NingxiaTravel Guide - Brief Information on Ningxia

Ningxia Province in Chinese Pinyin:  níng xià
Ningxia Province in Chinese Writing:    

Ningxia Province in Chinese Pronunciation:  Click the button to learn how to say Ningxiain Mandarin Chinese. Or you can download it to your hand device to play it to a conductor when buying a train ticket to Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Ningxia Province Overview:  Located at the northwest of Loess Plateau in the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region links Shaanxi Province in the east and border Gansu Province in southeast, south and southwest, and also neighbors with Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the west, north and northeast. Covering an area of 51,800 square kilometers, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is the unique provincial Hui autonomous region in China and it has a population of 6.1265 million at the end of 2007, among which, about 1.5 million are Hui ethnic group, covering 30% of the whole population. And therefore, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is called “Province of Islam” and “Province of Muslim” by foreign travelers.

Map of Ningxia Province:  Here is a rough map of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region showing where Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is located on the map of China.

 

Ningxia Province Climate & Weather:  By the influence of the typical continental semihumid and semiarid climate as well as the geographical location of China’s northwest inland plateau, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region has a long winter and short summer with rare rain and snow and therefore, it is dry, windy and sandy. The temperature difference between day and night is large with strong solar radiation and in some regions, the difference may reach 12℃ to 15℃. The rain season is always from Jun. to Sep. and thus, the best time to travel in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is from May to Oct. every year.

Language in Ningxia Province:   Based on geography from south to north, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region can be divided into two dialect regions, among which, one is Yinwu Pian dialect of Lanyin Dialect, taking Yinchuan dialect as its representative and another is Guyuan Pian dialect of Qinlong Dialect in Zhongyuan Mandarin, taking Guyuan dialect as its representative. In the aspect of pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar, the dialects in the two regions are showing apparent local features. It’s not hard to understand for Mandarin speakers.

Ningxia Province Transportation:

By Air:  Located at the southeast of Yinchuan, Ningxia Airport has the flight routes from Yinchuan to dozens of cities, including Beijing, Xi’an, Taiyuan, Lanzhou and Baotou.

By Train:  Bao (Baotou)-Lan (Lanzhou) Railway runs through Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region from the south-north of Yinchuan New City. The railway borders Baotou, town of military importance in North China in the east and links to Jing (Beijing)-Bao (Baotou) Railway. In the west, the railway neighbors northwestern ancient city Lanzhou and links Lan (Lanzhou)-Xin (Xinjiang) Railway, Lan (Lanzhou)-Qing (Qinghai Province) Railway, and Longhai Railway.

By Bus:  There are together 6 National Highways in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and taking Yinchuan Bus Station as a center, there are about thirteen coach lines to almost all prefectures in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and some regions in Shaanxi Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Gansu Province. And the main trunk lines can reach to Guyuan, Wuzhong, Lingwu, Zhongwei, Dawukou and Inner Mongolia Autonomous region’s Bayinhaote and Wulankuang, Shaanxi’s Dingbian and Gansu Province’s Pingliang. Besides, the coach stations in Guyuan, Wuzhong and Shizuishan have more than thirty midway lines to prefectures in the region.

Ningxia Province Food:  the cuisines in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region have both the features of the traditional flavor in the central plains of China and the styles in Muslim. Local delicacies include Braised Yellow River Carp in Sweet and Sour Sauce, Mutton Eaten with Hands, Steaming Lamb, and Pita Bread Soaked in Lamp Soup. And besides, the special and local products in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region are abundant, such as the Red, Yellow, Blue, White, and Black Treasure“, which are medlar, liquorice, Helan Stone, and Hair-like seaweed.

Major Ningxia Province Tourism Resources:  

Tourist Attractions:  Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region has a lot of tourism resources, among which the major attractions are Sha Lake, which is one of the thirty-five triumph traveling attractions in China, Shapotou, Helan Mountain, Liupan mountain, Yellow River, Xixia Imperial Tomb, which has a reputation of “Oriental Pyramid”, Xumi Mountain Grotten, which is one of the four famous gratto in China, as well as the exotic expressions of the unique Hui ethnic group.