Yuanzhou District 原州区

Setting and landscape

The district has a cool climate with an average temperature of 6.8°C and 400 to 550 mm of rain a year, and the China Meteorological Administration named it a summer-escape destination in January 2024. Rivers crossing it include the Qingshui (清水河), the Ruhe (茹河) and the Zhonghe (中河). The Yunwushan National Nature Reserve (云雾山国家级自然保护区) is also in the district.

History

The district government traces a line of the Book of Songs (诗经) about a campaign against the Xianyun (玁狁) people "as far as Dayuan" to this area. Xiao Pass (萧关), the northern of the four passes that guarded the Guanzhong plain, lay in Yuanzhou on the northern route of the eastern Silk Road; the district government also describes Yuanzhou as one of the nine frontier garrisons of the Ming. Remains of the Warring States Qin Great Wall run through the district; the district government identifies it as the wall in Mao Zedong's line "he who has not reached the Great Wall is no true man".

What to see

The Xumishan Grottoes (须弥山石窟), 55 km northwest of the city on the north bank of the Sikouzi River (寺口子河), are a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. Carving began under the Northern Wei and continued through the Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui and Tang; the largest cave, No. 5, is Tang. Unlike most Chinese grottoes, cut into a single cliff, these are spread over eight rock hills divided by ravines and linked by stairs and bridges, with more than 350 statues in all.

Guyuan Museum (固原博物馆) is a national first-grade museum with more than 20,000 items; the district government names three national treasures among them: a gilt silver ewer, a glass bowl with raised studs and a Northern Wei lacquered coffin painting.

Huangduobao old town (黄铎堡古城) was known in the Tang as Shimen (石门镇) and was rebuilt in 1097 as the Song fort of Pingxia (平夏城), which a Western Xia army led by Emperor Chongzong and his mother failed to take. It takes its present name from Huang Duo (黄铎), great-grandson of a Ming commander of the Guyuan Guard, who built a stockade in its northwest corner. Its inner and outer walls form a nested square, and it has been a Ningxia-level protected site since 1988. Ming-era city walls and the Kuixing Tower (魁星楼) are also listed among the district's sights.

Highlights

• Xumishan Grottoes 须弥山石窟: Northern Wei to Tang grottoes cut across eight rock hills, a nationally protected site.
• Guyuan Museum 固原博物馆: National first-grade museum holding a gilt silver ewer and a Northern Wei lacquered coffin painting.
• Huangduobao old town 黄铎堡古城: Song fort of Pingxia, rebuilt in 1097, with nested inner and outer walls.
• Yunwushan National Nature Reserve 云雾山国家级自然保护区: National nature reserve within the district.