Xifeng District 西峰区

Setting and landscape

Most of the district is flat tableland, which makes up more than 80 per cent of its farmland, at an elevation of about 1,421 m, with gullies cutting in around its edges. The mean annual temperature is 10°C and rainfall is about 600 mm a year. The district counts itself among Gansu's bases for quality fruit.

History

The Neolithic Nanzuo site (南佐遗址), on a terrace at Wangzui village in Houguanzhai (后官寨), was excavated five times between 1984 and 1996 by the Gansu provincial archaeology institute. Its centrepiece, a rammed-earth ritual hall labelled F1, measures 33.5 by 18.8 m, with 630 m² inside divided into a front hall and rear chamber; pottery, stone axes and knives, spindle whorls, bone needles and a large quantity of carbonised grain were found. Gansu listed the site in 1981 and the State Council made it a national key site in 2001.

The district describes the town as a stop on the old official road from the Guanzhong plain to Ningxia and a market for north–south trade; it first grew into an important town in the Ming dynasty. Xifeng became a city in 1950, was split from Qingyang County as a separate city in 1985, and turned into a district in June 2002.

What to see

The Northern Grotto Temple (北石窟寺) was begun in 509 under the Northern Wei and extended through the Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang and Song. Its caves are cut into yellow sandstone on the banks of the Pu River (蒲河), about 25 km southwest of Qingyang, and hold more than two thousand carved figures; it has been a national key site since 1988. At Gaojia'ao in Wenquan (温泉), the Gongliu Temple site (公刘庙遗址) stands on a spur of tableland with gullies on three sides; villagers have rebuilt its halls and opera stage, and on the 18th day of the third month they hold a spring sacrifice to Duke Liu (公刘).

Food and local products

Xifeng dough sculpture (西峰面塑) shapes wheat dough, with black beans, jujubes, red beans, turmeric and ground Sichuan-pepper leaves, by pinching, pressing and cutting, then steams, fries or bakes it into figures for sacrifices, festivals, birthdays, weddings and funerals. Liuling yellow wine (刘岭黄酒) comes from Liuling and Yanqi'ao villages in Pengyuan (彭原); it is strong enough that some batches can be set alight, and it is traditionally drunk hot, skimmed after boiling.

Getting oriented

The Yinchuan–Xi'an high-speed railway runs north to south through the district, and the Qingdao–Lanzhou expressway crosses it.

Highlights

• Northern Grotto Temple 北石窟寺: Buddhist caves begun in 509 in the sandstone banks of the Pu River; national key site since 1988.
• Nanzuo site 南佐遗址: Neolithic site with a 630 m² rammed-earth ritual hall and carbonised grain; national key site since 2001.
• Gongliu Temple site 公刘庙遗址: Rebuilt temple to Duke Liu on a tableland spur, with a spring sacrifice on the 18th day of the third month.
• Xifeng dough sculpture 西峰面塑: Steamed or fried dough figures made for sacrifices, festivals, weddings and funerals.
• Liuling yellow wine 刘岭黄酒: Strong yellow wine from Pengyuan, some of which can be set alight; drunk hot.