Shuidonggou

Background

Shuidonggou is in Linhe Town, Lingwu, Ningxia, about 19 km from Yinchuan. It is one of the earliest excavated Palaeolithic sites in China, with human activity dating back more than 30,000 years, and is known as "the birthplace of prehistoric archaeology in China". In 1920 the French palaeontologist Émile Licent found a rhinoceros fossil and stone tools here; formal excavation began in 1923, and successive digs have since collected more than 50,000 items. In the Ming dynasty this was a military defence point along the Great Wall, and remains of the Ming Great Wall, a beacon tower, the hidden troop tunnels and the Hongshan Fortress survive; the tunnels contain galleries, concealed weapons, lookout holes and an armoury. The scenic area also has yardang landforms, the Reed Catkin Valley, about 3 km long, and Hongshan Lake, and it is a national 5A-level scenic area.

Local customs

• In the site museum, see the excavated stone tools and animal fossils and the film displays recreating how early people made stone tools, hunted and lived
• walk into the Ming hidden troop tunnels and explore their maze-like galleries
• climb the Great Wall remains to look out over the yardang landscape, visit the Reed Catkin Valley and take a boat on Hongshan Lake.

Travel tips

• Walking distances in the scenic area are long, with some dirt paths and steps, so wear non-slip shoes
• in summer bring a sun hat and drinking water
• ticket prices and opening hours are as officially announced by the scenic area.
• It is about 19 km from downtown Yinchuan, roughly half an hour by car, and tourist buses also run from Yinchuan. Spring and autumn are mild and the best seasons to visit
• the reeds in the Reed Catkin Valley change colour with the seasons, while winter is cold and windy.