ETHNIC HANDMADE MUTTON RESTAURANT

Our group of seven had a very enjoyable meal. The lamb neck and fried pork slices are especially recommended. The lamb neck has no smell of mutton at all, and has only the aroma of lamb. The fried pork slices should be beef, which goes well with rice and is also suitable for mixing with noodles. The kids were so happy eating that they forgot to take pictures, so I have to take some pictures of the store to make up for it!

The hand-pulled mutton at this ethnic hand-pulled mutton restaurant in Zhongwei tastes good.

The authentic mutton is really delicious.

🌄 3 days and 2 nights in Yinchuan completely shattered my spending ethos! A hidden gem in Northwest China, the value is incredible! Hey ladies! I just got back from Yinchuan and I absolutely had to share this hidden gem! 😭! I used to think traveling in the Northwest meant spending a lot of money, but after 3 days, I only spent over 800 RMB per person! We hit the desert, the royal tombs, and the night market—we copied the guide straight from my own! 👇 💰 Budget breakdown (including transportation, 800 RMB per person, we had a blast!) ▪️ Accommodation: Huaiyuan Night Market/B&B near the Drum Tower/Budget hotel, only 200 RMB per person for two nights (share a room for even more savings!) ▪️ Admission: Select free and low-cost attractions (Lanshan Park 0 RMB, Western Xia Tombs 75 RMB, Helan Mountain Rock Paintings 65 RMB) ▪️ Food: Eat your fill with 100 RMB per day! Enjoy hand-pulled lamb, spicy porridge, and sweet fermented rice milk tea. ▪️ Transportation: Buses go directly to the scenic spot for 1-2 yuan, taxis are 20 yuan per person (carpooling is more cost-effective). ------ 🏜️ Recommended Attractions (Free & Off-the-beaten-path Filming Spots) 1. Lanshan Park Get a free Colosseum-style view! After 4 PM, the sun sets over the Helan Mountains. Wear a white dress for a stunning silhouette shot! 🌅 (Note: There's no sunshade, so wear plenty of sunscreen!) 2. Western Xia Tombs The "Pyramid of the East" lives up to its name! The 75 yuan ticket includes the museum and a shuttle bus to the ruins. The VR underground palace allows you to travel back to the Western Xia Dynasty. The mausoleum complex is bathed in golden light in the evening, a truly breathtaking spectacle. 3. Helan Mountain Rock Paintings For 65 yuan, see ancient rock carvings dating back thousands of years, and watch blue sheep leap through the valley. We recommend combining this with a visit to the Rock Painting Village (where you can stay overnight, enjoy mutton, and enjoy red wine). 4. Huaiyuan Night Market Eat all the Northwest snacks for free! Freshly made spicy noodles and crispy beef patties, the atmosphere is bustling even at 10 PM, and the atmosphere is vibrant. 5. Sand Lake For 120 yuan, including boat tickets, experience the "half desert, half lake" spectacle. Enjoy camel riding, sandboarding, and bird-feeding from a boat. 6. Zhenbeibao Western Film City For 80 yuan, check out the same city wall from "A Chinese Odyssey," rent a costume and transform into the Fairy Zixia. The Ming and Qing Dynasties, along with the streets of Old Yinchuan, are all perfect for photo ops. ------ 🚗 Three-Day Tour (Choose between a Lazy and a Rush) Day 1: Journey Through the Western Xia Dynasty + Explore the Night Market Morning: Western Xia Tombs (3 hours) → See the Gilded Bronze Bull at the Museum → Photoshoot at the Mausoleum Ruins Lunch: Lao Mao Hand-Pulled Lamb / Guoqiang Hand-Pulled Lamb (60 yuan per person, comes with hand-pulled lamb and eight-treasure tea) Evening: Huaiyuan Night Market! Spicy hot pot + beef patties + sweet fermented rice milk tea, 50 yuan per person, walk out with the help of a wall. Day 2: Helan Mountain Rock Paintings + Roman Sunset Morning: Helan Mountain Rock Paintings (2 hours) → Lunch in the Rock Painting Village (the purple mushroom chicken is super delicious!) Afternoon: Hike in Helan Mountain National Forest Park / Experience scallion pancakes at the Xixia Mausoleum Farmhouse Evening: Watch the sunset at Lanshan Park → Wear a light-colored long skirt for "fake Rome" photos Day 3: Sand Lake Wonders or City Stroll Option A: Sand Lake Day Trip (camel ride + sandboarding + boat ride, 120 yuan worth it!) Option B: City Leisure: Ningxia Museum (free to see the gilded bronze bull) → Photograph graffiti in Ziqiang Alley → Climb the Chengtian Temple Pagoda ------ 🍜 Recommended Food (Affordable Meals Starting from 10 RMB) ▪️ Hardcore Meals Hand-Pulled Lamb: Lao Mao Hand-Pulled Lamb or Guo Qiang Hand-Pulled Lamb, with alternating fat and lean ribs dipped in garlic vinegar, 60 RMB per person. Finger-licking deliciousness. Lamb Noodles: Changjiu Yipin Noodles (30-year-old shop), chopstick-thick handmade noodles with mutton sauerkraut soup, 20 RMB per person. ▪️ Snacks and Late-Night Snacks Huaiyuan Night Market: Nurmai Spicy Noodles (10 RMB per portion), Fanfang Crispy Mengniu Beef Meat pie (5 yuan each), Ding Tiemin baked egg (baked with a mixture of egg yolk and egg white) Spicy porridge: Ningxia specialty stew, thick chili sauce with beef tendon noodles and wide vermicelli, 20 yuan per person ▪️ Drinks Sweet mash milk tea: Fangha's sweet mash milk tea, a unique blend of sweet mash and milk tea Eight Treasure Tea: Red date, wolfberry, and longan tea, perfect for relieving mutton greasiness; restaurants usually offer free refills. ------ 💡 Friendly Notes Transportation: Take bus route "You 1" directly to the Western Xia Tombs (use Alipay to scan the code). It's recommended to use taxi apps to avoid being ripped off. Accommodation: Off-season B&Bs are 100 yuan/night. Choose between Xingqing District (near the Drum Tower) or Xixia District (near the Huaiyuan Night Market). Avoidances: The rock painting area is closed on Mondays; wear sunglasses at Shahu Lake due to the strong wind; ask for prices before ordering at the night market. This is really a broken defense! Eating lamb and watching the desert every day in Yinchuan costs less than a weekend shopping trip 😱 Go for it, ladies! Niche, low prices, and great photos—three hits! #CityHumanitiesNotes #NicheDiscovery #Lie-DownBabyWalkTips #FoodFestival #TheMost-Asked-About-Your-Friends-Friends

🌟Honest Tips on Traveling in Ningxia from September to October! A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls and Sharing Real Experiences🌟 Just got back from Ningxia, and I couldn't resist sharing some great news! Although September and October are peak tourist season in Ningxia, there are definitely quite a few pitfalls to avoid😭! Combining my own experiences with official recommendations, I've compiled this helpful guide. Save it for those planning a trip! ------ I. Budget Guide (5 Days, 4 Nights) 💰Total cost: approximately 3,000-4,000 RMB per person (including transportation, comfortable travel) • Transportation: Round-trip airfare/high-speed rail (approximately 800-1,500 RMB, depending on departure point) + local chartered car/taxi (approximately 500 RMB) • Accommodation: Budget hotel/B&B (150-250 RMB/night), desert tent camping (approximately 300 RMB/night) • Tickets: Major attraction packages (Western Xia Tombs, Shapotou, Cinema City, etc.) approximately 700-900 RMB • Food: Average daily cost: 100-150 RMB (Ningxia cuisine is generously portioned, so order less and enjoy more!) 💡Money-saving tips: • Buying combined attraction tickets online in advance is more cost-effective than buying them on-site. • Charter a car with a local driver who is familiar with the route and can avoid pitfalls. • Choose a meal-included package for desert camping and save on dinner. ------ II. Popular and Unpopular Attractions + Authentic Experiences ✅ Recommended: 1. Shapotou (Zhongwei): ◦ The desert activities are amazing! Camel riding, sandboarding, and sand surfing are must-dos. ◦ ❗ However, the package ticket is a bit pricey at 285 yuan, so those with less stamina can opt for some of the activities. 2. Western Xia Tombs (Yinchuan): ◦ Newly designated a World Heritage Site! The stunning "Oriental Pyramid" boasts a wealth of fascinating museum information. ◦ A must-buy electric scooter (20 yuan) is essential; the area is so large that walking is exhausting. 3. Zhenbeibao Western Film City (Yinchuan): ◦ The filming location of "A Chinese Odyssey"—taking photos in Zixia's costume is a real treat. ◦ ❗Heavily commercialized, avoid the midday sun. 4. Helan Mountain Rock Paintings (Yinchuan): ◦ Ancient rock paintings and the Han Meilin Art Museum offer a truly artistic experience. ◦ High chance of encountering blue sheep! ❌Choose carefully: • Shahu: Migratory birds are abundant from September to October, but the 120 yuan entrance fee isn't worth the price. It's not as good as Shapotou's dedicated desert experience. • Huaiyuan Night Market: Incredibly crowded! The beef patties and spicy hot pot are delicious, but the lines start at half an hour. • Route 66: Purely a photo spot, long distance, so skip it if you're short on time. ------ III. Route Planning (5-Day Highlights) Day 1: An Introduction to Yinchuan Culture • Morning: Ningxia Museum (free reservation) → Sunset at Lanshan Park • Dinner: Huaiyuan Night Market (spicy hot pot and beef patties) Day 2: Helan Mountain Tour • Morning: Western Xia Tombs (must take the electric cart) → Afternoon: Helan Mountain Rock Paintings • Dinner: Lao Mao Hand-Pulled Lamb (hand-pulled lamb and eight-treasure tea) Day 3: Desert Carnival Day • High-speed rail to Zhongwei → Shapotou Tour Package (camel ride and sandboarding) → Overnight in a desert tent for stargazing Day 4: Off-the-beaten-path Zhongwei Experience • Zhongwei Gaomiao (free) → Jinshahai (less crowded, beautiful sand) → Return to Yinchuan Day 5: Clean up before returning home • Shuidonggou (the soldiers' cave is fun) or Huanshahu (optional) ------ IV. Food Recommendations & Don'ts 🍖 Must-Try List: • Hand-Pulled Lamb: Guoqiang Hand-Pulled Lamb / Laomao Hand-Pulled Lamb (the ribs are the most tender, and the garlic sauce is amazing) • Lamb Offal: Aye Lamb Offal (a great breakfast choice, with a rich spicy broth) • Tangmian Youxiang: Eat with chili rings, a carb-heavy meal that you can't stop eating! • Eight Treasure Tea: A great way to relieve greasy food, buy bags as souvenirs. 🚫 Beware: • Be cautious with popular night market snacks, such as large portions of lamb trotters, which can be greasy. • Food and drinks at desert camps are expensive, so bring your own snacks and hydration. • The Yanchi beach sheep are at their plumpest in September, but don't over-order (the portions are huge!). ------ 💡 Honest Summary 1. Weather: The temperature swing between morning and evening is significant from September to October! Bring a jacket, sunglasses, and SPF50 sunscreen. 2. Transportation: There are many illegal taxis at Yinchuan Airport, so definitely use the meter or Didi. 3. Shopping: Buy goji berries at brand-name stores (Bai Ruiyuan); street vendors are a real bummer. 4. Photography: Wear red or white clothing in the desert, and the best photos are taken two hours before sunset. Ningxia's overall experience is 4 stars! The historical atmosphere and desert adventures are unique, but the prices are high, and some attractions are significantly overpriced. 😢 Make sure you have a good trip by planning well and keeping your expectations low. #Ruge's Journey #CityHumanitiesNotes #NicheDiscovery