REGIONAL> Culture Tourism
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REGIONAL> Culture Tourism
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Colorful culture abounds amid desert landscape
By Zhang Ranran (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-19 07:43
Ningxia, one of the five ethnic minority autonomous regions in China, continues to be admired by tourists for the splendid cultural heritage left by its long history. A landscape of deserts and farmlands, unique local customs reflecting Islamic and other cultures - and an ancient history dating back 5,000 years - all make Ningxia an interesting tourist destination to discover the rich and diverse region.
Destinations include Shapotou, the Helan Mountains and the Imperial Tombs of the Western Xia Dynasty. The Shapotou tourist zone is in the desert, but neighbors the Yellow River, mountains and oases. Before entering the resort, tourists can either cross over "the first cableway on the Yellow River", or take sheepskin rafts, experiences not offered in other regions of the country. Adventurers can then explore the desert on foot or play in the 100-m-high sand dunes. They can also hire camels to venture into the heart of the desert. Shahu, a lake surrounded by desert, attracts thousands of visitors every day. With blue water, green reeds, yellow sands and abundant birds, it is a striking scene for bird watching, swimming and making sand sculptures. The Liupan Mountains Ecological Tourism Zone is a national forest known as a "green island" on Loess Plateau, and also an historic site in the long march of the Red Army more than 70 years ago. For those interested in the region's long history, interesting tours include the Imperial Tombs of Western Xia Dynasty and the Helan Mountains. The Western Xia tomb complex covers about 50 sq km and contains the tombs of nine emperors and more than 200 princesses, all members of the dynasty that ruled the region from 1038 to 1227. Imperial mausoleums are at the east foot of the Helan Mountains, 25 km west of the city of Yinchuan, capital of the region. Western Xia mausoleums look like squat Buddhist pagodas, round or octagonal, and about 20 m high. Examples seen today have five or seven stories, each of which is built with flying rafters overlaid with rows of tiles, richly decorated glazed green tiles. The history of the Helan Mountains stretches back even further. Its rock paintings created more than 5,000 years ago are regarded by UNESCO as a unique heritage. The Helan Mountains rock paintings scenic area is 56 km from Yinchuan. In 1991 and 2000, international seminars on the rock paintings were held in Yinchuan that made the heritage of Helan better known to the world. Seminar participants praised the painting for their "rich form of expression and deep cultural connotation". In addition to viewing the many mosques in cities and the countryside, travelers can also visit the Park of Customs and Cultures of the Chinese Hui People in Yinchuan. The only exhibition venue of its kind in China, it is a grand showcase displaying a myriad of ethnic cultures and customs, including Islamic architecture, foods, religion, farming tools and techniques. Another locale for tourists to glimpse local cultures is the Ningxia Museum in Yinchuan. Those with a longer schedule can relax in the cities and countryside after touring destinations. Joining the performances in many city squares and visiting farmhouses provides a real experience of the vivid culture and customs still alive today. The Cultural Square in Yinchuan hosted 1,110 performances in 2008 that attracted more than 4 million people. The performances are participatory, allowing tourists to learn the local singing, dancing and handicraft skills. |
