Baiyin

Baiyin has a dry climate and large temperature swings between day and night. Bring moisturizer and a light jacket.

Travel in Baiyin, Gansu Province, offers geological landscapes, an ancient town in the Gobi Desert, and scenery along the Yellow River. Visitor numbers are relatively low, and travel costs are generally affordable. The following guide covers attractions, food, and routes for exploring this northwestern city.

• Yellow River Stone Forest: Millions of years of erosion have shaped sandstone and conglomerate into an extensive stone forest, with pinnacles rising 80–200 meters. Visitors can take a sheepskin raft down the river or ride a donkey cart through the canyons. Films and television productions, including *The Myth*, have used the area as a filming location.

• Yongtai Ancient City: This Ming-dynasty military fortress is more than 400 years old. Its turtle-shaped outline has also earned it the name Yongtai Turtle City. Rammed-earth walls and a Gobi village preserve the character of an ancient frontier settlement. Around sunset is a good time for photography.

• Huining Red Army Reunion Site: The First, Second, and Fourth Front Armies of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army joined forces here. Visitors can see the Reunion Tower, memorial tower, and other features. The site is both a nationally protected cultural heritage site and a center for education about Communist revolutionary history. Admission is free.

• Shuichuan Yellow River Wetland Park: This national 4A-rated attraction provides a habitat for plateau fish and waterbirds. The scenic Yellow River route, roughly five kilometers long, features boardwalks through reeds, lotus ponds, and other wetland scenery. It is suitable for walking or cycling.

• Faquan Temple: This thousand-year-old temple in Gansu brings together Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian traditions. It preserves a group of grottoes dating from the Northern Wei through the Qing dynasty. Surrounded by mountains, the peaceful temple is a place to visit and offer prayers.

Local Food Specialties

Baiyin’s food combines the meat dishes typical of northwestern China with local flavors from along the Yellow River. Start with these representative dishes:

• Jingyuan Lamb: Made with locally free-range Tan sheep, this is one of Baiyin’s signature meat dishes. The lamb is tender and relatively mild in flavor. Common preparations include boiled lamb eaten by hand and rich braised lamb, served with a garlic-and-vinegar dipping sauce.

• Suanlanrou (Sour Pork Stew): A common home-style dish made by simmering pork belly in a traditionally fermented sour broth, then adding glass noodles and pickled cabbage. It has a sour, spicy flavor, and the broth can also be mixed with rice.

• Yiwosi (Thousand-Strand Pastry): This Baiyin pastry is associated with local intangible cultural heritage. It has fine, crisp layers and a threadlike structure that can be pulled apart. Paired with tea brewed in a small pot, it makes a breakfast option and is also convenient to take home as a local food souvenir.

• Dongwan Donkey Meat: A common local specialty available in flavors such as five-spice and soy-braised. Slow cooking in seasoned broth gives the meat a full flavor and a fairly firm texture.

For food in the city, head to Wuyi Street Food Street or Gongnong Road Night Market. Options include dry-tossed pork noodles, old-style malatang, sweet gray-pea soup, and handmade cold starch jelly. A filling meal generally costs CNY 30–50 per person.

Suggested 3-Day, 2-Night Itinerary

Baiyin’s attractions are spread far apart, so driving or hiring a car with a driver is the most convenient way to link them. This route combines natural scenery with cultural visits:

• Day 1: Arrive in Baiyin, explore the city, and try local food
  • Morning: After arriving in central Baiyin, visit Huoyanshan National Mining Park. See the enormous open-pit mine and learn about the history of local copper mining.

• Afternoon: Take a walk in Jinyu Park or Shuichuan Yellow River Wetland Park. If you choose the wetland park, take a break beside the Yellow River for a slower-paced afternoon.
  • Evening: Eat at Wuyi Street Food Street or Gongnong Road Night Market. Try local dishes such as Jingyuan lamb and suanlanrou, and experience Baiyin’s everyday nightlife.
• Day 2: Explore the Yellow River Stone Forest, then head to an ancient Gobi town toward evening
  • Morning: Drive to the Yellow River Stone Forest in Jingtai County, a journey of about 1.5 hours. Take a sightseeing vehicle and donkey cart into Yinmagou Grand Canyon, then walk along the viewing-platform boardwalks for elevated views of the Yellow River’s S-bend and the stone forest.
  • Afternoon: Continue to Yongtai Ancient City, about an hour’s drive away. Photograph the ancient town along its rammed-earth walls. Toward evening, watch shepherds bringing their sheep through the city gate and enjoy the quiet atmosphere of this Gobi frontier settlement.
  • Evening: Stay in Jingtai county town or at a guesthouse in Longwan Village by the Yellow River Stone Forest. At night, you can view the Milky Way over the Gobi.
• Day 3: Visit the Red Army Reunion Site and begin your return journey
  • Morning: Visit the Red Army Reunion Site in Huining County to learn about the armies’ historic meeting. This can also be an educational visit for families with children.
  • Afternoon: Depending on your departure time, stop at Baiyin Museum along the way to learn about the development of this copper-mining city, then return to Lanzhou or head home.

Accommodation and Transport

• Where to stay: Spend the first night in central Baiyin, which has a wide choice of hotels and convenient access to the food streets. For the second night, choose a guesthouse in Longwan Village if you prefer a rural setting, or consider a hotel in Jingtai county town if comfort is your priority.
• Getting around: Distances between attractions are long, and public transport connections are not particularly convenient. Driving is the best option, though hiring a car with a driver is also possible. From Lanzhou, the drive takes about 1.5 hours to central Baiyin and about 2 hours to the Yellow River Stone Forest.
• When to visit: Summer (June–August) offers opportunities to escape the heat and go canyon rafting. Autumn (September–October) brings clear weather and relatively comfortable temperature swings, making it suitable for sightseeing and photography.

Travel Tips

• Sun protection and moisturizing: UV exposure is strong in northwestern China, and there is little shade along Gobi routes. Pack high-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, and lip balm. The air is dry, so use moisturizing skincare products.
• Prepare for temperature changes: Even in summer, mornings and evenings can turn noticeably cool. Pack a light jacket.
• Carry water and food: Attractions such as the Yellow River Stone Forest and Yongtai Ancient City cover large areas. Food options within them are limited and relatively expensive, so bring plenty of bottled water and a few snacks.
• Protect historic sites: Yongtai Ancient City contains Ming-dynasty remains and is still home to local residents. Do not climb the rammed-earth walls, and ask residents’ permission before entering their homes.