Top 12 Famous Tourist Attractions Must-Visit in Yinchuan

Yinchuan, known as the “Lake City Beyond the Great Wall,” was once the capital of the Western Xia Dynasty. Blending desert, river, and wetland landscapes shaped by the Yellow River, the city is famed for landmarks such as the Helan Mountains, ancient rock carvings, desert oases on the edge of the Tengger Desert, and the unique desert lake scenery of Shahu Lake. Rich in history yet defined by striking natural contrasts, Yinchuan offers a distinctive travel experience in northwestern China.

Below is a selection of Top 12 Must See Attractions, designed to serve as a helpful guide and inspiration for your journey through Yinchuan.

Top 1: Western Xia Imperial Tombs

The Western Xia Dynasty was founded in 1038 and lasted for nearly two centuries, ruling vast areas of what is present-day Ningxia, Gansu, and Inner Mongolia. The Western Xia Imperial Tombs are located on the eastern slopes of the Helan Mountains and served as the burial ground for successive Western Xia emperors and members of the royal family.

As the largest imperial mausoleum complex in China with the most complete above ground remains, the site is often described as a “mysterious wonder” and the “Pyramids of the East.” On July 11, 2025, the Western Xia Imperial Tombs were officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, further highlighting their outstanding universal value.

The architectural style blends Han and Tibetan cultural influences, forming a unique, primitive, and austere "Western Xia style." The core area spans 20.9 square kilometers and includes nine imperial mausoleums and 271 subsidiary tombs, arranged in a grand layout resembling the Big Dipper. Within the tomb complex, numerous stone statues, steles, and carvings made of brick, stone, and wood stand as treasures of Western Xia culture, the most famous being the "Western Xia Stele."

The site is also known for its enduring mysteries. The towering rammed-earth mausoleum mounds have remained standing for more than a thousand years, with no vegetation growing on their surfaces and no birds nesting upon them, adding an air of mystery to the ancient kingdom.

Beyond historical exploration, the scenic area offers interactive cultural experiences such as horse-drawn carriage rides and movable-type printing workshops, allowing visitors to engage more deeply with the legacy of the Western Xia Dynasty.

• Address: East Range of the Helan Mountain, Yinchuan City
• Open Hours: 8:30-19:00
• Tour Length: 1-2 hours

Top 2: Shuidong Cave

Shuidonggou is the earliest discovered Paleolithic site in China, with human activity dating back more than 40,000 years. Often regarded as the birthplace of China’s prehistoric archaeology, it also stands as an important witness to early cultural exchanges between East and West. Today, the site is protected as a National Key Cultural Relic Site and a National Geopark.

In addition to its archaeological value, Shuidonggou features the intriguing Hidden Troops Cave, an ancient military defense system with concealed passages and ingenious structures. Visitors can also enjoy lively equestrian performances and the large-scale outdoor show Beijiang Sky Song, which brings the history of the northern frontier to life.

Exploring the site is made enjoyable by a wide range of transportation options, including electric shuttles, horse and camel rides, traditional carriages, ziplining, and shuttle buses, adding an element of fun and variety to the visit.

• Address: Linhe Town, Lingwu City, Yinchuan City
• Open Hours: 09:00-17:30
• Tour Length: 1-3 hours

Top 3: Rock Painting of Helan Mountain and Hanmei lin art museum

The Helan Mountain Rock Paintings are often described as an ancient epic carved in stone. Tens of thousands of rock images are scattered throughout the Helankou Gorge, depicting scenes of hunting, rituals, and celestial worship. Among them, the Sun God rock carving, rendered with radiating lines to convey divine power, is regarded as the most iconic treasure of the mountain.

The rugged slopes of the Helan Mountains are also home to herds of blue sheep, which are frequently seen moving gracefully along the cliffs, offering visitors the rare chance to observe these agile animals up close.

Nearby, the Han Meilin Art Museum creates a striking dialogue between ancient rock art and contemporary creativity. The museum displays over 3,000 works inspired by the Helan Mountains, including sculptures, paintings, and ceramics. Highlights include the monumental purple clay teapot Book of Heaven and the powerful bronze sculpture Mother and Child.

The area also preserves the remains of a Western Xia royal Buddhist temple, where surviving pagoda foundations and cliff carvings bear silent witness to the spread of Buddhism along the Helan Mountains.

• Address: East Range of the Helan Mountain, Yinchuan City
• Open Hours: 8:30-17:30
• Tour Length: 1-2 hours

Top 4: Tengger Desert

Stretching about 240 kilometers from north to south and 160 kilometers from east to west, the Tengger Desert covers an area of approximately 43,000 square kilometers, roughly the size of Taiwan, making it the fourth largest desert in China. The desert spans parts of Ningxia and Inner Mongolia and features several well-known scenic areas, including Shapotou Scenic Area and Golden Sand Sea in Zhongwei, the Five Lakes Desert Crossing near Bayanhot in Alxa Left Banner, and the Desert Grassland by the Lakes along the Ningxia–Inner Mongolia border.

Shapotou Scenic Area is uniquely located where the desert meets the Yellow River. Signature experiences here include riding sheepskin rafts across the river, desert surfing vehicles, and camel rides. Floating on a traditional sheepskin raft offers a vivid glimpse into local ingenuity while feeling the power of the Yellow River.

Located deep within the desert, Tengger Golden Sand Sea offers a more pristine and rugged landscape, with steeper dunes and a stronger sense of wilderness. Visitors can enjoy thrilling activities such as desert surfing vehicles, quad biking, self-drive off-road adventures, and camel riding, making it an ideal destination for those seeking a more adventurous desert experience.

• Address: East Range of the Helan Mountain, Yinchuan City
• Open Hours: 8:30-17:00
• Tour Length: 2-3 hours

Top 5: China Western Film Studios

Originally built as a Ming Dynasty frontier fortress and military camp, this site has been transformed into a film and television city and is now one of the leading outdoor filming locations in western China for historical and western themed productions. Among China’s many film studios, it stands out for its raw and unpolished atmosphere. The architecture is simple and rugged, with a strong sense of desolation and folk character, vividly reflecting the spirit of northwestern China.

More than sixty well known films and television series have been shot here, including A Chinese Odyssey, New Dragon Gate Inn, and Warriors of Heaven and Earth.

The film city features Ming City, Qing City, and Old Yinchuan Street. Ming City features a raw, desolate setting with classic filming locations from Red Sorghum and A Chinese Odyssey. Qing City recreates a northern town of the Qing Dynasty, blending traditional architecture with Tibetan influences. Old Yinchuan Street, built in 2012 and inspired by Republican era Liushu Alley, restores historic merchant houses and presents the story of Yinchuan’s urban past.

• Address: Zhenbaeibao Town, Xixia Town, Yinchuan City
• Open Hours: 09:00-17:00
• Tour Length: 1-2 hours

Top 6: Nanguan Grand Mosque

Located in Nanguan, Yinchuan, the Nanguan Grand Mosque showcases a blend of Arab architectural style and local cultural features. Rebuilt in 1981, the mosque has a meticulously designed two-story layout. Its main hall features a large central green dome and four smaller corner domes, all topped with finials, while a crescent moon rises above the main dome. Elegant eaves and roof designs highlight the mosque’s rich Islamic character.

The main prayer hall rises 26 meters high and can accommodate over 1,300 worshippers. The lower floor includes ablution facilities, a small prayer hall, a women’s prayer hall, classrooms for Arabic studies, the imam’s residence, and a reception area. Serving as the spiritual center for Yinchuan’s Hui community, the mosque attracts hundreds to thousands of worshippers every Friday and during traditional Hui festivals for collective prayers and pilgrimage.

• Address: No. 288, Yuhuangge South Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
• Open Hours: 08:00-17:00
• Tour Length: 1-2 hours

Top 7: Ningxia Museum

Ningxia Museum is a comprehensive provincial level history museum and an important window into the region’s past. The original museum was located within the Chengtiansi Temple complex in Yinchuan, while the current museum presents its collections across three main exhibition sections: the General History Gallery, Thematic Exhibitions, and Temporary Exhibitions. Together, twelve exhibitions offer a layered and well-rounded introduction to Ningxia’s history, culture, and regional character.

The highlight of the museum is the Ningxia General History Gallery on the second floor. Covering thousands of years of history, this core exhibition presents a systematic overview of the region’s historical development, revolutionary heritage, folk traditions, and rock art culture, making it the key area for visitors to explore.

It also features a special rock art gallery known as the “Stone Carved History.” In addition to the famous Helan Mountain rock paintings, Ningxia is home to many lesser-known rock art sites located in remote and hard to access areas. This gallery allows visitors to view a wide range of Ningxia rock art up close, offering rare insight into these ancient visual records.

• Address: People's Square East Street, Jinfeng District, Yinchuan City
• Open Hours: 9:00 - 17:00 (Closed on Monday)
• Tour Length: 1-2 hours

Top 8: Sand Lake

Located in Shizuishan City, about 56 kilometers from Yinchuan, Shahu Lake (Sand Lake) is a rare landscape where desert and water exist side by side. With a lake area of 45 square kilometers and surrounding dunes covering 22.5 square kilometers, it combines the grandeur of the northern desert with the elegance of a southern water town, earning its place as a shining landmark along the ancient Silk Road.

Visitors can take small boats through reed filled channels to watch birds at play, enjoy blooming lotus flowers in summer, or head into the desert area for sand sliding and camel riding on fine golden sands.

Shahu Lake offers different experiences throughout the year. April to May is ideal for birdwatching, July to August for lotus viewing and water activities, September to October for reed landscapes and desert adventures, and from December to February, the area transforms into a winter wonderland with ice and snow festivals and seasonal ice activities.

• Address: No. 1, Shahu Avenue, Pingluo County, Shizuishan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
• Open Hours: 9:00-17:00
• Tour Length: 1-3 hours

Top 9: Lanshan Park

Lanshan Park is one of Yinchuan’s most popular scenic spots and a favorite place to watch the sunset. Its highlights include the Yuehai Lake viewing platform, a fan shaped open air amphitheater, and a hidden viewpoint overlooking the city skyline. Inspired by the style of an ancient Roman colosseum, the amphitheater features sweeping stone steps and an arched colonnade formed by 42 European style pillars, each rising 18 meters high. The tall stone columns and warm beige architecture create a grand and symmetrical scene, especially striking in the glow of the evening sun.

From the western hilltop, visitors can enjoy a rare view of Yuehai Lake shimmering to the east and the silhouette of the Helan Mountains to the west. A lakeside ecological trail extends for about 3 kilometers along the shore, passing wetlands for birdwatching and lotus ponds, where water lilies bloom in summer.

• Address: Helan Mountain National Nature Reserve, Helan County, Yinchuan City
• Open Hours: 9:00-17:00
• Tour Length: 1-2 hours

Top 10: Yinchuan Drum Towers

Traditionally, Drum Towers were built at the heart of historic Chinese cities. Yinchuan’s Drum Tower remains in this central location, set within a lively downtown shopping area.

The Yinchuan Drum Tower was originally built during the Ming Dynasty and has a history of over 200 years. Standing 36 meters tall, it rises from a massive square platform measuring 24 meters on each side and 8.5 meters in height. Beneath the platform is a vaulted, cross shaped passageway, giving it the name Shizi Gulou, or Cross Drum Tower. This passage connects directly with Jiefang East Street and Gulou North and South Streets, making it a key urban crossroads.

Inside the tower is the Red Memory Exhibition, which presents the revolutionary history of Ningxia through historical materials and multimedia displays, offering visitors insight into the region’s modern past. Climbing to the top rewards visitors with a panoramic view of Yinchuan’s old city, where history and daily life blend seamlessly, and nearby is Gulou South Street, a historic pedestrian street and one of the oldest in the city.

• Address: The intersection of Jiefang East Street and Gulou North-South Street in Xingqing District, Yinchuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
• Open Hours: 09:00-18:00
• Tour Length: 1 hours

Top 11: Helan Mountain National Forest Park

The Helan Mountains are one of the few mountain ranges in China that run from north to south and serve as an important natural boundary between Ningxia and Inner Mongolia. The name “Helan” comes from Mongolian, meaning “fine horse.” Covering an area of 9,587 hectares, the range reaches a maximum elevation of 3,483 meters and is home to 898 species of wildlife. It also has the highest density of wild blue sheep per square kilometer in the world.

The scenic area is divided into four main zones, including Cliffside Walkways, Qingsong Ridge, Century Tower, and Cherry Valley. Dominated by an arid forest ecosystem, the park features nearly a hundred attractions such as the Helan Mountain Museum, dramatic cliff paths, and secluded canyons. Suitable for all seasons, the mountains offer spring flowers, cool summer retreats, colorful autumn forests, and snowy winter scenery, along with unique experiences like high wire performances and canyon suspension bridges.

Recommended Route (Easy Route): Songtao Mountain Lodge → Cable Car → Qingsong Ridge → Cliffside Walkway (Approximate duration: 2 hours)

Recommended Route (Hiking Route): Cherry Valley → Yixiantian Gorge → Tuerkeng Canyon (Approximate duration: 2.5 hours). This route is a paradise for hiking enthusiasts. Along the way, you may encounter wild blue sheep roaming freely among the cliffs.

• Address: East Range of the Helan Mountain, Yinchuan City
• Open Hours: 8:30-19:00
• Tour Length: 1-2 hours

Top 12: China-Arab Axis Scenic Avenue

The China-Arab Axis Scenic Avenue was built to commemorate the permanent establishment of the China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum in Yinchuan. Stretching 2,100 meters from Wanshou Road in the east to Qingshui Street in the west, and 58 meters wide, the avenue showcases a harmonious blend of Chinese and Arab architectural styles.

Key landmarks along the avenue include the Chinese Ding, Totem Pillars, and the Islamic Pavilion. The Chinese Ding stands on a 3-meter-high platform at the Wanshou Road entrance, with inscriptions symbolizing the depth of Chinese civilization. Eight Totem Pillars line the avenue, decorated with traditional Chinese and Arab patterns, serving both as lighting fixtures and cultural guardians. The Islamic Pavilion, with its distinctive dome and geometric latticework, is adorned inside with Quranic verses and floral patterns, creating a striking focal point for cultural dialogue. Together, these structures symbolize friendship and cultural exchange between China and the Arab world.

• Address: Yinchuan City
• Open Hours: All day
• Tour Length: 1-2 hours

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