3 Days Yinchuan History and Culture Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Yinchuan & Free Exploration

• Admire the dazzling night view of Yinchuan’s iconic Drum Tower.
• Wander through Huaiyuan Night Market, where you can savor local snacks and soak up the lively atmosphere.

Day 2: Xixia Legacy, Helan Mountain Rock Art & Winery Tour (B, L)

1. Western Xia Imperial Tombs: Located 30km from downtown Yinchuan, this World Heritage Site dates back to the 11th–13th centuries. It is one of China’s largest and best-preserved imperial mausoleum complexes, featuring 9 imperial tombs and over 200 accompanying tombs for princes and nobles. Each mausoleum is an independent north-south oriented complex, boasting a scale comparable to Beijing’s Ming Tombs but with a unique architectural style often likened to Egyptian pyramids—blending Han, Tibetan Buddhist, and 党项 (Tangut) cultural influences .
2. Yuanshi Chateau: Next, visit this acclaimed winery nestled in the Helan Mountain wine region. Benefiting from the area’s unique climate and terrain, the grapes here develop high sugar content and balanced acidity, laying the foundation for exceptional wines. Enjoy a guided tour of the chateau, which features elegant classic Chinese garden-style architecture with eco-friendly designs, and indulge in wine tastings (based on your package).
3. Rock Paintings of Helan Mountain: Conclude the day with a visit to these ancient artistic treasures, created 3,000 to 10,000 years ago. The rock carvings depict prehistoric nomadic life—grazing, hunting, rituals, warfare, and dancing—and serve as a priceless repository for studying ancient human culture and history .

Day 3: Museum & Shuidonggou Adventure + Departure (B, L)

1. Ningxia Museum: Start with a visit to this premier cultural institution, home to over 40,000 historical artifacts. Its collection includes 159 national first-class cultural relics, more than 4,000 third-class and above relics, and three iconic national treasures: the Hu Whirling Dance Stone-carved Tomb Gate, the Gilt Bronze Bull, and the Lishi Zhiwen Stone Carving.
2. Shuidonggou Ruins (The Valley of Water Caves): A 45-minute drive (38km) from the city, this site is China’s earliest excavated Paleolithic cultural relic, hailed as “the birthplace of Chinese prehistoric archaeology” and “a witness to China-West cultural exchanges.” Discovered in 1923 by French paleontologists Teilhard de Chardin and E. Licent, it has yielded numerous stone tools and animal fossils, offering insights into 40,000-year-old human life. You’ll also explore China’s most intact ancient military defense system—featuring the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, beacon towers, fortresses, and soldiers’ hidden caves —alongside stunning Danxia (yardang) landforms .