Attractions · Yinchuan

The Western Xia Mausoleums are the royal cemetery of the Western Xia dynasty, at the eastern foot of the Helan Mountains, covering more than 50 square kilometres, with 9 imperial tombs and more than 250 subsidiary burials. Each imperial tomb is an independent, complete architectural complex; corner towers, gate platforms, stele pavilions and spirit gates survive, and the tallest rammed-earth tomb tower is about 20 metres high. The occupants of most tombs are unknown; Tomb 3, the largest and most finely built, is presumed to be the Tai Mausoleum of Emperor Jingzong, Li Yuanhao, while Tomb 7 has been confirmed as the Shou Mausoleum of Emperor Renzong, Li Renxiao. In July 2025 the site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name 'Western Xia Mausoleums'; the museum holds Western Xia documents and fine Buddhist art. Highlights include Tomb 3 (presumed Tai Mausoleum of Jingzong Yuanhao), Tomb 7 (the only tomb with a confirmed occupant, Renzong's Shou Mausoleum), the Western Xia Museum, and the stele pavilions and spirit gates of the tomb area. Tip: hiring a guide to explain Western Xia history makes the site's value clearer. Practical info: located at the Western Xia Mausoleum Scenic Area, eastern foot of the Helan Mountains, Xixia District, Yinchuan, Ningxia; ticket ¥75; opening hours 08:00–18:00.

Tip: Hiring a guide to explain Western Xia history makes the site's value clearer.

• Address: Western Xia Mausoleum Scenic Area, eastern foot of the Helan Mountains, Xixia District, Yinchuan, Ningxia
• Ticket: ¥75
• Opening: 08:00–18:00

Zhenbeibu Western Film Studio was founded by Zhang Xianliang, who converted Ming and Qing forts into a film and television location. Hundreds of films and series, including 'A Chinese Odyssey' and 'Red Sorghum', have been shot here. Highlights include the Ming City, Qing City, Old Yinchuan Street and the 'A Chinese Odyssey' locations. Tip: costumes can be rented for photographs, for a sense of travelling back in time. Practical info: located at Zhenbeibu Town, Xixia District, Yinchuan, Ningxia; ticket ¥100; opening hours 08:00–18:00. Best season: spring (Apr–May) brings apricot blossom; summer (Jun–Aug) is cool and pleasant; autumn (Sep–Oct) is rich in colour. Combine with the Western Xia Mausoleums, Sand Lake and Shuidonggou for a half- or full-day itinerary. Check the day's opening and booking policy before you go, and allow enough time. In peak season or on holidays, book ahead and avoid the crowds, allowing time for queues and security checks.

Tip: Costumes can be rented for photographs, for a sense of travelling back in time.

• Address: Zhenbeibu Town, Xixia District, Yinchuan, Ningxia
• Ticket: ¥100
• Opening: 08:00–18:00

Sand Lake is an eco-tourism area combining desert, lake, reeds and migratory birds. The lake surface joins the desert, many birds live among the reeds, and the scenery is distinctive. Highlights include boat trips through the reeds, sand sledding in the desert area, a birdwatching platform and a water park. Tip: go in spring or autumn to see migratory birds. Practical info: located at the Sand Lake Eco-tourism Area, Pingluo County, Shizuishan, Ningxia; ticket ¥60 (boat ticket extra); opening hours 08:00–18:00. Best season: spring (Apr–May) brings apricot blossom; summer (Jun–Aug) is cool and pleasant; autumn (Sep–Oct) is rich in colour. Combine with the Western Xia Mausoleums, Zhenbeibu Western Film Studio and Shuidonggou for a half- or full-day itinerary. Check the day's opening and booking policy before you go, and allow enough time.

Tip: Go in spring or autumn to see migratory birds. In summer you can try the water activities.

• Address: Sand Lake Eco-tourism Area, Pingluo County, Shizuishan, Ningxia
• Ticket: ¥60 (boat ticket extra)
• Opening: 08:00–18:00

Shuidonggou lies in a desert canyon within Linhe Town, Lingwu City. In 1923 the French paleontologists Teilhard de Chardin and É. Licent excavated here, yielding Paleolithic stone tools, ornaments and ostrich-eggshell ornaments; it is one of China's earliest scientifically excavated Paleolithic sites, proving that human activity had already reached the wilderness at the eastern foot of the Helan Mountains tens of thousands of years ago. The scenic area strings together the prehistoric site, the Ming Great Wall and beacon towers, Hongshan Fort and the hidden-soldier tunnels: the tunnels are a multi-level underground military work cut into a sandstone cliff, and their traps, maze-like passages, granaries, stoves and command rooms survive with a completeness rarely seen in the northwest. Visiting requires changing between shuttle bus, boat and camel cart across a vast, desolate canyon of yardang landforms. Highlights include the Paleolithic site excavated by Teilhard de Chardin and Licent in 1923, the hidden-soldier tunnels beneath the cliff, the Ming Great Wall, beacon towers and Hongshan Fort, and the desert canyon and yardang landforms. Tip: the park is large and internal transport involves several changes; allow 4–6 hours and buy the combo ticket that includes internal transport. Practical info: located at Shuidonggou Scenic Area, Linhe Town, Lingwu City, Yinchuan, Ningxia; admission ¥60; combo ¥140 (includes shuttle, boat, camel cart and the hidden-soldier tunnels); opening hours 08:00–18:00 (peak season, Apr–Oct); 08:30–17:00 (off-season, Nov–Mar).

Tip: The park is large and internal transport involves several changes; allow 4–6 hours and buy the combo ticket th…

• Address: Shuidonggou Scenic Area, Linhe Town, Lingwu City, Yinchuan, Ningxia
• Ticket: Admission ¥60; combo ¥140 (includes shuttle, boat, camel cart and the hidden-soldier tunnels)
• Opening: 08:00–18:00 (peak season, Apr–Oct); 08:30–17:00 (off-season, Nov–Mar)

The Helan Mountain rock carvings are scattered on rocks at the various passes of the Helan Mountains, densest in the single valley of Helan Mouth. Discovered in 1969, they gradually became known to scholarship and are now a nationally protected cultural relic. The carvings date from the Neolithic to historical times and show, pecked and ground into the rock, human faces, a radiating 'sun deity', herding, hunting, battle and dance scenes, and ibex, horses and camels, along with inscriptions in Western Xia and Tibetan script — an archive of the beliefs and daily life left on stone by the nomadic peoples of the north. The scenic area comprises the Helan Mouth rock-art site, the Yinchuan World Rock Art Museum and the Han Meilin Art Museum; following the boardwalk up the valley brings you close to the carvings beneath the cliffs on both sides. Highlights include the sun-deity face in the middle of the valley and the Helan Mouth rock-art boardwalk gallery. Tip: the site is explored on foot along the valley and the boardwalk is long; summer sun in the valley is strong, so go early or late, when raking light makes the carvings clearest. Practical info: located at Helan Mouth, eastern foot of the Helan Mountains, Helan County, Yinchuan, Ningxia; ticket ¥70 (includes shuttle), with discounts for students and seniors, see the site's posted rates; opening hours 08:00–18:00.

Tip: The site is explored on foot along the valley and the boardwalk is long; summer sun in the valley is strong, s…

• Address: Helan Mouth, eastern foot of the Helan Mountains, Helan County, Yinchuan, Ningxia
• Ticket: ¥70 (includes shuttle); discounts for students and seniors, see the site's posted rates
• Opening: 08:00–18:00