Ningxia I

cctv.com 10-29-2003 13:46

For those who are into rugged frontier, off-the-beaten tracks, and original ethnic culture, Ningxia is the place to go because it's got just about everything you ask for. This scarcely-populated region features a large variety of landscapes, such as the rolling Helan mountain, winding Yellow River, the ancient Great Wall relics, refreshing lakes, and even golden Tengger dessert.

Although remotely stationed in the wild west of China, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is easily accessible by air or bus from major cities in the country. The road condition is surprisingly good, making it ideal for a driving tour.

About a third of the population in Ningxia belongs to Hui ethnic group, the Chinese Muslim tribe with a unique culture.

Historically, this secluded region was of military and commercial importance, and witnessed the come and go of many tough (strong) powers, among them the mysterious Western Xia Kingdom.

In 11th century, Yuanhao, leader of the nomadic Dangxiang people, or known as Tongut people in the west, founded the Western Xia Kingdom in the Ningxia area. Less than 200 years later, the Kingdom was conquered by Ghengis khan's cavaliers. Mongolian soldiers set everything on fire to revenge the loss of Genghis Khan who died on the fourth battle against Western Xia, turning numerous palaces, mausoleums into ruins.

The ambitious emperor resumed many of their own ancient traditions such as shaving bald and putting on double earrings. The Kingdom became a major power at the time.

Just like the mysterious disappearance of the Inca Empire and the Mayan culture, the once flourishing culture of the Western Xia Kingdom was suddenly wiped off history, leaving numerous mysteries to the present people.

Altogether, the Western Xia imperial mausoleum consists of the tombs of nine kings and covers an area of forty square kilometers along the foot of Helan mountain. It is comparable to the 13 Ming Dynasty mausoleums in the suburbs of Beijing, in terms of the scale and the condition of above-ground relics.

Although the written history of Western Xia was forever buried in the ashes of time, you can still feel a strong regal flair walking by those huge pagodas.

Editor:Han  Source:CCTV.com