Ningxia – “The Oasis on Plateau”

'Ning' is the colloquial term for the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Find it on the map in northwest China and into the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. It is bordered by Gansu to the south, Shanxi to the east, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the north, and is one of the five ethnic minority autonomous regions in China. Ningxia covers a total area of 66,000 square kilometers (about 25,484 square miles) and has a population of 5.62 million; one third of who are Hui minority people. It has a temperate continental climate of long, cold winters and short, hot summers with the temperature being lowest in January, averaging from -10C to -7C and highest in July, averaging from17C to 24C. Annual rainfall averages from 190-700 millimeters
     Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, lies to the west of the Yellow River and to the east of Helan Mountain. The landform is divided into two main parts, the mountainous region in the west and south and the plains in the north and east. The average altitude of Yinchuan is 1,100 meters (about 3,609 feet). Lying in the central section of Ningxia Plain which is irrigated by the Yellow River, Yinchuan holds abundant water resources and enjoys the reputation of 'a land of fish and rice in the frontier'.
The city that has a history of more than 1,300 years was originally founded in 678. It was called Western Xia from the establishment in 1038 by the leader of Dangxiang ethnic group and had created splendid culture as well as gorgeous architecture.

Tourist Attractions

-Sand Lack Scenic Zone: If you love both the desert and the world of water, Sand Lake in northwest China is an ideal choice. Located in Pingluo County of the Ningxia Autonomous Region, 56 kilometers (about 35 miles) north of Yinchuan, This unique, natural scenery attracts millions of visitors from China and abroad. Sand Lake is one of the best places for bird watching in all of China, as it is home to 198 species and over one million birds. Every year during spring and autumn, over one million migratory birds stop at Sand Lake. The Bird-watching Tower, equipped with best telescope available, holds hundreds of people. The reeds and the lotuses seem to be endless at Sand Lake. While riding the motorboats, the breeze in your face and the scenery rushing by will give you an exhilarating feeling. The blue sky, green lake water, yellow sand dunes, green reeds, lotus and beautiful birds create a pure and peaceful picture of nature. Besides natural beauty, Sand Lake also offers you more than thirty recreational opportunities. Some are only for the adventurous but less strenuous activities are also available, such as water-motorcycling, wind surfing, and sliding down the dunes.
- Western Motion Picture City: A new castle-like structure has appeared by the side of the old castle city of Zhenbeibao (meaning: Northern Garrison Post) which during the Ming and Qing dynasties were stationed with garrison troops in defense of Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia, against possible invasions by Mongols from north of the Helan Mountain. Having withstood the ravage of the elements and human destruction for centuries, the mighty castle with its classical looks remains a major tourist attraction on the eastern side of the Helan Mountain. Since 1980, it has become the location for a number of award-winning western Chinese movies, including Herdsman, Red sorghum and Ballad of the Yellow River. Zhang Xianliang, a contemporary Chinese novelist, has opened his Huaxia Western Motion Picture City here, and since then directors and actors and actresses from Beijing, Xi’an, Taiwan and Hong Kong have made away with a total of 30 movies. With all the scenes and stage props kept intact, and a movie data bank and a projection room constructed, Zhengbeibao has become the only castle-based motion-picture location center in China.
- The Shapotou Tourist Zone: Shapotou is famous all over the world not lnly for its great success in reclaming of the shafting sand but also for its unique natural landscapes.To the south, the rolling Yellow River gallops forward with great momentum while the ruins of the Great Wall lies dimly visible.Tothe north, a stretch of the Baotou-Lanzhou railway winds through the green land won from the desert.What wins even greater admiration from the world is the wonder of the desert--the Shaop Mingzhong, a curious sound caused by the shifting sands.Below the sand hills, gardens and orchards drip green while the scientific research fields bloom with all sorts of flowers and plants in a riot colour. Since the sand dunes and the Yellow River are running hand in hand great achievements in desert reclamation they could, to their hearts content, ride camels in the desert and go leather rafting along the Yellow River.

Local Culture and Art

The Hui people are a Chinese ethnic group, typically distinguished by their practice of Islam. They form one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. They are concentrated in Northwestern China (Ningxia, Gansu, Shaanxi, Xinjiang), but communities exist across the country. Most Hui are similar in culture to Han Chinese with the exception that they practice Islam, and have some distinctive cultural characteristics as a result. For example, as Muslims, they follow Islamic dietary laws and reject the consumption of pork, the most common meat consumed in Chinese culture, and have also given rise to their variation of Chinese cuisine, Chinese Islamic cuisine and Muslim Chinese martial arts. Their mode of dress also differs only in that adult males wear white caps and females wear headscarves or (occasionally) veils, as is the case in most Islamic cultures.
     The definition of Hui does not include ethnic groups such as the Uyghur, who live in China and practice Islam, but are Turkic people and are thus different from Han Chinese.
     Included among the Hui in Chinese census statistics (and not officially recognized as a separate ethnic group) are several thousand Utsuls in southern Hainan province, who speak an Austronesian language (Tsat) related to that of the Cham Muslim minority of Vietnam, and who are said to be descended from Chams who migrated to Hainan. A traditional Chinese term for Islam is Huijiao, though the most prevalent is the transliteration.

Food

Food in Ningxia is mainly featured by Muslim flavors. There are various local snacks mostly featuring the flavor of the Hui people.
- Rince-Mutton: Mutton in Ningxia is fresh and tender, and its smell is not strong. Slices of mutton can be boiled and serve together with various ingredients, Chinese cabbage, and vermicelli made from pea starch.
- Grabbed Mutton: This dish has been popular for 1,000 years. The grabbed mutton, cooked with sheep ribs, is one of the traditional flavors of the Hui people in Ningxia, and is fresh, tender, and fragrant.
- Steamed Dove-Fish:  The dove-fish is a special fish live in the torrents of the Yellow River water. For hundreds of years, it has been a tribute to the royal court. Shaped like a peony in blossom, it is one of the famous traditional dishes in Ningxia.
- Mutton with Wolfberry Fruits: Tanyang, a kind of sheep raised in Ningxia, and wolfberry fruits, are native products of Ningxia. Fry the slices of mutton and the soaked wolfberry fruits, then serve. This dish is pleasant to the taste, and nutritious. It is a common medicinal dish in local Ningxia.

Shopping

Yinchuan was an important commercial center in northwest China during the Ming and Qing dynasties. China's reform and opening-up policies have brought vigor and vitality to the ancient city. Department stores, shopping centers, and chain stores line the streets in the commercial districts, such as Xinhua Street, Gulou Street, and Jiefang Street, among which the Gulou Street is the most brisk one. Yinchuan is also the distribution center for small commodities.
- The Red Treasure: The red Wolfberry fruit is a precious Chinese medicinal herb, and is one of the famous local products for export. It is believed to be able to clean the lungs, brighten the eyes, nourish the liver, and strengthen the kidney.
- The Blue Treasure: The Helan stone in imperial purple and green is noted for its fine texture and solidity. It is the raw material for inkstone, stamps, paperweight and stone carvings.
- The White Treasure: The sheep in Ningxia is a fine breeding. Its fur is a famous product for export. It is thin and pure in color. The hair measures eight centimeters in length, light, soft, and preserve heat.

A transportation system of highway, railway and airlines in Yinchuan provides speed and convenience. There are several national highways leading to all parts of the country and more than 125 kilometers (about 78 miles) of expressways within the boundaries of the city. Baolan Railway (Baotou in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to Lanzhou in Gansu Province) and Zhongbao Railway (Zhongwei in Yinchuan Province to Baoji in Shaanxi Province) connect with all railway lines to every destination. In addition, flights from Yinchuan Hedong Airport take you to all the major cities of China.Here you can taste the local dishes or snacks of rich Islamic flavor, such as Yangrou Paomo and Shouzhua Yangrou. Hotels of different grades are available to visitors, providing you warm and comfortable places to relax yourself.