Where the lush green parts of the Ningxia may prosper and yields rich harvests of fresh produce agriculture in Yanchi County has been failing for years. Yanchi is not blessed with the proximity of the Yellow River, nor has any natural resources. Therefor it is one of China's most impoverished counties. Economic development has been slow, because much of the land in the county is wasteland with alkali soil, making farming difficult. Dwindling underground water levels and a lack of rain have done the rest. In order to cancel out the defaults on agricultural taxes on these lands, the county government has in recent years stimulated the cultivation of honey and attempts to grow high-tech herbs.
With a alck of jobs and livelihood available, many have moved away to the city or other regions. As a result of alternative economic activity, it is mostly the County Government and regional Government which run the show in the town and county. The Huamachi section of Town serves as the location for the county government offices.
With a lack of rain and none forthcoming, there is little hope for an economic revival in Yanchi. This may however change if and when the Governments go through with the development of the Ningxia Yanchi Mahuangshan Wind Farm (or Wanglejing Wind Farm).
For additional information on the local economy see: "Wuzhong Prefecture" and "Economy of Yanchi County".
Local Topography of Yanchi :
As can be seen on below satellite image, the Loess
Province intersects with the sands of the Gobi Desert in the West and with the Ordos desert (the so called Ordos Massif) in the West. In the middle of these sits Ningxia consisting of the alluvial plain of the Yellow River (Huang He:黃河) and a mountainous area, the Helan Shan, at some distance west of the River.
Today dammed at Xingtongxia (青铜峡), in the western suburb of Wuzhong City Prefecture, the yellow river provides Wuzhong with the relatively new geographical feature of the Xingtongxia Reservoir, which can be found nearby extending way south up the river to Zhongwei and Shapotou.
A major irrigation canal branches off the river near the hydro-electric dam and runs north, providing the main irrigation artery for the Wuzhong Region.
The terrain of Wuzhong generally declines south- north. Its northern area belongs to the Yinchuan Plain, while the south has a distribution of hills and mountains.
Ethnic Minorities in Wuzhong & Prefecture
Yanchi County & City Today :
History of Yanchi County :
Yanchi Climate & Weather :
Yanchi (--) Basic Knowledge :
This page was last updated on: July 19, 2017
The Yanchi Report
Introduction to Yanchi & Yanchi County, Wuzhong
Yanchi & County Landmarks & Monuments
Yanchi City & Area Maps
Location : 37° 78' 30" North, 107° 4' 07" East
Elevation : 1346 to 1349 meters.
Surface Area:
Urban - Total Surface area of the City Prefecture of Wuzhong 27,000 square kilometers (10,425 square miles). The Yanchi county encompasses 6787 square kilometers.
Population: The Total Population of Wuzhong City and Prefecture is about 2 million souls of whom some 720.000 are part of the Hui Ethnic Minority. An estimated 150 thousand of these citizens live in Yanchi and Yanchi County.
Set along the advancing rim of the Ordos Desert, with little ground water or rainfall, the largely agricultural county of Yanchi has been struggling to make ends meet. Where in the centuries past life along the edge of the desert and Mongolian territories was tough, today it is not that much easier. Generally speaking the little water that is available does not help and most crops fail on the salinated soil, which in the past has been irrigated to often and too long. The shallow lake and marshes that lay both to the north and to the south of town have dried up exposing the parched ground of their
ChinaReport.comat
Public Transport in Yanchi County of Wuzhong Pref
Yanchi is but a far flung and fairly marginal county town situated near the border between Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and the north of Shaanxi Province. Traditionally, the main mode of transportation is by road. However as recennt as the year 2011, the town of Yanchi has acquired one main train station, which is part of the Zhongwei-Yinchuan-Yulin Railroad. This train station links Yanchi to the west with the regional Capital of Yinchuan, whereas recently is has been connected southeastward with adjacent Dingbian of Dingbian County in neighboring Yulin Prefecture of North Shaanxi Province.
There is no airport available in Yanchi, the nearest airport being Yinchuan Hedong Airport at 107.2 kilometers distance. An important part of local transportation is still by road.
ROADS & HIGHWAYS in YANCHI AND YANCHI COUNTY:
Where in the past centuries cart tracks traversing along the southern rim of the Ordos Desert (and Mongolian Territory) reached Yanchi from the east, connecting through westward to the major trading town of Yinchuan near the large Yellow River (Huang He), today the cart tracks have become highways and local roads.
Highways:
The super highway that passes Yanchi from south east to north west is the S20 Qingying Expressway.
The second major highway connecting Yanchi to the rest of the region can be found due southwest of town. This is the G2012 Dingwu Expressway, which splits off from the traditional main thoroughfare S20 Qingying Expressway, branching southwestward heading directly for Zhongning of Zhongning County in Zhongwei Prefecture in central western Ningxia rather than reaching Yinchuan, the regional Capital.
Provincial Roads:
Last but not least, there is the old provincial roads. The first road of importance is the S307 Provincial Road which cuts directly from southeast to northwest through town, being named Minzhu Street (Democracy Street) within the small town of Yanchi itself. The 307 Road is the one to follow up from town center to get to the ruined but standing sections of the Great Wall of China that used to run along the north flank of town. (Check out our various maps for details). Now an interrupted, broken but recognizable pathway can be followed and explored. The ruined sections are found just north of inzhu West Street in town, and at a considerable distance to the west where S307 Provinicla Road and G20 Qingying Expressway temporarily converge. At the point whereboth roads are nearest one another, additional ruinsof the same wall can be reached.
The second Provincial Road of importance in Yanchi is designated S302. The S302 enters Yanchi Town on the north side, tersects with S307 Provincial Road and continues in town as Fuzhou South Road. It runs southward to edge of town than takes a sharp 80 degree turn to the west, running further to Wanglejing Village (Xiang) before slowly bending more southward towards Fengjigou Village (xiang). Due southwest of Fengjigou and after running underneath the S2012 xpressway, the road meets an important regional node at Huai'Anbu County town (Zhen).
TRAIN CONNECTIONS IN YANCHI:
Until late in the year 2011 there was no train station in Yanchi and only roads connected to the outside world. Today however Yanchi has a train station that connects it to the regional Capital of Yinchuan, the main regional hub for commerce, education, medical facilities and transport. Only 1 line serves Yanchi Station, this is the Taiyuan-Zhongwei-Yichuan Railway (Chinese: 太中银铁路), a railway line leading north-east out of Zhongwei to Yinchuan from where it connects to Yanchi. Heading westward again from Yanchi its visits the equally new Dingbian Station before continuing eastbound. Eventually this line reached to Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi Province, however this of less interest.
Traditionally most travelers in search of the ruins of the Great Wall come to Yanchi from Yinchuan in the west. By train this takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes. One option is to stay overnight or longer to explore the remnants of the Great Wall of China found in rural Yanchi County and other parts of Wuzhong Prefecture.
After exploring the Great Wall of China to your satisfaction and reviewing the sparse scenic sights of town, you could connect through to Dingbian and/or Yulin to the east, in north Shaanxi Province.
The earliest human remains and objects found in the region of Wuzhong (currently) date as far back as the end of the stone age. In those days small wandering tribes of nomads criss crossed the region, naturally prefering the available waters of the Yellow River and the abundant green and wildlife as a good spot to stay on for longer periods.
Wuzhong City Prefecture is divided into four administrative units, there are two urban districts and two rural counties. The City Districts are Litong District (利通区) and Xintongxia District (青铜峡市). The rural counties are Yanchi County (同心县) and Tongxin County (同心县).
The town of Yanchi is the westernmost rural county town in Wuzhong Prefecture and is by all means the administrative center of the larger Yanchi County much of which consists of rural farmlands and dusty loess. Yanchi is an ancient rural town, however situated in what amounted to a no mans land along the southern fringe of the Ordos Desert even today it is not very big.
MAIN GOVERNMENT FACILITIES OF TOWN:
- Yanchi Peoples Government Building.
- Yanchi Finance Bureau.
- Yanchi Civil Affairs Bureau.
- Yanchi Political Consultative Bureau.
- Yanchi Renmin Auditorium, which serves as the "City Hall".
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES:
- Yanchi No.1 Middle School.
- Yanchi No. 5 Middle School.
- Yanchi Town No.1 Elementary school.
- Yanchi No.3 Elementary School.
RELIGIOUS:
- Yanchi Mosque ; found on the north end of town at Minzu East Street.
PARKS:
There is only one park in Yanchi. This is Yanzhou Park, which is situated in the extreme north of town just short of the G20 Qingying expressway. Find it just south of the roundabout of S302 Provincial Road and the expressway on Fuzhou North Road.
SHOPPING AND LEISURE:
- Mingzhu Shopping Center ; several shops are found along Yanzhou South Road and Yanzhou North road 1 block south-east of the Town Mosque on Minzhu Street.
There is no information available on the Ethnic Groups within Wuzhong Prefecture.
Satellite Image Map of the Entire Gobi Desert Region. Map overviews North-Eastern Qinghai Province, Gansu Province, Mongolia, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and North and North-Eastern China giving a Full Overview of the Gobi Deserts and a large part of the flow and path of the yellow river.
As described in the 'History of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (1 through 5)', the Ningxia Region was first reached and settled by Han Chinese during the Qin Dynasty Era (221 BC - 206 BC) although it was not until the Han Dynasty rule period that the new position could be solidified. At the time the region of what is today Wuzhong City was included in the irrigation projects of the day. Thus, Wuzhong was a settled and sparsely inhabited region by the second century BC. There were only a few farms and but a few villages though.
By the Time of the Tang Dynasty Era (618 AD - 907 AD) the entire Ningxia Region had been included into the Han Dynastic Realm and was supported by a military garrison. In the region of Wuzhong horses were bred for the imperial armies. Agriculture flourished throughout the regions, as did the faith of Buddhism, which saw a large
nationwide upswing during the second half of the Tang Rule.
Wuzhong or parts of it go unmentioned in the long lost history of the Tangut Dynasty (also known as the Xixia, western Xia Kingdom) which reigned from 1038 AD to 1227 AD, although by that time the Wuzhong Region had long been lost to the military campaigns of the rising Mongol Tribes to the North and North-East which united under Genghis Khan (1162 AD – 1227 AD).
Muslim influences and later full islamic culture came to Wuzhong during the years of the Yuan Dynasty (1271 AD - 1368 AD) and remains to this day.
During the early and mid-19th century, the territory of today's Wuzhong - as well as much of northern Ningxia - became a stronghold of the Jahriyya Sufi order (menhuan), which was headquartered in the town of Jinjipu (located a few km south of today's Wuzhong's main urban area). Under the leadership of the order's fourth and fifth shaykhs, Ma Yide (the 1770s - 1849 AD) and Ma Hualong (deceased 1871 AD), it grew wealthy from the profits of caravan trade across Inner Mongolia, between Baotou, Hohhot and Beijing, and Jinjipu became an important commercial and religious center. During the Muslim Rebellion of 1862 AD -1877 AD, Jinjipu became the headquarter of the rebels in the Ningxia region. The town fell to Zuo Zongtang's troops in January 1871 AD, and over a thousand rebels and residents were massacred; Ma Hualong with his family and Jahriyya officials were executed in March 1871 AD.
A Full listing of Yanchi Town and Yanchi County Landmarks, Monuments, Hotspots and other sites of importance in alphabetical order. Search through the list to find your Full Report and Photo-Virtual Tour of each monument or landmark within the Town as well as County of Yanchi in east Ningxia Hui AR of China (PRC).
In July of 2010 the Qintongxia (City) District of Wuzhong City Prefecture became the stage of the Pakistan-China YOUYI-III (Friendship) Joint Military Drills. The exercises were intent to increase cooperation in anti-terrorism skills and education of Chinese Military in such practices.
In the words of the Commander of China's Lanzhou Military Area Command under who's authority the Ningxia Region falls, the joint military exercise between Pakistan and China "is of profound and far-reaching importance in consolidating the friendship between the two countries and armies, upgrading their capabilities in fighting terrorism together and safeguarding regional peace and stability". Commander Wang Guosheng made these remarks at the opening ceremony of the China and Pakistan joint anti-terrorism drill that started in Qingtongxia in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Saturday, July 1st of 2010.
Apart from maintaining good relations with a vital strategic neighboring nation, China's interest in the exercises are first and foremost the stabilizing and pacifying the Western regions, mainly in Xinjiang-Uighur Autonomous Region, but alo such restive regions as Tibet. China's western-most city, the City of Kashgar, is directly connected to the Pakistani Capital of Islamabad through the Karakoram Highway, at the moment the highest road in the world. Due West of Kashgar the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan adds further fuel and weapons to be used by terrorist and recently large ethnic clashes in Kyrgyzstan have further emphasized the specific military needs for the region.
The drill, code-named "Friendship-2010," was the third of its kind between the two countries. More than 200 people, including soldier participants and military spectators, attended the opening ceremony of the drill. Commander Wang said the drill would also help promoting military understanding and mutual trust, enhancing military exchanges
and cooperation between the two sides. Lieutenant General Khalid Shameem Wynne, Chief of the General Staff of the Pakistan Army, speaking on the occasion
You Tube Video: The YOUYI-III Joint Chinese-Pakistani Anti-terror exercises in Qingtongxia, Wuzhong City, Ningxia Hui AR in 2010.
Asia Report - Map of Karakoram Highway / China-Pakistan Mountain Highway
said Pakistan and China had all-weather friendship, which could transcend borders and have enjoyed popular support. He said the drill showed the two countries' determination to combat the "three forces"—referring to extremism, separatism and terrorism.
China and Pakistan held their first-ever joint anti-terrorism exercise, "Friendship-2004," in Xinjiang's Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County which is situated along the strategic Karakoram Highway and borders on restive Tajikistan, conflict ridden Afghanistan and the unstabile nation of Pakistan. About 200 border soldiers from both sides participated. The second joint anti-terror military drill, "Friendship-2006," was carried out in the hills of northern Pakistan's Abbottabad. More than 400 soldiers from the both armies took part. [Source: CCTV News Channel]
For more information on the History of Wuzhong from Pre'- History to Present, please refer to:
Location of the main cities and towns of Ningxia Region, Yanchi, whcih lies due east of Wuzhong on the border is not considered very significant. In fact, it is only famous as a location of the Great Wall of China.
There is no location information available For Yanchi Station. This Station has not been included in the current Google Mpas, nor has this new railway line. It is however certainly in operation.
CLICK HERE FOR UPDATED TRAIN SCHEDULE FOR YANCHI STATION:
More information and photos of the Yanchi Railway Station coming Soon. See link below.
YANCHI TOWN LANDMARKS AND MONUMENTS:
Except for the Town Mosque on the north side of town, the tiny park and perhaps the collection of five Government buildings there really are no worthwhile landmarks and certainly no Monuments in the town of Yanchi proper. That is, except for the ruined pathway of the Great Wall of China that cuts right through today's town.
In the county of Yanchi more ruined sections of the Great Wall of China can be found. Among these parts of the original Great Wall of the Qin Dynasty (221 BC - 206 BC). In addition, due north of town one can find the ruined remains of the City of Xuyan of the western Han Dynasty and its associated Tomb (Cemetary City, which encompasses a large area. The site has only recently been developed as a tourist site.
bottoms. In addition to this, the sands of the Ordos Desert have started moving suffocating yet more usable lands. As a result, both the livelihoods of the people in town and the existance of its famous Great Wall of China are under threat.
The opening of the first ever railroad connection in 2011 has not stimulated the economy so much, it has given locals a cheap opportunity to get away and seek jobs in the city of Yinchuan or in the large and supposedly rich coastal cities. With failing crops there is no agriculture and hence no jobs, leaving Yanchi as a fairly dusty town. A little hope glows on far horizon however, as the region Government is working out plans to turn the unusable lands surrounding the town and across the border in Inner Mongolia into a giant wind energy park. As things look at this time, this will not happen before the year 2020. In the meantime, Yanchi will likely be surviving on the few die hard Great Wall of China fans who make the effort to come to Yanchi and explore its various famous sections of the Great Wall of China. Among the nearby ruined sections of the Great Wall is a section that has been confirmed as belonging to the original and first Great Wall of China of the Qin Dynasty (221 BC - 206 BC).
