On the map of northwest China, at the embrace of the Yellow River and the Helan Mountains, stands quietly a city known as the “Phoenix City”. Here, one can witness both the vast and desolate scenery depicted by the line “a lone smoke rises straight from the desert”, and the gentle charm of the “land south of the Great Wall on the frontier that resembles Jiangnan (a region south of the Yangtze River known for its idyllic beauty)”. It served as the ancient capital of the Western Xia Dynasty and shines as a gem along the “Belt and Road”. Yinchuan, a city hailed by Chinese National Geography as one of “China’s Top Ten New Heavenly Cities”, is captivating the world’s attention with its unique charm.

在中国西北的版图上，黄河与贺兰山相拥处，一座被称作“凤凰城”的城市静静矗立。这里既有“大漠孤烟直”的苍茫，又有“塞上江南”的温婉；既是西夏王朝的故都，又是“一带一路”上的明珠。银川，这座被《中国国家地理》誉为“中国十大新天府”的城市，正以独特的魅力吸引着世界的目光。

I. City’s Genetic Code: A Spatio-Temporal Symphony of Millennium-Old Civilization

一、城市基因：千年文明的时空交响

• A Shining Pearl in the Long River of History
• 历史长河中的璀璨明珠
  • Yinchuan’s history can be traced back to the Shuidonggou Paleolithic Cultural Site, which dates back 30,000 years. The bone and stone tools unearthed here bear witness to the earliest glimmers of human civilization. After Qin Shi Huang unified the six states, Yinchuan was incorporated into the Beidi Commandery. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty built cities and carried out reclamation projects here, initiating the legendary tale of “Ningxia being enriched by the Yellow River”. The establishment of the Western Xia Dynasty transformed Yinchuan into an eastern hub along the Silk Road—the Xingqing Prefecture built by Li Yuanhao, with the Western Xia imperial tombs known as the “Oriental Pyramids” as its testament, represented the pinnacle of written language, laws, and Buddhist art. Yuan Dynasty poet Ma Zuchang once described the region’s prosperity with the lines “Orchards flourish beneath Mount Helan; The land south of the Great Wall on the frontier resembling Jiangnan has long been renowned”. Moreover, during the Ming Dynasty, Yinchuan’s strategic military position as one of the “Nine Major Garrisons on the Frontier” made it a poetic focal point where the Great Wall and the Yellow River intertwined.
  • 银川的历史可追溯至三万年前的水洞沟旧石器文化遗址，这里出土的骨器、石器见证了人类最早的文明曙光。秦始皇统一六国后，银川被纳入北地郡，汉武帝在此筑城屯垦，开启了“天下黄河富宁夏”的传奇。西夏王朝的建立，让银川成为丝绸之路上的东方枢纽——李元昊在此修建的兴庆府，以“东方金字塔”西夏王陵为见证，创造了文字、律法与佛教艺术的巅峰。元代诗人马祖常曾以“贺兰山下果园成，塞北江南旧有名”描绘这里的富庶，而明代“九边重镇”的军事地位，更让银川成为长城与黄河交织的边塞诗眼。
• Multicultural Coexistence in a Cultural Melting Pot
• 文化熔炉中的多元共生
  • As the capital of China’s only Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan’s streets and alleys are imbued with the intermingled heritage of multiple ethnic groups. The domes of mosques stand in harmonious contrast to the upturned eaves of Han Buddhist temples, while the mysterious symbols of the Western Xia script coexist with the elegant curves of Arabic script in museums. During Eid al-Adha each year, Hui compatriots, dressed in traditional attire, stroll through the streets, filling the air with the fragrance of fried oil and the crispness of fried dough twists. Meanwhile, the live-action performance “Flames of War in the Western Xia” at the Western Xia Theme Park recreates the clashing of swords and the neighing of warhorses from a millennium ago, with the neighing of warhorses and the melodious sound of Qiang flutes.
  • 作为中国唯一的回族自治区首府，银川的街巷间流淌着多民族交融的血脉。清真寺的穹顶与汉传佛教的飞檐相映成趣，西夏文的神秘符码与阿拉伯文的优雅曲线共存于博物馆。每年古尔邦节，回族同胞身着传统服饰走街串巷，空气中弥漫着油香与馓子的酥脆；而西夏风情园的《烽火西夏》实景演出，则用战马嘶鸣与羌笛悠扬，重现千年前的金戈铁马。

II. Geographical Cipher: A Natural Epic of Harmonious Mountains and Rivers

二、地理密码：山河交响的自然史诗

• An Ecological Marvel of Coexisting Mountains and Waters
• 山水相依的生态奇观
  • Located in the middle of the Ningxia Plain, Yinchuan is nestled between the Helan Mountains to the west and the Yellow River to the east, forming a unique geographical pattern of “mountains as a screen and the river as a belt”. The Helan Mountains, like a colossal dragon stretching across the land, block the encroachment of the Tengger Desert, while the alluvial fans at their eastern foothills nurture fertile soil. The Yellow River surges forth from the Qingtong Gorge, spreading out across the Yinchuan Plain to create the marvelous wetland landscape of 72 interconnected lakes. Within the Suyukou National Forest Park, remnants of Quaternary glaciers coexist with pristine forests, where blue sheep leap across cliffs and traces of snow leopards emerge amidst the mist. Meanwhile, the Sand Lake Scenic Area epitomizes the contradictory aesthetic of “golden sands embracing azure waters”—120,000 acres of desert intertwine with 22 square kilometers of lake water, providing habitat for 278 species of migratory birds, including endangered species such as the black stork and golden eagle.
  • 银川地处宁夏平原中部，西倚贺兰山，东临黄河，形成“山屏河带”的独特格局。贺兰山如巨龙横亘，阻挡了腾格里沙漠的侵袭，其东麓的冲积扇孕育出肥沃的土壤；黄河自青铜峡奔涌而出，在银川平原铺展出72连湖的湿地奇观。苏峪口国家森林公园内，第四纪冰川遗迹与原始森林共存，岩羊在悬崖间跳跃，雪豹的踪迹隐现于云雾；而沙湖景区则将“金沙碧水”的矛盾美学演绎到极致——12万亩沙漠与22平方公里湖水相拥，芦苇丛中栖息着278种候鸟，包括黑鹳、金雕等国家一级保护动物。
• A Poetic Journey Through the Seasons, Gifted by Climate
• 气候馈赠的四季诗行
  • Despite its northwest location, Yinchuan enjoys a mild climate characterized by the saying “wearing a fur coat in the morning and a thin纱 [shā, here referring to a light garment] in the afternoon.” With an average annual temperature of 8.5°C and annual precipitation of only 200 millimeters, the city thrives as a “granary on the frontier” thanks to self-flowing irrigation from the Yellow River. In spring, apricot and peach blossoms bloom in succession beneath the Helan Mountains, painting a picturesque scene of “blossoming mountainsides meeting the winding Yellow River.” During summer, the sun-drenched earthen walls of Zhenbeibu Film and Television City gleam with golden hues, immortalizing classic scenes from “A Chinese Odyssey.” Autumn transforms the Yuehai Wetland into a silver sea of swaying reeds, as migratory birds form majestic formations across the sky. In winter, the Helan Mountain Rock Art Site becomes a landscape of ink-wash paintings, with frozen waterfalls and snow-covered plains, while the earthen tomb platforms of the Western Xia imperial tombs exude an even deeper sense of antiquity beneath their blanket of snow.
  • 尽管地处西北，银川却拥有“早穿皮袄午穿纱”的温和气候。年均气温8.5℃，年降水量仅200毫米，但黄河自流灌溉让这里成为“塞上米粮川”。春季，贺兰山下的杏花与桃花次第绽放，形成“山花烂漫处，黄河九曲来”的画卷；夏季，镇北堡影视城的黄土夯墙在烈日下泛着金光，《大话西游》的经典场景在此定格；秋季，阅海湿地的千亩芦苇泛起银浪，候鸟南迁的队列划破长空；冬季，贺兰山岩画景区的冰瀑与雪原构成水墨丹青，而西夏王陵的夯土陵台在白雪覆盖下更显沧桑。

III. Administrative Divisions: A Spatio-Temporal Jigsaw of Three Districts, Two Counties, and One City

三、行政区划：三区两县一市的时空拼图

Yinchuan administers Xingqing District, Jinfeng District, Xixia District, Yongning County, Helan County, and Lingwu City, with each region embodying unique historical legacies:

银川下辖兴庆区、金凤区、西夏区、永宁县、贺兰县与灵武市，每个区域都承载着独特的历史记忆：

• Xingqing District: As the old urban core, its Gulou Pedestrian Street intertwines Ming and Qing architectural styles with the modern neon lights of Xinhua Department Store, while beneath the upturned eaves of the Yuhuang Pavilion lie the Western Xia treasures housed in the Ningxia Museum.
• 兴庆区：作为老城区，鼓楼步行街的明清建筑与新华百货的现代霓虹交织，玉皇阁的飞檐下藏着宁夏博物馆的西夏秘宝。
• Jinfeng District: The glass facades of the Yuehai Bay Central Business District mirror the rippling waters of the adjacent wetland park, while the opera performances at the Ningxia Grand Theater harmonize with Islamic motifs along the China-Arab Axis, composing a new symphony of the Silk Road.
• 金凤区：阅海湾中央商务区的玻璃幕墙倒映着湿地公园的碧波，宁夏大剧院的歌剧与中阿之轴的伊斯兰纹饰共谱丝路新声。
• Xixia District: The Western Film Studio in Zhenbeibu narrates Zhang Xianliang’s literary dreams through its weathered ruins, while 3D reconstruction technologies at the Western Xia Tombs National Archaeological Site Park resurrect the vanished dynasty for modern eyes.
• 西夏区：镇北堡西部影城用残垣断壁讲述着张贤亮的文学梦想，西夏陵国家考古遗址公园的3D复原技术让消失的王朝重现人间。
• Yongning County: In the vineyards of Minning Town, the “purple 名片 [míngpiàn, literally ‘business card,’ here referring to a signature product]” of eastern Helan Mountain’s grape industry crafts world-class wines, while the Ming dynasty brick carvings of Lijun Pagoda bear witness to the epic saga of migration and development.
• 永宁县：闽宁镇的葡萄园里，贺兰山东麓的“紫色名片”正酿造着世界级美酒，而李俊塔的明代砖雕见证着移民开发的壮阔史诗。
• Helan County: The Rice-Fish Space Ecotourism Park orchestrates a dance between vibrant rice paddy artworks and Yellow River carp, while organic vegetables from Changxin Township supply tables across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
• 贺兰县：稻渔空间生态观光园的彩色稻田画与黄河鲤鱼共舞，常信乡的有机蔬菜直供粤港澳大湾区餐桌。
• Lingwu City: The underground barracks at Shuidonggou Relic Site and Hongshan Fortress form a three-dimensional Ming dynasty defense system, while sauropod fossils in the Dinosaur Geopark recount life’s 160-million-year legacy.
• 灵武市：水洞沟遗址的藏兵洞与红山堡长城构成明代立体防御体系，恐龙地质公园的蜥脚类恐龙化石诉说着1.6亿年前的生命传奇。

IV. Culinary Map: A Silk Road Flavor Journey on the Tip of the Tongue

四、味觉地图：舌尖上的丝路风情

• The Sacred Flavors of Halal Cuisine
• 清真美食的圣洁之味
  • As a Hui ethnic enclave, Yinchuan’s halal dining strictly adheres to religious traditions while creating astonishing gastronomic wonders. The “Golden Five-Layer” rib meat at Laomao Hand-Pulled Mutton requires Tan sheep [a local breed], raised on Helan Mountain purple alfalfa, undergoing three washes and three soaks before slow-simmering for three hours over gentle heat—resulting in tender meat that retains its shape. Yingbinlou’s hot pot features “cucumber strip” cuts from Yanchi Tan sheep hind legs, cooked in copper pots over charcoal with wild wolfberries from Shahu Lake, served curled and tender with a “Ningxia salsa” of chive flowers and fermented bean curd. Haoyuxuan Ecological Roast Whole Lamb smokes entire Tan sheep over Helan Mountain sour jujube branches, achieving crispy exteriors with succulent, fruit-wood-infused interiors.
  • 作为回族聚居区，银川的清真餐饮严格遵循教规，却创造出令人惊叹的味觉奇迹。老毛手抓的“黄金五层”肋条肉，需用贺兰山紫花苜蓿喂养的滩羊，经三洗三泡、文火慢炖三小时，肉质酥烂却形不散；迎宾楼的涮羊肉选用盐池滩羊后腿“黄瓜条”，铜锅炭火配以沙湖野生枸杞，涮至卷曲即食，蘸以韭菜花与腐乳调制的“宁夏沙拉”；昊御轩生态烤全羊则将整只滩羊用贺兰山酸枣枝熏烤，外焦里嫩间带着果木清香。
• The Bold Flavors of Western Xia Heritage
• 西夏遗风的豪迈之味
  • At the “Western Xia Royal Banquet” near the Helan Mountain Rock Art Site, one can savor reconstructed Dangxiang ethnic cuisine: “cistanche pancakes” made from buckwheat flour and wild honey, paired with “Helan Three Treasures” combining desert onions and hair vegetables; while “Xingqing Prefecture Roast Venison” uses Helan Mountain wapiti hind legs prepared with Western Xia cave-roasting techniques, served on celadon plates adorned with Dangxiang script—evoking a millennium-old journey through time.
  • 在贺兰山岩画景区旁的“西夏王宴”，可品尝到复原的党项族美食：用荞麦粉与野蜂蜜制成的“苁蓉饼”，搭配沙葱与发菜制成的“贺兰三珍”；而“兴庆府烤鹿肉”则选用贺兰山马鹿后腿，以西夏窑洞烤制技艺呈现，佐以用党项文字装饰的青瓷盘，仿佛穿越千年。
• The Heartwarming Flavors of Urban Bustle
• 市井烟火的温暖之味
  • The lantern-lit Huaiyuan Night Market serves as Yinchuan’s “midnight canteen”: imperial-style crispy beef pies encase minced meat in thousand-layer pastry, fried to golden perfection on griddles; spicy gluey fish cake hot pot simmers Ningxia chili peppers with sesame paste into a thick broth, boiling Lingwu long jujubes and Shahu Lake duck eggs; while milk and egg fermented glutinous rice porridge bubbles in copper pots, garnished with wolfberries, raisins, and black sesame seeds—creating a must-try “frontier dessert” for travelers.
  • 怀远夜市的灯火是银川的“深夜食堂”：宫廷香酥牛肉饼的千层酥皮裹着牛肉馅，在铁板上煎出金黄脆壳；辣糊糊关东煮将宁夏辣椒与芝麻酱熬成浓稠酱汁，涮煮着灵武长枣与沙湖鸭蛋；牛奶鸡蛋醪糟在铜锅里翻滚，撒上枸杞、葡萄干与黑芝麻，成为游客必打卡的“塞上甜品”。

V. Immersive Experiences: Five Must-Visit Hidden Gems

五、深度体验：不可错过的五大秘境

• Zhenbeibu Western Film Studio
• 镇北堡西部影城
  • Over 200 films and TV series, including Red Sorghum and New Dragon Gate Inn, were filmed here. Rent a red gown like the “Purple Cloud Fairy” and recreate iconic scenes from A Chinese Odyssey against the Ming-era ruins, or step into the Qing-era “Dragon Gate Inn” to hear tales of martial arts legends whispered by the wind chimes.
  • 这里诞生了《红高粱》《新龙门客栈》等200余部影视作品。租一套紫霞仙子的红衣，在明城残墙前重现《大话西游》的经典场景；或走进清城“龙门客栈”，听风铃摇曳中的江湖往事。
• Western Xia Tombs National Archaeological Site Park
• 西夏王陵国家考古遗址公园
  • Take a sightseeing tram through the Twin Tombs ruins, where a 3D cinema uses holographic technology to resurrect the Western Xia Empire’s glory. In the art museum, hands-on experiences with Western Xia movable-type printing bring the vanished script back to life on rice paper.
  • 乘坐观光车穿越双陵遗址，3D影院用全息技术还原西夏盛景；在艺术馆内，西夏文活字印刷体验让消失的文字在宣纸上重生。
• Helan Mountain Rock Art Site
• 贺兰山岩画景区
  • Follow wooden walkways to discover 3,000-year-old Sun God petroglyphs, then explore the Han Meilin Art Museum to admire bronze sculptures inspired by these ancient carvings—a dialogue between primitive artistry and contemporary aesthetics.
  • 沿着木栈道寻找3000年前的太阳神岩画，在韩美林艺术馆欣赏以岩画为灵感的青铜雕塑，感受原始艺术与现代美学的碰撞。
• Huangshagudu Original Ecological Tourism Zone
• 黄沙古渡原生态旅游区
  • Drift down the Yellow River on a goatskin raft, then ride a dune buggy to experience the “Jiangnan of the Frontier” from a wild perspective. Spend the night in a starry tent, gaze at the Milky Way through telescopes, and listen to forest rangers recount how Wang Wei penned his famous line “A lone smoke rises straight from the desert” amid these very dunes.
  • 乘坐羊皮筏子漂流黄河，在沙漠冲浪车上体验“塞上江南”的另一面；夜宿星空帐篷，用天文望远镜观测银河，听护林员讲述王维“大漠孤烟直”的创作故事。
• Zhihui Yuanshi Winery
• 志辉源石酒庄
  • At this eastern foothills of Helan Mountain estate, savor “Helan Red” dry wines that have won gold at the Brussels International Wine Competition. Tour the underground cellar’s ocean of oak barrels and master the three-step art of wine appreciation: observing color, inhaling aromas, and savoring flavors.
  • 在贺兰山东麓的葡萄酒庄，品尝获得布鲁塞尔国际大奖赛金奖的“贺兰红”干红；参观地下酒窖的橡木桶阵列，学习如何通过“观色、闻香、品味”三步法鉴赏葡萄酒。

VI. Travel Tips: The Right Way to Explore Yinchuan

六、旅行贴士：解锁银川的正确方式

• Best Time to Visit: May-October, with September (grape harvest season) and October (Helan Mountain autumn foliage) as prime periods.
• 最佳季节：5-10月，其中9月葡萄采摘季与10月贺兰山红叶季为黄金时段。
• Transportation Guide:
• 交通指南：
  • Air Access: Hedong International Airport offers direct flights to major Chinese cities.
  • 河东国际机场直通全国主要城市
  • Local Travel: Renting a car for self-drive is recommended; the “Route 66” along Helan Mountain provides stunning photo opportunities.
  • 市内推荐租车自驾，贺兰山沿线的“66号公路”是绝佳摄影点。
• Cultural Etiquette:
• 文化礼仪：
  • Mosque Visits: Remove shoes and wear long pants when entering.
  • 参观清真寺需脱鞋、着长裤
  • Photography: Always ask for permission before photographing Hui ethnic locals.
  • 拍摄回族同胞前需征得同意
  • Western Xia Tombs: Refrain from touching artifacts.
  • 西夏王陵禁止触摸文物
• Souvenir Recommendations:
• 伴手礼推荐：
  • Eight-Treasure Tea: Blend featuring wolfberries, longan, and rose jam.
  • 八宝茶（含枸杞、桂圆、玫瑰酱）
  • Vacuum-Packed Yanchi Tan Sheep Meat: A premium local delicacy.
  • 盐池滩羊肉真空包装
  • Helan Mountain Rock Art Rubbings: Authentic replicas of ancient petroglyphs.
  • 贺兰山岩画拓片

Yinchuan, a city brimming with charm, captivates an increasing number of tourists with its time-honored history and culture, magnificent natural landscapes, and unique culinary traditions. Whether you’re delving into the enigmatic Western Xia culture, immersing yourself in the allure of film and television heritage; whether you’re savoring the picturesque lakes and mountains reminiscent of Jiangnan north of the Great Wall, or marveling at the treasures of ancient art; whether you’re indulging in the classic mutton hand-rolled noodles or relishing the delectable hand-grabbed mutton, Yinchuan has something to fulfill every desire. Come to Yinchuan and embark on a splendid journey tailored just for you!

银川，这座充满魅力的城市，以其悠久的历史文化、壮丽的自然风光和独特的美食文化，吸引着越来越多的游客前来探秘。无论是探寻神秘的西夏文化，还是感受影视文化的魅力；无论是体验塞上江南的湖光山色，还是领略古代艺术的瑰宝；无论是品尝经典的羊肉老搓面，还是享受手抓羊肉的美味，银川都能满足你的需求。快来银川吧，开启一场属于你的精彩之旅！