China: Yinchuan – Old City

Yinchuan is a historic city in Ningxia province in northern China along the Silk Road, it was once the capital of the ancient Western Xia Empire. The old city center has a large Cross Drum Tower standing in the middle of the main crossroads, built in 1821 during the Qing Dynasty. Not far from it is the Yinchuan Yuhuang Pavilion aka Jade Emperor Pavilion, a spectacular 600-year-old structure from the Ming Dynasty times. Finally, also here is a wide pedestrian Gulou street with shops, restaurants, and entertainment – lit to the max at night. Yinchuan is also a good place to try some very unique dishes like Hand-Grabbed Mutton (the region’s signature dish, featuring tender mutton that is boiled and served simply with salt and garlic), an the Eight Treasures Tea (a blend of tea leaves, rock sugar, goji berries, dates, and sesame seeds).