Ningxia Qingtongxia Travel Guide

The ancient and majestic Helan Mountain and the beautiful Niushou Mountain face each other across the shimmering Yellow River, creating a magnificent gorge. The afterglow of the sunset and the river water intertwine, presenting a bronze-like color. In this picturesque realm, the Yellow River rushes down, winding and turning, writing a magical chapter of nature. This is the Qingtongxia Yellow River Grand Canyon, known as the "Little Three Gorges of the Yellow River." ​ ​ ​ The Qingtongxia Yellow River Grand Canyon is located at the last gorge of the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River, thanks to the joint creation of the Helan Mountain and Niushou Mountain, with a total length of more than ten miles. The area is rich in tourism resources, with a long history and culture, and its magnificent scenery makes it a unique cultural tourism destination on the golden bank of the Yellow River. ​ ​ At the entrance of the Qingtongxia Yellow River Grand Canyon Scenic Area, the Ningxia Water Conservancy Museum echoes with the Nine Bends Square and the Bronze Ancient Town. From the Qin and Han immigrants to the ancient city water conservancy, and now the Yanghuang Project, the museum presents vivid pictures to visitors through scene restoration, cultural relics display, graphic display, video demonstration, and multimedia effects, allowing everyone to experience the development history of Ningxia's more than 2,000 years of Yellow River irrigation and the great water management practices of the people of Ningxia throughout the ages. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ In Qingtongxia, the Yellow River meanders like a poem. The river gathers in the canyon, shining with a bronze light, while the sunset dyes the cliffs deep red, creating a magnificent picture. The ten-mile-long gorge, with mountains and water closely intertwined, is flanked by cliffs with natural wonders. ​ ​ ​ The Sleeping Buddha Mountain, Bird Island, Tianshu Pavilion, and ancient stone carvings are like bright pearls embedded in this land. Each landscape carries profound historical and cultural significance, and each scene contains touching stories and legends. This is a natural painting and a witness to history, making people linger and intoxicated. ​ ​ ​ ​ The surrounding Niushou Mountain and Helan Mountain range are like green dragons winding and undulating, and the rolling Yellow River is like a natural barrier, guarding the border of this land. The majestic Great Wall stands here, guarding the peace of the frontier. The nine ancient canals are like veins, nourishing the Yinchuan Plain and making it full of vitality. ​ ​ The Qingtongxia Yellow River Grand Canyon, with its unique natural scenery and rich cultural relics, integrates the continuous mountains, winding rivers, ancient pagoda forests and temples, historical sites, and wetland ancient towns into a splendid landscape of Ningxia tourism. The unique charm of this land attracts more and more tourists to explore, making it an indispensable tourist destination in Ningxia. ​ ​ ​ ​ The Nine Bends Square, located at the entrance of the Yellow River Grand Canyon Scenic Area, is a landmark space designed with the Nine Dragons Playing with Pearls and the Nine Dragon Totem Pillars as the main design. Both of these artworks use the number "9" as the core element, which in Taoist culture symbolizes the ultimate and noble, and historically, only the royal family and nobility could use this number. The Nine Dragon Totem Pillars depict the historical trajectory of Qingtongxia's growth from an unknown place to a vibrant area through nine stone pillars. ​ ​ ​ ​ The Qingtongxia Grand Canyon is not only a sightseeing spot but also a cultural heritage site with educational significance, suitable for exploration and learning by visitors of all ages. ​