City guide · 银川 Yinchuan
Yinchuan
The old Western Xia capital below the Helan Mountains: the imperial tombs, rock art and a lake city on the frontier
Yinchuan is a frontier city beneath the Helan Mountains and on the banks of the Yellow River, and the former capital of the Western Xia dynasty: the Western Xia imperial mausoleums spread across the desert at the eastern foot of the Helan Mountains, the rammed-earth city walls of Zhenbeibu still carry the frontier atmosphere of the films shot there, while the lakes, wetlands and night markets of the city carry the everyday vitality of a "Jiangnan beyond the passes." You can cover the Western Xia mausoleums, the Helan Mountain rock art and the Zhenbeibu film studio in two to three days, with one day left for Shahu Lake or Shapotou to see sand and water together. Also worth visiting in the city: the Ningxia Museum, the Chengtian Temple Pagoda, Haibao Pagoda, Mingcui Lake National Wetland Park, Yuehai Park, the Drum Tower, the Jade Emperor Pavilion, the Huaiyuan night market, the China-Arab Axis, the Yinchuan Museum of Contemporary Art and Lanshan Park.
History
How the city came to be
The Yinchuan area already had migrants settled on the frontier in the Qin and Han periods. In 1038, the Tangut leader Li Yuanhao proclaimed himself emperor at Xingqing Prefecture (today's Yinchuan) and founded Western Xia, with its capital here; Western Xia existed between the Song, Liao and Jin dynasties for about 190 years, and was destroyed by the Mongols in 1227. In the Ming dynasty, the Ningxia Garrison was established here, and the Qing dynasty continued it. On 23 September 1949, the People's Liberation Army took over Yinchuan; after the Ningxia Province system was abolished in 1954, Yinchuan City was for a time under the Yinchuan Prefecture of Gansu Province; in 1958, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was established, and Yinchuan City became the regional capital. Scientific excavation of the Western Xia mausoleums formally began in 1972, and the mausoleum area now has nine imperial tombs and 254 accompanying tombs, one of the largest and most completely preserved imperial mausoleum sites above ground in China; it was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2025.
- 1038Li Yuanhao proclaimed himself emperor at Xingqing Prefecture and founded Western Xia.
- 1227Western Xia was destroyed by the Mongols, and its last ruler Li Xian surrendered and was killed shortly afterwards.
- Ming dynastyThe Ningxia Garrison was established in the Yinchuan area.
- 23 September 1949The People's Liberation Army took over Yinchuan, and the Yinchuan Municipal People's Government was established on 29 September.
- 1954The Ningxia Province system was abolished, and Yinchuan City became the seat of the Yinchuan Prefecture of Gansu Province.
- 1958The Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was established, and Yinchuan City became the regional capital.
- 1972The State Administration of Cultural Heritage formally decided to excavate the Western Xia mausoleums.
- 2002Lingwu City was separated from Wuzhong City and placed under the administration of Yinchuan City.
- November 2011The Chinese government formally launched the project to nominate the Western Xia mausoleums for World Cultural Heritage status and build a national archaeological site park.
- 2025The Western Xia imperial tombs are inscribed on the World Heritage List.
Stories
Stories of the city
A rhinoceros fossil opens the story
History · Shuidonggou
In 1920 the French palaeontologist Émile Licent found a rhinoceros fossil and worked stone tools at Shuidonggou. In 1923 French scholars carried out a formal excavation here, unearthing large numbers of stone tools and animal fossils. Shuidonggou thus became one of the earliest excavated Palaeolithic sites in China and is known as "the birthplace of prehistoric archaeology in China".
The three passages of the troop tunnels
Legend · Shuidonggou
South of the hidden troop tunnels stands the Ming-dynasty Hongshan Fortress. Legend has it that three passages once led from the tunnels to the fortress, but only one has ever been found, and the other two remain a mystery.
From the Commentary on the Water Classic to rediscovery in 1969
History · Helan Mountain Rock Art
The Northern Wei geographer Li Daoyuan already recorded rock pictures in the Helan Mountains in his Commentary on the Water Classic. They were then long forgotten until Li Xiangshi rediscovered them at Helankou in 1969. In 1983 and 1984, more groups of rock art were found at other passes of the Helan Mountains.
The face called the Sun God
Legend · Helan Mountain Rock Art
The face on the cliff with wide, round eyes and lines radiating from its head is known as the "Sun God". One view holds that such exaggerated, imposing faces were objects of worship for the early peoples, expressing their awe of nature and the gods.
Herdsman and the birth of the studio
History · Zhenbeibu Western Film Studio
From the 1980s, film crews began coming to the derelict fort of Zhenbeibu to shoot. In 1982 Xie Jin filmed Herdsman here, adapted from Zhang Xianliang's novel Soul and Flesh. In 1993 Zhang Xianliang formally founded Zhenbeibu Western Film Studio, and the old border fort became a film base.
The Fortune Gate of the Qing City
Legend · Zhenbeibu Western Film Studio
The second gate of the Qing City is known in the film world as the "Fortune Gate". It is said that several productions shot in front of this gate became great successes, and so the name spread. Today visitors like to pass under it for a bit of good luck.
Must see
Places you shouldn’t miss
Shuidonggou
One of the earliest excavated Palaeolithic sites in China, with human activity going back more than 30,000 years; the Ming Great Wall, hidden tr…
Helan Mountain Rock Art
The cliff walls of the Helankou gorge, at the eastern foot of the Helan Mountains, are covered with carved human faces and animals; mainstream d…
Zhenbeibu Western Film Studio
A loess fortress town where a Ming border fort and a Qing replacement fort stand side by side, north and south; the writer Zhang Xianliang turne…
The Western Xia imperial tombs
China's 60th World Heritage site (inscribed in 2025): the imperial tombs of the Western Xia dynasty, founded by the Tangut people.
Trips beyond the city
These places can be explored from this city but lie outside it. See each place for transport and visiting guidance.
