Guyuan is the only prefecture-level city not beside the Yellow River among Ningxia's five cities. Located approximately between three main provincial capital cities (Xian, Lanzhou and Yinchuan) along the Silk Road, it once was a significant hub of economy, transport and military in Northwestern China, as well as the communicating place of farming culture and nomadic culture. Guyuan is a lesser-known city in a lesser-known region, and seldom foreign travelers will list it in the plan during their first visit to China. However, there are many things to discover and enjoy in Guyuan for travelers with special-interests.
There are not many attractions in Guyuan, but you will definitely find something interesting and worthwhile to visit. Here we list the most recommended attractions for your reference, and you can choose some for your Guyuan trip.
As one of the 10 Greatest Grottoes in China, Xumishan Grottoes are a large collection of 162 Buddhist grottoes, which dated back to North Wei Dynasty (368- 534) and enjoyed a high artistic value.
Guyuan Museum is a comprehensive museum focusing on historical relics dating from the Stone Age through the Silk Road to the Qing Dynasty. It has a total collection of more than 12,000 pieces of cultural relics.
With a forest coverage rate of more than 80% and an average annual temperature of 5.8°C, Liupanshan National Forest Park is a nice place to enjoy nature and to be away for a summer resort.
Huoshizhai gets its name after the red stone cliff which looks like the burning flames. Every spring and autumn, there will be different kinds of flowers which attract numerous butterflies and bees.
Lying in the warm and semi-arid climate zone of the Loess Plateau, Guyuan has a typical continental climate with a long cold period and a short hot period. The temperature varies a lot in different places, because of the large region of hills of mountains in Guyuan. The temperature difference between day and night is large, so it is important to bring an extra coat even if you visit Guyuan in summer. The average temperature in Guyuan City is around 7.5°C. The hottest month is July with an average temperature of 16°C, and the coldest month is January with an average temperature of -8°C. We suggest you visit Guyuan during the months from May to October (especially May, June, September and October) when the weather is most comfortable. If you visit in summer, remember to bring sunblock to help your skin from the strong sunlight.
Related Link Yinchuan Weather >
Guyuan is located in the southmost part of Ningxia, and getting to Guyuan is not convenient. You can take limited flights to Guyuan or normal trains from several cities, and you need to make a transfer at Yinchuan most of the time.
By Flight: There is 1 or 2 daily flights from Yinchuan, Beijing, Yinchuan, Fuzhou and Xian, and 3 or 4 weekly flights from Shanghai and Guangzhou to Liupanshan Airport (about 12 km/20 minutes' drive from Guyuan City). Some flights might be canceled due to the weather conditions or low seasons.
By Train: It is available to take a normal train to Guyuan Railway Station from Yinchuan (about 6.5 hours), Xian (about 7 hours), Lanzhou (about 10 hours), Chengdu (about 20.5 hours), Shanghai (about 27 hours) and Guangzhou (about 34 hours)
Yinchuan to Guyuan: Yinchuan is a good gateway to Guyuan, because it can much be easier to reach from most major cities in China. After you get to Yinchuan by flight or high speed train, you can drive 330 km (about 4 hours), or take a normal train (about 6.5 hours) to Guyuan.
Related Links: How to Get to & Get around Yinchuan | Yinchuan Airport and Flights to Yinchuan
To be frank, the accommodation in Guyuan is rather basic, and there are not much many hotels in Guyuan. If you want a comfortable stay, you'd better accommodate in the city area of Guyuan. Recommended hotels include Guyuan Museum Atour Hotel (故园博物馆亚朵酒店), Xigang Airlines Hotel Guyuan (固原西港航空酒店), Guyuan Taihe Hotel (固原泰和酒店) and Xiyue Hotel (禧悦酒店). For travelers who have a higher demand for hotels, you can accommodate in Yinchuan where the accommodation is much better.
Usually, many travelers start a Guyuan tour from the provincial capital - Yinchuan, which is Ningxia's tourist distribution and transfer hub offering incredible attractions to visit. Moreover, you can also visit Zhongwei (Shapotou Desert) to enjoy the amazing desert view and exhilarating activities. If time allows, you can also go to Shizuishan City (Sand Lake) and Wuzhong City (Qingtong Gorge).
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