Things to do in Yanchi
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Top 10 attractions in Yanchi
Haba Lake
There are 149 species (including subspecies) of 25 orders and 51 families of terrestrial wild animals in the reserve. There are 2 species of birds under national first-class protection, 16 species of birds under national second-class protection, and 3 species of mammals under national second-class protection. There are 436 species of insects from 140 families of the class Insecta, 13 species of spiders from 7 families of the class Arachnid, and 17 species of leeches from 5 families. For example, desert cats, goose monkeys, black storks (national first-class protected animals) are rarely distributed in the northwest region. There are also many national second-class protected animals, such as spot-billed pelicans, white egrets, white-fronted geese, swans, great bustards, mandarin ducks, steppe eagles, hunting falcons, dromedary cranes, and caracals, all of which account for 41% of the national key protected animals (51 species) distributed in the region. There are 507 species of plants of various types, belonging to 76 families and 76 genera. There are 323 species of wild plants in 54 families, 173 genera, and 46 families of cultivated plants. There is one national key protected plant, Ammopiptanthus sandii, and plants with high medicinal and economic value include ephedra, licorice, and bitter beans. Habahu Nature Reserve is a rare natural complex and relatively complete natural ecosystem in arid and desert areas, with important teaching and scientific research value. At the same time, there are many cultural relics and historical sites in the reserve, as well as mountains, rivers, and sand seas, which have high tourism development value. There are tens of thousands of acres of lush and green trees in the tourist area, arranged neatly, and thousands of acres of Achnatherum striata dancing in the wind, which is very charming. There are lakes of various sizes dotted in between, and wetlands are crisscrossed all year round, making it a great place to escape the summer heat and relax and vacation.Yanchi · 31.2 km from downtown
Dingbian Salt Lake Scenic Area
Dingbian Salt Lake Scenic Area is located in Dingbian County in the northwest of Shaanxi Province. It is the only lake salt producing area in Shaanxi Province.Dingbian · 10.9 km from Yanchi
Dongfeng Grand Canyon
Yanchi · 56.6 km from downtown
Yanchi County Great Wall Pass
Yanchi · 2 km from downtown
Yanzhou Ancient City Historical and Cultural Tourism Zone
Yanzhou Ancient City Historical and Cultural Tourism Area is located in the north of Yanchi County. It is a "red, green, and ancient" cultural tourism integration section that integrates historical and cultural sightseeing, red research, folk culture experience, and ecological leisure. It has scenic spots such as the Great Wall Pass, Ningxia Great Wall Museum, "Jiuqu" Folk Culture Park, and Huamachi Ancient City, covering an area of 1,598 acres. The Attraction was approved as a national AAAA-level tourist Attraction in March 2020. In July of the same year, it was rated as the "Wuzhong City Primary and Secondary School Students Research and Practice Education Base (Camp)" by Wuzhong City. In September, it was rated as the "Second Batch of Civilized Tourist Attraction in the Autonomous Region" by the Autonomous Region Culture and Tourism Department. The Great Wall Pass was built in the tenth year of Jiajing (1531) to prevent the Hu Daqian and the Han-Mongol trade pass. It was rebuilt in 2016. It is 130 meters long, 36 meters wide, 35 meters high, and covers an area of 2,949 square meters. Changchengguan is the only pass named after the Great Wall, and is as famous as Jiayuguan, Shanhaiguan, and Juyongguan. It is an important part of the AAAA-level tourist Attraction in Yanzhou Ancient City, and is also the host of major festivals and events in the old district of Yanchi. Ningxia Great Wall Museum is a knowledge hall that promotes and inherits the culture of the Great Wall. It was built in 2018 and opened in August 2019. It has a total area of 3,460 square meters and two exhibition halls, east and west. The west hall mainly displays the culture of the Great Wall of China, and the east hall mainly displays the culture of the Great Wall of Yanchi. Entering the exhibition hall, you can admire the magnificent architectural miracles in human history, listen to the history of the golden swords and iron horses, and the beating of war drums. The spirit of the Great Wall and the hardworking, wise, and self-improvement spirit of the Chinese nation are awe-inspiring. The "Nine-bend" Folk Culture Park was completed and put into operation at the end of 2018, covering an area of 12,723.84 square meters (19.09 acres). It is an autonomous region-level intangible cultural heritage project, consisting of the Nine-bend Dragon Gate, the Seven-star Pillar, the Beacon Tower, and the Shadow Wall. Jiuqu, also known as the Jiuqu Yellow River Dragon Gate Array. Touring Jiuqu is a folk recreational activity during traditional festivals such as the Lantern Festival in the Yellow River Basin. The "Jiuqu" Folk Culture Park transforms the ancient Yellow River civilization, the rich Silk Road customs, the long-standing frontier culture, and the unique folk customs into a gorgeous rainbow, showing it at the east gate of Ningxia, becoming a resounding business card of Yanchi. Huamachi Ancient City was built in the eighth year of the Zhengtong period of the Ming Dynasty (1443). Since 2014, large-scale restoration and reconstruction work has been launched, and the city walls, urn cities, towers, arrow towers, corner towers, etc. have regained their former glory, and the ancient city has a brand new look. Huamachi Ancient City is 4,300 meters long, and a ring-shaped cultural park is built within 40 meters inside and outside the city wall, showing the themes of "traditional classics, revolutionary memory, historical changes, and folk inheritance", becoming the "four-sided seal" that the people in the old revolutionary base are proud of.Yanchi · 600m from downtown
Yanchigu Changcheng Ruins Park
Yanchi · 41.5 km from downtown
Shapotou Scenic Area
The scenic spot is located 16 kilometers west of Zhongwei City, Ningxia, on the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert. The scenic spot has successively won honors such as "the first batch of national 5A-level tourist attractions", "the top 500 global environmental protection units", and "the first batch of national tourism standardization demonstration units". The three major cultural elements of the scenic area include the "Yellow River Culture" based on the intangible cultural heritage sheepskin rafts, the "Desert Culture" based on straw grids and Desert Legend Park, and the "Starry Sky Culture" based on the Desert Star Hotel. The tourism resources of these three elements have created a unique and magnificent landscape of "sunset over the long river and starry sky in the desert". The "six major ways to play" are highly praised and loved by tourists. Among them, the Yellow River projects include sheepskin rafting, Huangtengda, Yellow River speedboat, drift boat, passionate sandboarding and high-altitude bungee jumping, etc. The desert projects include Desert Camel, Desert Flying (Stepping into the Blue Clouds), and Sand Sea. Surfing, etc., starry sky projects include stargazing lectures, meteor feasts, sand therapy experiences, star cakes and other special products. In addition, there are also privately customized products for hiking, desert expansion, and educational and entertaining study experiences. The scenic area not only has diverse cultural elements and fun project experiences, but also multi-level accommodation experiences waiting for you: the butler-style Diamond Hotel, the quiet Desert Star Hotel for stargazing, the quiet Yellow River Courtyard in the bustling city, and finally the economical and affordable business-style Tourist Service Center Hotel and other differentiated tourist accommodations for you to choose from.China · Zhongwei
Xixia Imperial Tombs
Xixia Imperial Tombs, located in the western suburbs of YinchuanHelan MountainThe Western Xia Mausoleum served as the royal burial site of the Western Xia Dynasty, where several emperors were interred. Today, the entire mausoleum complex contains 9 imperial tombs and over 140 accompanying burial sites, making it one of the largest royal burial grounds in Chinese history by area. The tombs feature a unique inverted steamed-bun shape unlike any other Chinese mausoleums. Additionally, the attraction includes facilities such as the Western Xia Mausoleum Museum, Western Xia Mausoleum - Western Xia Historical Art Gallery, and Western Xia Stele Forest to help visitors understand the historical and cultural significance behind these tombs. The attraction currently has mausoleums No. 1, 2, and 3 open for visitors. Mausoleum No. 3 (the "Tai Mausoleum" of Li Yuanhao, founding emperor of the Western Xia Dynasty) is located relatively close to The Western Xia Mausoleum's Western Xia History Art Museum and Western Xia Stele Forest. The Western Xia Dynasty was established by the Tangut people, with distinct writing systems and customs different from the Han Chinese of the Central Plains. After the dynasty's fall, its cities and history mysteriously vanished into the Gobi Desert, becoming an enduring enigma until modern discoveries and interpretations. The Western Xia Mausoleum Museum houses a rich collection of artifacts from the dynasty, including many precious stone carvings with Tangut script and murals showcasing Western Xia artistic styles. The museum offers free guides that provide fascinating insights into the customs, culture, rise, and fall of this mysterious dynasty, enhancing visitors' experience when exploring the mausoleum. On July 11, 2025, the Western Xia Mausoleum was officially inscribed on the World Heritage List. You can visit the Haowang Mausoleum up close within the attraction. The massive inverted semicircular tomb stands on the wasteland, bringing centuries of history vividly before your eyes, while in the distance...Helan MountainThe rugged ravines of the mountain ridges evoke a profound sense of desolate grandeur and timeless vicissitude. The Western Xia Mausoleum Museum inside the attraction has been newly unveiled. The exhibits are divided into six sections: history of Western Xia, Western Xia culture, Western Xia religious art, Western Xia socio-economy, Western Xia Mausoleum, and preservation & inheritance. Nearly 5,000 artifacts are displayed, including thangka paintings, documents, clay sculptures, bronze and ironware, textiles, and porcelain. Many of these are exquisite cultural relics unearthed during recent archaeological research at the Western Xia Mausoleum.China · Yinchuan
China West Film Studio
Zhenbeibao Western Cinema is located in Xixia District, Yinchuan City. In this studio, which is characterized by simplicity, roughness and desolation, classic films such as "Wrangler", "Red Sorghum", "Journey to the West", "Thorn Mausoleum", "Jin Yiwei" and hundreds of influential film and television films were filmed. In the remaining part, a large number of celebrities from the Chinese film industry have left their footprints here, such as Gong Li, Jiang Wen, Zhang Yimou, Ge You, Zhou Xingchi, Donnie Yen and so on. The cinema consists of three parts: Mingcheng, Qingcheng and Old Yinchuan Street. Tourists can visit the cinema along the "figure 8" route of Old Yinchuan Street. Here, you can see the appearance of Yinchuan in the first half of the 20th century, and eat local traditional snacks such as mutton soup. The Ming and Qing cities in the film city were rebuilt from the military castles left over from the Ming and Qing dynasties. In the Ming and Qing cities, you can see many familiar movie scenes, such as: the gate tower where Sun Wukong and Fairy Zixia are standing in "Journey to the West", the throne of the Bull Demon King, the torture platform of the Tang monk; and the movie "Journey to the West" The Moon Gate in "Red Sorghum", the winemaking workshop where "My Grandpa" urinated after being drunk, the sedan chair that Jiu'er took when he got married, the big vat for wine, and the bowls. There are costumes and props for rent in many places in the studio. Here, you can wear a set of costumes in the play, use the props in the movie, and walk around the scenes of the movie to live the addiction of being a star. Before going to Zhenbeibao Western Studios, you can revisit a few classic movies first, and then go to visit, you will have a different feeling.China · Yinchuan
The Wave Valley Scenic Area
Wavy Valley is also known as Jingbian Red Sand Rock Canyon. It is part of the Jingbian Longzhou Danxia Landform and is located in Yanjiazhaizi in Longzhou Township, southeast of Jingbian County. The Wavy Valley is a red sandstone landform with a magical appearance and high scientific research value. The spectacular landscape naturally formed over hundreds of millions of years. It is rare in China and can compete with the Danxia landform in the United States!China · Jingbian County
Free things to do in Yanchi
Dingbian Salt Lake Scenic Area
Dingbian · 10.9 km from YanchiYanzhou Ancient City Historical and Cultural Tourism Zone
Yanchi · 600m from downtown
Shuidonggou Tourist Attraction
Lingwu · 96.4 km from Yanchi
Wuhai Lake Leisure Resort Tourist Area
China · Wuhai
Yangjialing Revolutionary Site
China · Yan'an
Tengger Desert
China · Alxa Left Banner
Zaoyuan Revolutionary Site
China · Yan'an
Qikou Ancient Town
China · Lin County
Kangbashi Natural Museum
China · Ordos
Yinchuan Lanshan Park
China · Yinchuan
What travelers say about Yanchi
135***16September 24, 2026
5.0
Haba Lake is located at the source of the largest shifting sand belt in the central part of the salt lake. Patches of sand willows ripple like green waves in the wind across the sea of sand, while clusters of drought-resistant willow forests on the low-lying dunes resemble overlapping mushroom clouds, appearing and disappearing in the distance. Even more valuable is the preservation of a considerable area of rare natural willow and poplar forests on the southern edge of the Mu Us Desert, forming a unique plant community.
Haba Lake
遇见美景，快乐欣赏May 25, 2022
5.0
Dingbian Salt Lake Scenic Area is located in Dingbian County, Shaanxi Province. It is not only a place for producing salt, but also a place of natural beauty.
Dingbian Salt Lake has a long history, which dates back to the Qin and Han Dynasties; it has a glorious tradition, and is the former site of the 359th Brigade's salt mining, which was praised by Chairman Mao Zedong as "the first financial center of the central government"; it has beautiful scenery and is the Chinese Photography Creation Base awarded by the China Photographers Association.
Dingbian Salt Lake Scenic Area
风雪太行September 21, 2025
5.0
Located in Yanchi County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Changchengguan Pass is the core component of the Yansui Town defense system of the Great Wall, built in 1531 by Wang Qiong, the General Administrator of Three Borders. Its naming breaks with the traditional practice of naming passes after places or directions, becoming the only pass along the entire Ming Great Wall directly named "Great Wall."
The construction of this pass marked a strategic upgrade in the Ming Dynasty's northwestern border defenses. Located at the transition zone between the Maowusu Desert and the Loess Plateau, it utilized the natural terrain to construct a triple defense system: desert, pass, and ravine.
Yanchi County Great Wall Pass
M47***55April 5, 2023
5.0
A very meaningful tourist attraction with a great night view and a light show to watch.
Yanzhou Ancient City Historical and Cultural Tourism Zone
杨乐多January 8, 2023
4.0
The ancient Great Wall has gained extraordinary significance over the years.
Yanchigu Changcheng Ruins Park
xiayutian198October 23, 2026
5.0
Shapotou Scenic Area is perfect for bringing kids! On the sheepskin rafts, boats number 22 and 23 were rowed smoothly, with the boatmen singing local folk songs for us.
The food prices within the scenic area are surprisingly reasonable – delicious and affordable, a rare find indeed. A bowl of beef noodles was 18 yuan, and noodles with minced meat sauce were 12 yuan. Water and grilled sausages were also reasonably priced. I would definitely come back again.
Shapotou Scenic Area
淘淘0728October 22, 2026
5.0
It's definitely worth a visit. First of all, the corridor outside the museum is incredibly photogenic. Personally, I think visiting Tomb No. 3 is enough; the others are pretty much the same. The museum itself is worth a visit, and a guided tour is even better, providing a more direct understanding of Western Xia culture and interesting anecdotes.
Xixia Imperial Tombs
子秋璟雯October 20, 2026
4.0
A film and television base. Many films and television dramas are filmed here. Most of the paths in the park are gravel dirt roads, so it's recommended to wear thick hiking shoes, otherwise your feet will protest. Overall, it's quite nice and worth a visit.
China West Film Studio
Anonymous userOctober 15, 2026
5.0
Wave Valley in Jingbian, Shaanxi, is truly an underrated scenic spot. The scenery is very unique, the facilities are complete, and the large loop is not difficult, making it accessible to most people.
The Wave Valley Scenic Area
