Yinchuan City & Around: Main Scenic Spots

....................................................................................................................................................................................... Chengtiansi Pagoda .......................................................................................................................................................................................

Located in the old district of Yinchuan, the pagoda was built in 1050 in the West Xia dynasty. With a height of 64.5 meters, the 13-story pagoda is not only typical but also one of the most well preserved of Buddhist architecture from the West Xia Kingdom. In the temple where the pagoda stands, the West Xia Museum displays cultural relics of the once glorious Kingdom.

....................................................................................................................................................................................... Haibao Pagoda .......................................................................................................................................................................................

Haibao Pagoda is a prominent structure in the north of Yinchuan. Although the precise year that it was built is unknown, historical records suggest that it was built in the 5th century. This pagoda, which stands over 50 meters high is architecturally very interesting - it has an unusual angular shape with niches and ledges that protrude from each of the 11 store. From a wooden ladder, you can climb up to the 9th story, from where you can enjoy stunning views of the old and new towns.

....................................................................................................................................................................................... Nanguan Mosque .......................................................................................................................................................................................

Nanguan Mosque, built at the end of Ming dynasty (1368-1644) is in the southeast corner of Yinchuan's old city. The present building, which was rebuilt in 1980, covers an area of 2,070 sq meters. It has an Islamic architectural style, complete with majestic green domes. The Great Prayer Hall in the upper level can accommodate 1,000 people and the lower level contains bathing houses, a secondary prayer hall and residences for the imams.

....................................................................................................................................................................................... Mt. Helanshan .......................................................................................................................................................................................

Located 17km (11 miles) northwest of Yinchuan, is the grand Helanshan range of mountains. The mountains, which reach over 3,550 meters (11,640ft), have traditionally served as a natural barricade against desert winds and foreign invaders. Interesting sites such as the Western Xia Mausoleum, Baisikou twin pagodas and the historic Gunzhongkou village are found on these mountains. The village Zhenbeibu on Helanshan was the location for the film 'Red Sorghum' directed by Zhang Yimou.

....................................................................................................................................................................................... Huaxia Western Film Castle .......................................................................................................................................................................................

The Western China Movie and TV Center, China's only film set with original ancient castles, has been constructed in Zhenbeipu, an ancient city in the desert to the northwest of Yinchuan. . The center is of primitive, simplicity, originality, desolation, popular. Here producing many films, bringing many star, achieving many international and national film award, so it was praised as "the best of China". The world-acclaimed film Red Sorghum was shot here in 1980. The Huaxia West film castle not only have the value of tour , but also have diversification instant tour section , it can facture film for visitor and provide food drink, shopping, cultivate, shooting in horse. The most extrusive service is that visitor can act at liberty as star, REC disk, enjoying in personal family cinema

....................................................................................................................................................................................... West Xia Imperial Tomb .......................................................................................................................................................................................

The West Xia Kingdom (1038-1227) was once a power kingdom, which kept a strong military force and maintained its aggressiveness. In 1227, Genghis Khan conquered it. The West Xia Imperial Tombs lie about 30 kilometers west of Yinchuan, on the eastern slope of Helanshan. Nine West Xia kings were buried in the zone, accompanied by hundreds of their ministers. Every tomb is a complete structure that includes watchtowers, sacred walls, stele pavilions, halls and pagodas and some are as big as 100,000 sq meters. To date only 1 tomb and 4 annex tombs have been excavated. The tombs of West Xia kings resembling pyramids in Egypt are very different from those of Chinese emperors. << Back to Yinchuan Info