NINGXIA HUI AUTONOMOUS REGION (NINGXIA HUI).
The Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is home to the majority of the Muslim population of China, so mosques built in both Arabic and ancient Chinese styles can be found everywhere. This area, protected on all sides by mountains, became the heart of the Great Western Xia Dynasty. The Yellow River carries its waters from the western to the northern borders of the region through 12 cities and counties.
According to Agooddir, the district capital is Yinchuan. . Haibao Pagoda (Sea Treasure) became the emblem of the city. The exact date of the pagoda’s construction is unknown. According to legend, it was built in the 5th century. He Lian Bobo, ruler of the Xia kingdom. Other landmarks in the city are the Temple of Heavenly Succession (also known as Western Pagoda), Jasper Emperor Pagoda (Northern Pagoda), and the Great Mosque, Nanguan Mosque. To the east of Yinchuan are the remains of the Shuidungou culture, which existed more than 30,000 years ago.
The Mausoleum of the Western Xia Dynasty contains the tombs of 8 Western Xia emperors, located on the eastern slope of Mount Helan, 30 km from Yinchuan. The mausoleum is 10 km long and 4 km wide. Each of the mounds consists of a complex of buildings made according to similar projects, and covers an area of more than 100,000 m2. The buildings include watchtowers, stone arches, tomb obelisks, an outer wall, an inner wall, a sacrificial hall, and a pagoda-like platform on which a coffin or urn is placed. Mount
Sumeru is located 320 km southeast of Yinchuan, on the eastern slope of which there are more than 130 grottoes. Here was once the most important pass of the “Silk Road” between West and East, as well as a point of contact for the interests of the Han and other ethnic groups in China.. The construction of the group of grottoes began during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) and was completed in the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) periods. The most famous place in the mountain is the giant seated Maitreya Buddha in the second grotto. Maitreya is 26 meters high and about 4 meters wide.
The fifth grotto is the largest and oldest in the mountain. Carved into the hill, it bears the name “Suimi’s Radiance”. The grotto contains seven well-preserved Buddha statues, each 6 meters high, and seven statues of a Bodhisattva. The sculptures are especially beautiful when several rays of light pass into the grotto through a hole in the hill. Due to many earthquakes and storms over 1400 years of history, half of the grotto collapsed, but has recently been restored.
Lake Shahu (Shahu) is located 56 km north of Yinchuan. The recreational area of the lake includes a golden desert, so named because of the bright color of the sand. Tourists can take a boat ride on the lake among the reed beds. In its very middle is a small island where hundreds of thousands of migratory birds nest every year.
The Yellow River flows through the province. Rafting on the Yellow River starts from the small town of Shapotou and ends in the tourist area of Qingtong Gorge. Tourists have the opportunity to go rafting on goatskin rafts.
AUTONOMOUS REGION INTERNAL MONGOLIA.
The Autonomous Region of Inner Mongolia is known for its diverse cultures of various nationalities. It is also famous for its expanses of steppes, relic forests of the Greater Khingan, the panorama of the Yellow River, the magical land of Xiangshawan, many lakes and thermal springs. The tomb of Genghis Khan, the tomb of Wang Zhaojun, a section of the ancient Great Wall of China, the temples of Wudangzhao, Utasy, Bailingmiao, ancient wall paintings in the tomb of Lingehan invariably attract many tourists.
Hohhot is the administrative center of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The old city was built in 1581, and later a new city grew to the northeast. In Hohhot Since ancient times, there has been an economic and cultural exchange between the northern peoples and the Han people. The main attractions of the city are Dazhao Temple, Five Pagoda Monastery, Grand Mosque, Wang Zhaojun’s Tomb, Grand Mosque, Inner Mongolia Museum.
Baotou is located 200 km west of Hohhot. The city stands on the Yellow River and is a major transport hub and metallurgical base of China. The main attractions of the city are the Baotou Museum, operating since 1858, Nanhai Park.
A visit to Inner Mongolia is best combined with the Nadom holiday.. “Nadom” in Mongolian means “fun” or “entertainment”. Every year in the steppes in the summer and autumn seasons, competitions are held among men in three sports – wrestling, horse racing and archery. Guests can watch other competitions in the national style: equestrian performances, milking competitions and goat fighting.
In Inner Mongolia, horse riding tours have become widespread. One of the routes lies in the so-called Sandy Bay, 45 km from Baotou. When descending a slope in this area, the sand emits a sound similar to the sound of a running motor. Good places for horseback riding are the surroundings of Hohhot, Erenhot, Ulanhot, Hailar.
