tangut, the Western Xia Dynasty is an imperial dynasty of China lasting from 1038 to 1277 when Genghis Khan and his Mongol armies swept in from the north, wiping out any trace of the former empire. It occupied a large area around the Silk Road, the most important trade route between China and central-Asia. The places it ruled over include Ningxia, Gansu, eastern Qinghai, northeastern Xinjiang, southwest Inner Mongolia, and southernmost Mongolia at its heyday. The emperors of the Western Xia Dynasty showed a high authority among their counterparts of the Liao, Song and Jin for their military power.
Led by Tangut, the Western Xia Dynasty is an imperial dynasty of China lasting from 1038 to 1277 when Genghis Khan and his Mongol armies swept in from the north, wiping out any trace of the former empire. It occupied a large area around the Silk Road, the most important trade route between China and central-Asia. The places it ruled over include Ningxia, Gansu, eastern Qinghai, northeastern Xinjiang, southwest Inner Mongolia, and southernmost Mongolia at its heyday. The emperors of the Western Xia Dynasty showed a high authority among their counterparts of the Liao, Song and Jin for their military power.
The history of the dynasties had been obscure and mysterious due to the absence of the documentary records until the pyramid tombs the imperial emperors were discovered. The preserved tombs and the burial objects allow the visitors to catch a glimpse of this dynasty. During one thousand years since the tombs were built, there have been numerous torrential flood in Helan Mountain areas, but miraculously none of them attacked these imperial tombs, which adding mysterious color to the Western Xia Imperial Tombs.
Helan Mountain - The Natural & Cultural Pearl in Ningxia
Location: The intersection of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (宁夏回族自治区和内蒙古自治区交界处)
Helan Mountain, at an altitude of 2,000 to 3,000 meters, is the highest mountain in Ningxia and Inner Mongolia. The undulating range of the mountain forms a natural barrier against desert winds and sands as well as invaders, making Ningxia a peaceful Oasis beyond the Great Wall. It also enjoys an excellent fengshui (geomantic omen) with groves surrounding it. In addition, it is the place where China’s early northern nomadic tribes like Tanguts, Huns, Xianbei, Turks, Unighurs, Tubos, etc., lived and proliferated. Therefore, there are lots of natural and cultural pearls formed and cherished in Helan Mountain. However, few people explore the whole mountain at once, because it is not a point of interest, but a huge area with lots of scenic attractions, from which you can get a probe into the nature, culture and history of Ningxia. Top recommended attractions include Rock Paintings of Helan Mountain, Suyukou National Park, Gunzhongkou Pass, Sand Lake, etc.
Shuidong Cave
Shuidong Cave is the earliest archaeologic site of Paleolithic Age and China’s best-preserved showplace of military and defensive structures. The ancient City Wall of Ming Dynasty can be viewed in the scenic area.
Ningxia Museum
Ningxia Museum has a quality display of a great number of cultural relics, from which you can get a better understanding of Ningxia’s history, folk customs, artifacts, etc. There are 4 class exhibitions.
China Western Film Studios
Known as the Hollywood in the east, China Western Film Studios is a vast shooting base for western Chinese films including Red Sorghum. Visitors can also enjoy earthy villages, fortresses and other recreations here.
China-Arab Axis Landscape Avenue
China-Arab Axis Landscape Avenue was built to memorize the China-Arab Economic and Travel Forum’s permanent settlement in Yinchuan. Here you can appreciate beautiful Arabic buildings and Chinese buildings.
Useful Yinchuan Travel Maps
In order to enjoy a better holiday in Yinchuan, it is important to learn about Yinchuan’s location and attractions distribution. China Discovery here collects and makes some high-definition maps for you,. Be free to download and print them and enjoy a more effective Yinchuan tour.
North Minzu University, under the direct administration of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People’s Republic of China, is a comprehensive institution of higher learning specialized inethnic minorities affairs. It is located in Yinchuan, the capital city of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, which known as the “oasis in the desert”. It is the only university established in minority autonomous region in China under the direct administration of the Commission. It was founded in 1984 with the former name of the Second Northwest College for Nationalities,and renamed North Minzu University in 2008. It is authorized to confer bachelor’s, master’sand doctoral degrees by the Office of Academic Degrees Committeeof the State Council.North Minzu University, under the direct administration of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People’s Republic of China, is a comprehensive institution of higher learning specialized inethnic minorities affairs. It is located in Yinchuan, the capital city of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, which known as the “oasis in the desert”. It is the only university established in minority autonomous region in China under the direct administration of the Commission. It was founded in 1984 with the former name of the Second Northwest College for Nationalities,and renamed North Minzu University in 2008. It is authorized to confer bachelor’s, master’sand doctoral degrees by the Office of Academic Degrees Committeeof the State Council.North Minzu University, under the direct administration of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People’s Republic of China, is a comprehensive institution of higher learning specialized inethnic minorities affairs. It is located in Yinchuan, the capital city of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, which known as the “oasis in the desert”. It is the only university established in minority autonomous region in China under the direct administration of the Commission. It was founded in 1984 with the former name of the Second Northwest College for Nationalities,and renamed North Minzu University in 2008. It is authorized to confer bachelor’s, master’sand doctoral degrees by the Office of Academic Degrees Committeeof the State Council.
The university adheres to the educational orientation of “four services” of socialist university with Chinese characteristics, fully implements the Party’s educational policy, follows the regulations of higher education, respects the features of higher education for ethnic minorities, and sticks to the educational purpose of serving ethnic minorities, minority areas and the national development strategy. The university is not only an important base for cultivating outstanding talents of ethnic minorities, for studying ethnic theories and policies, for inheriting and carrying forward excellent ethnic cultures, but also a window for displaying China’s ethnic policies and conducting foreign exchanges.
The university now has more than 21,000 postgraduates, undergraduatesand preparatory students from 56 ethnic groups in 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. The proportion of ethnic minority students is 60%, which is the microcosm of the big family of the Chinese nation. Over the past 36 years, the university has cultivated more than 50,000 outstanding talents for the economic and social development of ethnic minorities and minority areas. They understand ethnic culture and traditions, familiar with ethnic customs and conditions, settle down and work hard in minority areas, have become the practitioners of “making a concerted effort to achieve commonprosperity and development” of all the ethnic groups, the builders of the economic and social development of ethnic minorities and minority areas, the disseminators of excellent ethnic culture, and the defenders of ethnic unity and national reunification.
The university attaches great importance to major construction, and offers 74 undergraduate majors in 10 disciplines, including literature, science, engineering, law, history, management, economics, art, education and medicine. It is an authorized university offering master’s degrees in 10 first-level disciplines (ethnology, etc.), and nine majors (public administration,etc.), as well as doctoral degree in the first-level discipline (ethnology). It offers 17 key disciplines at provincial and ministerial level (Chineseethnichistory, etc.) and 4 characteristic majors at national level (materials science and engineering). It is an authorized university offering bachelor’s degrees in 1 first-class major (chemical engineering and technology), 9 characteristic majors at provincial level (Chinese language and literature, etc), 4 key disciplines at provincial (law, etc), 7 key majors at provincial level during the period of “the 13thFive-Year Plan”(automation, etc.), 5 demonstration majors of industry-education integration talents cultivation at provincial level (mechatronic engineering, etc.), bachelor’s degrees in 10 first-class majors at provincial level (tourism management, etc.) and 3 first-class disciplines of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (mathematics, materials science and engineering, electronic science and technology). It also has 1 national demonstration center for experimental teaching of materials science, and 8 provincial demonstration centers for experimental teaching of fundamentals of chemical technology, etc.
The university implements the strategy of “talents developing in higher educational institute”, insists on paying equal attention tocultivationand introduction, and builds a team of professional talents with high quality and reasonable structure. The university now has 1400 teaching and administrative staff, 1 leading scientific and technological innovation talent of “National Special Support Plan forHigh-level Talents”, 3 national candidates of “New Century Talents Project”, 7 persons enjoying the Government Special Allowance of the State Council, 1 national outstanding teacher, 1 national model teacher, 2 persons of “New Century Talent Support Program” of the Ministry of Education, 1 young and middle-aged science and technology innovation leading talent of the Ministry of Science and Technology, 3 experts with outstanding contributions of National Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People’s Republic of China, and 4 persons enjoying the Government Special Allowance of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
The university actively engages in scientific researches for the economic and societal development of the ethnic minority areas while cultivating a large number of outstanding talents for ethnic minority. It strengthens the communication and cooperation with local government, establishes the joint mechanism for cooperation in running universities and tackling key problems by relying on, integrating into and serving the local government. In recent 5 years, the university has undertaken 670 scientific research projects at the provincial level or above, demonstrated its characteristics and strengths in the research programs for powder materials and special ceramics, industrial waste recycling and reuse, grape planting and wine making technologies, ecological migration and targeted poverty alleviation. It has set up 6 provincial and ministerial key laboratories, including the Key Open Laboratory of Chemical Technology Foundations, 1 national and local e-center for the joint research of engineering, 1 pioneering national and international scientific and technological cooperation base, 3 national and regional research centers of the Department of Education / the National Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People’s Republic of China, 3 humanities and social sciences research bases of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People’s Republic of China, 1 technology innovation center at autonomous region level, 3 technology innovation platforms for institutions of higher learning in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and 2 new type think tanks of institutions of higher learning in Ningxia.
The university adheres to the opening up of its education to the world, and promotes international cooperation and exchanges. Hefei University of Technology is a supporting university designated by the National Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Education. In the mean time, the university also carries out exchanges and cooperation with many domestic universities, scientific research institutions, local governments, industries and enterprises, including Peking University, Xi’an Jiaotong University, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Lanzhou University and so on, and maintains good cooperative relations. The university actively responds to the “Belt and Road” initiatives, and promotes the opening up of its education. The Institute of International Education was founded in 2014 and joined the Silk Road University Alliance in 2015. In 2017, the Ministry of Education in China approved the founding of three national and regional research centers.Through the establishment of Chinese Languages Classes for Youth from Central Asian Countries and Ningxia International Chinese Languages Classes for Youth from Sister Cities,at present, the university has recruited and trained 71 international students for further education, academic education and program trainingin Chinese, and has strengthened international education. The university has signed cooperative agreements with about 70 universities and institutions in 30 countries, including the United States, France, Malaysia, etc.
The university actively develops “innovation and entrepreneurship” education, implements the innovation and entrepreneurship education model of “double motivations” + “double three-in-one”, establishes a three-in-one practice platform of “innovation and entrepreneurship team + innovation and entrepreneurship practice + university-enterprise cooperation practice” supported by resource sharing, interest driven, cross-disciplines, respect individuality, independent learning and self-management, which vigorously promotes the idea of “innovation leads entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship drives employment”. The university is rated as one of the first batch of “Demonstration Base for Business Incubation of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region”, “High-tech Business Incubator of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region” and “Demonstration Base for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region”, awarded as one of the first batch of “100 Demonstrative Colleges and Universities of Deepening the Reformof Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education” by the Ministry of Education, one of the third batch of “National Business Incubation Demonstration Base” by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, “National Youth Entrepreneurship Demonstration Park” by the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, and the National Education Base for Ethnic Unity and Progress by the National Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People’s Republic of China.
Since founded 36 years ago, the university has developed rapidly with the pace of reform and opening up. The university passed the undergraduate teaching qualification assessment of the Ministry of Education in 2000. In 2004, the National Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People’s Republic of China signed an agreement with Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to joint build North Minzu University. The university was awarded excellent in the evaluation of undergraduate teaching level by the Ministry of Education in 2007. It was awarded by the Ministry of Education as one of the top 50 colleges and universities in China for the promotion of college graduates’employment experience. In 2015, the National Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Education decided to joint build 6 universities under the direct administration of the Commission, including North Minzu University, ushering in a new opportunity for the university’s development.
In 2017, the university was approved as the seventh batch of national professional and technical personnel continuing education base. In 2018, the university was authorized to offer doctoral degrees in the first-level discipline of ethnology, marks the university has a complete degree authorization system for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees and its level of education has reached a new high. The university is one of the top 400 places with the best green environment in China, as well as a garden-style campus in Yinchuan City with its excellent facilities and elegant and quite campus. In recent two years, the university was awarded as “Model University of Ethnic Unity and Progress in Yinchuan City”, “Model University of Ethnic Unity and Progress in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region”, “Model University Running by Law in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region” and “Civilized Campus in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region”.
Through 36 years of arduous struggles and efforts, North Minzu University has entered a new journey of development. Standing at the new historical starting point, the university will comprehensively deepen the reform, promote the connotation construction, and strive to build a high-level modern national university with its unique characteristics in the new era! (the data up to May 2020)