Yulin

Temperatures in Yulin vary considerably between morning and evening, so pack a windproof jacket.

Yulin’s attractions span natural landscapes and frontier history: red sandstone danxia formations, a Ming- and Qing-era old town with its distinctive “six towers spanning the streets,” and historic sites along the Great Wall. These can be combined into a 3-day, 2-night trip.

• Jingbian Wave Valley: Over hundreds of millions of years, red sandstone has developed into undulating layers with wave-like danxia patterns, earning it the nickname “China’s Antelope Canyon.” Follow the long loop route through Flame Danxia and Earth’s Core Danxia. Late-afternoon light is better for viewing and photographing details in the rock layers.

• Hongshi Gorge: Located on Yulin’s northern outskirts, this gorge preserves cliff inscriptions from various historical periods on both sides, earning it the name “Forest of Steles on the Frontier.” Its main sights include red cliffs, green waters and old cliffside walkways. Allow about 1–2 hours to explore.

• Zhenbeitai Tower: This Ming-era Great Wall structure is known, together with Shanhai Pass and Jiayu Pass, as one of the “Three Great Wonders of the Great Wall.” Climb to the top for panoramic views of Yulin and the wide-open frontier landscape.

• Yulin Old Town: The writer Lao She praised it as “Little Beijing.” Among its Ming- and Qing-era buildings, the most distinctive feature is the street layout with “six towers spanning the streets.” Admission is free, and a walk along the flagstone lanes offers a glimpse of daily life in the old town.

• Shimao Site: This prehistoric stone city dates back about 4,300 years, making it a thousand years older than Sanxingdui. Start at the Shimao Museum at the foot of the hill to see jade objects and stone carvings, then enter the archaeological site and look out over the surrounding Loess Plateau.

• Hongjiannao Lake: China’s largest desert freshwater lake is known for its broad waters bordered by sandy terrain. Summer is a good time to escape the heat and watch relict gulls. Set aside time around sunset to enjoy the views as well.

Suggested 3-Day, 2-Night Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive in Yulin and explore the old town’s streets
  • Morning/Afternoon: Arrive in Yulin and check in at your hotel.
  • Early evening: Walk along Yulin Old Street to see the “six towers spanning the streets” and get a sense of a Ming- and Qing-era frontier town.

• Evening: Have dinner at the Confucius Temple Night Market. Try local snacks such as daodao wantuo, a sliced starch jelly, and lamb offal soup, and enjoy the frontier town after dark.

• Day 2: Explore cliff inscriptions, the Great Wall and danxia landscapes
  • Morning: See the cliff inscriptions at Hongshi Gorge, then travel by car to Zhenbeitai Tower and climb up for views of the surrounding landscape.
  • Afternoon: Drive or hire a car with a driver to Jingbian Wave Valley, about 1.5–2 hours away. The red danxia formations are the highlight of this part of the trip; allow 3–4 hours to explore.
  • Evening: Stay in Jingbian’s county town or return to central Yulin for the night.
• Day 3: Choose between a prehistoric site and a desert lake
  • Option A (Culture and History): Travel to Shenmu to visit the Shimao Site and learn about this 4,300-year-old prehistoric royal city. In the afternoon, you can visit Gaojiabao Ancient Town along the way.

• Option B (Natural Scenery): Visit Hongjiannao to see its desert freshwater lake, then head to the nearby Erlintu Grassland for horseback riding or camping and views of grassland meeting sand dunes.

• Early evening: Plan your return journey around your flight or high-speed train departure time.

Local Food in Yulin

Yulin’s cuisine combines nomadic and farming food traditions, with distinctive lamb, tofu and noodle dishes.

• Yulin Lamb Offal Soup: A common local breakfast, this dish uses lamb-bone broth simmered overnight, with cleaned and prepared lamb offal added. Eat it with freshly baked ganmo flatbread, soaking pieces of bread in the soup.

• Suide Lamb Noodles: A saying in northern Shaanxi declares that “the lamb noodles of Sishilipu are something special.” This dish combines rich broth with hand-pinched noodles. The noodles are chewy, and the lamb is rich without a strong gamey taste.

• Pin San Xian (Three Delicacies Stew): This local Yulin dish slowly simmers goat meat, free-range chicken, handmade meatballs and fried tofu together. Combining meat and plant-based ingredients, it is known for its rich broth.

• Yulin Tofu: Made using Taohua water, this tofu has a delicate, tender texture. It can be served cold or prepared by stewing, pan-frying or deep-frying. The Kangxi Emperor once bestowed on it the name “Golden Fragrance, White Jade Slab.”

• Zizhou Guoxian Pastries: These pastries have patterned, flaky crusts filled with sweet jujube paste. Locally also called zaojiazi, they have a fragrant jujube aroma and a soft filling when fresh from the oven, and are often served at wedding banquets.

• Qingjian Pancakes: These thin, translucent pancakes are usually wrapped around dried tofu and shredded meat, then served with a garlic-vinegar sauce for a relatively light, refreshing taste.

Transport and Accommodation

• Getting to Yulin:
  • By air: Fly to Yulin Yuyang Airport, then take a taxi to the city center, about 20–30 minutes away.
  • By high-speed train: Arrive at Yulin Station or Yulin West Station, then connect to local transport.
  • By car: The drive from Xi’an to Yulin takes about 6–7 hours and makes it easier to visit sights along the way.
• Getting around the city and nearby areas: Most city sights are concentrated in the old town and can be reached on foot or by taxi. Taxi fares start at 6–8 yuan. Public transport connections to more distant destinations such as Wave Valley and Hongjiannao are inconvenient, so consider renting a car or hiring a car with a driver.
• Where to stay: The areas around Yulin Old Street and the Confucius Temple have plenty of dining and sightseeing facilities, with convenient access to the city’s museums and other attractions. They are good options for balancing convenience and budget.

Travel Tips

• Sun, wind and temperature changes: Northern Shaanxi has strong UV exposure and pronounced day-to-night temperature differences. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a windproof jacket, such as an outdoor shell, in any season.
• Museum visiting hours: Museums such as the Abacus Museum and Folk Customs Museum generally stop admitting visitors at 16:30 and close at 17:00. Plan your arrival accordingly.
• Choosing a route at Wave Valley: The scenic area is extensive, and completing the full route requires some stamina. If long walks are difficult, focus on Red Cliff Danxia and Earth’s Core Danxia. During holidays, the “One-Line Sky” narrow passage may have a long queue, so decide whether to visit based on your schedule.
• Buying local specialties: Buy jujubes, millet and similar products at large supermarkets in the city. Souvenirs sold at scenic-area entrances under names such as “Warring States red agate” are mostly dyed quartz and are best avoided.