Ningxia

This small province in China’s Northwest sees very few visitors, which really is a shame as there is much to see and do. Ningxia used to be the center of the Western Xia Dynasty, a powerful dynasty during the period of break-up in the 5^th to 7^th centuries A.D., and a part of the Silk Road.

The capital of Ningxia is Yinchuan, a pleasant city in the north part of the province with a large Muslim population. Given the heavy Muslim influence many of the sights are related to this with the large Grand Mosque at the Hui Culture Park just outside the city as a centerpiece. However this mosque is relatively new, so go to the Nanguan Mosque in the city center for more atmosphere. The Ningxia Provincial Museum, also in town, is one of the best history museums in China with an amazing array of authentic artifacts displaying Western Xia and Silk
Road culture.

Outside Yinchuan you will find an impressive collection of sights. Parts of the Great Wall of China run through the open desert north of the city, and since they are not restored like the parts near Beijing they give you a whole other experience than when visiting the restored parts. Out here you will also find the beautiful Twin Pagodas with the Helan Mountains as a dramatic backdrop. The area is also home to rock paintings dating back 10.000 years.

Between Yinchuan and the provincial town of Zhongwei you encounter the 108 Pagodas next to the Yellow River. The view of the river from the pagodas is great and it is possible to hire sheep-skin boats for small trips on the river.

Zhongwei is home to the fantastic Gao Temple and is also the access point for excursions into the Tengger Desert where you can go on camel treks and stay in Yurts. Even farther south Guyuan Town is the stepping stone for visiting the Xumishan Buddhist Grottoes where thousands of images and statues of Buddha was carved out of the rock surface by pilgrims plying the Silk Road. They date back more than 1300 years.