Nestled in the Daxia River Valley, Linxia is a former Silk Road hub home to the Hui ethnic group. It’s renowned for the Nanguan Mosque and the atmospheric Antique Market and also offers easy access to the Liujiaxia Reservoir and the Bingling Temple’s Buddhist grottoes.
Things to do in Linxia
Admire the fusion of traditional Chinese and Arabic architecture at the Nanguan Mosque, one of the Holy Lands of Islam in Northwest China. Established at the end of the Yuan dynasty, it features a large worship hall surrounded by huge columns and the beautifully-decorated Wangyue Pavilion, as well as ancient scripts carved into the walls of its sermon room.
Shop for locally-made bronze teapots and Tibetan handicrafts at the lively Antique Market, which is located inside the temple grounds of Lanzhou Chenghuang Miao. Browse the Chinese paintings and elegant calligraphy on sale, together with vintage coins and ornate jade pieces.
Enjoy a scenic cruise along the Liujiaxia Reservoir, where the tranquil waters were formed by the damming of the Yellow River. Admire the striking rock features that rise on the edge of the reservoir, then marvel at the engineering feat that is the Liujiaxia Dam near where the Tao and Yellow rivers meet.
Continue along the Liujiaxia Reservoir to witness the Buddhist grottoes and sculptures of the Bingling Temple that have been etched into a canyon along the Yellow River. First established in the 5th century, the impressive carvings and frescoes of the complex have been added throughout successive dynasties.
Getting around Linxia
Linxia is just under three hours’ drive from Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport and buses connect to the centre of Lanzhou. Buses also travel throughout Linxia and connect most of the city’s sights.