Linxia Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 临夏回族自治州 (lín xià huí zú zì zhì zhōu)
Population: 2,058,800
Area: 8,169 square kilometers (3,154 square miles)
Location: in the southwest of Gansu Province, northwestern China
Administrative Division: 5 counties (Linxia, Kangle, Yongjing, Guanghe, Hezheng); 2 autonomous counties (Dongxiang Autonomous County, Jishishan Bonan, Dongxiang and Salar Autonomous County); 1 county-level city (Linxia)
Area Code: 0930
Zip Code: 731100
GDP (2018): CNY 25.53 billion (USD 3.86 billion)
 

Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture is seated in southwest-central Gansu on the upper reaches of the Yellow River. It borders Dingxi on the east, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture on the south and the capital city of Gansu, Lanzhou, on the north. With the Anemaqen Mountains forming a natural boundary, it is also bordered to the west with Qinghai Province. Linxia is one of the important origins of Chinese civilization and boasts the hometown of Chinese painted pottery. It is one of the areas with the most Neolithic culture and archaeological excavation in China. The King of Painted Pottery with unique style and patterns displayed at the China’s National Museum was unearthed in Linxia. The world’s intangible cultural heritage - western China folk song Hua’er also originated here.

Liujiaxia Reservoir: is a smooth lake in the high gorges, being the largest inland reservoir in Northwest China. After admiring the reservoir on the way westward, visitors can see the ancient grottoes situated high on the cliffs. They were first excavated in 420AD. Nowadays, the Grottoes at Bingling Temple has become a hot attraction along the ancient Silk Road.

Nanguan Mosque: one of the famous Islamic shrines in China's northwest region first built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).

Bafang Shisanxiang: It is the exhibition park of northwest ethnic architecture, which integrates the brick carving, wood carving and color painting. 

Other Scenic Spots: Songmingyan National Forest Park, Lianhua Mountain Nature Reserve

Most regions of Linxia Prefecture lay in a temperate climate zone with four distinct seasons, moderate temperature, and refreshing weather. There is no excessive summer heat and the annual average temperature only falls to around 6.3C (43.3F).

 When to Go: Summer and autumn are the harvest seasons for fruits and melon, and due to the high altitude, summer is comfortable and refreshing. Therefore, June to August are recommended as the best times to visit there.

 History: It was formerly known as Han, and was later changed to Daohe and then Hezhou. Since the founding of administrative divisions during the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC), it has always been a link between western and central China. Linxia was a vital passage in the ancient Silk Road, Tang-Tibet and Gansu-Sichuan ancient roads, and was praised as the 'dock on land in West China'. The city was established in 1956, being one of the only two autonomous prefectures of Hui ethnic minority.

 Physical Features: Situated in the transition zone between Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Loess Plateau, the land is higher in the southwest and lower in the northeast. It is basically made up of river valley area and a dry loess region with alpine areas.

 Special Local Products: horsebean, hemp, apricot, beet, herbs.

 Local Highlights:
Nationalities and religions: There are in total twenty-two ethnic groups living in there, including Han, Hui, Dongxiang, Bonan, Salar, Tibetan and Tu, among which the Bonan and Dongxiang are unique to the prefecture. The people of Hui, Dongxiang, Bonan and Salar descent are Islamic, comprising more than fifty-six percent of total local population. Although Tu, Tibetan and some of the Han people believe in Buddhism and Catholicism, it is one of the cradles of Hui ethnic minority with a population of over six hundred thousand.

Three wonders: painted pottery, gourd carving, brick carving.

Folk-Customs: Hua'er, otherwise known as 'Flower', is a type of folk song popular amongst the ethnic minorities in Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia and Xinjiang. According to different areas, the flower song has two types: Hezhou Hua'er and Gaoqiang Hua'er with Linxia renowned as a hometown of Hezhou Hua'er.
 

 Related Hiking Tour Itinerary Information:
Linxia Exploration: 4 Days Tour of Linxia and Xiahe