Wuzhong Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 吴忠 (wú zhōng)
Population: 1,415,400
Area: 21,400 square kilometers (2,050 square miles)
Location: in the central area of Ningxia Province, northwest China
Administrative Division: 2 districts (Litong, Hongsibao); 2 counties (Yanchi, Tongxin); 1 county-level city (Qingtongxia)
Area Code: 0953
Zip Code: 751100
GDP (2019): CNY 58.02 billion (USD 8.41 billion)
Nationalities: Han, Hui, Manchu, Mongolian

Wuzhong is situated in the center of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, neighboring Yinchuan to the north. It is bordered by Shaanxi to the east and also shares boundaries with Inner Mongolia and Gansu. Wuzhong is an important node city of the new Silk Road Economic Belt and a regional trade city along the new Eurasian Continental Bridge. It also produces high quality wolfberry, grapes, and rice and serves as one of the five milk sources of Yili Group. This city is full of Hui customs, where a great number of beautiful mosques can be seen. The most famous and spectacular one is Tongxin Great Mosque. Also, there are grand 108 Lamaist Stupas, ancient Great Wall and channels.

On the cliff in the west bank of Qingtong Gorge, there are a group of magnificent pagodas ranging orderly along the contour of the mountain. The cluster is in the shape of triangle and composed of 108 pagodas in 12 rows by odd number 1, 3, 3, 5, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19 from above to below. They are solid lama brick pagodas. The tallest one measuring 11.5 feet tall stands on the top and the rest are smaller, all measuring 8.2 feet tall. According to the textual research, the construction began from West Xia Dynasty (1038-1227) and was built as the commemorative pagoda of Buddhism.

Why the number is 108? It is because Buddhism holds that ordinary mortal has 108 annoyances, and Buddhism believers who come to worship the pagodas can drive the 108 troubles away and get good fortune.
 

Located in the western suburb of Tongxin County, it is the largest and oldest extant Islamic mosque in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Originally built in the early Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644) and repaired three separate times in the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911), the Great Mosque is an imposing structure mingling traditional Chinese wooden architectural style with Arabian wood and brick carving art.

Covering an area of 3,432 square yards, the mosque stands on a platform about 23 feet high. In front of the main gate measuring ten yards wide and twenty feet high is featured an exquisite tile carving "Yue Cang Songbai" (Pine and Cypress Hidden in the Moon).

The mosque complex is divided into inner and outer courtyards. During key Islamic festivals, Muslims will gather here for religious activities. The main building is the prayer hall which faces east and can hold about 800 worshippers. Inside, there are more than twenty columns supporting the roof. The walls are decorated with calligraphic works extracted from the Koran. The hall’s exterior is marked by elegant convex eaves and tiers of elaborate brackets and crossbeams giving the structure a solemn and ethereal character.

Tongxin Great Mosque symbolizes peace and harmony. Its unique design blends Arabian and Chinese culture and exemplifies mutual friendship.

1. Wuzhong is only 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Yinchuan, within an hour's drive by highway. From Yinchuan's bus station near the South Gate Square, buses to Wuzhong depart every twenty minutes. Yinchuan tourist bus station in Donghuan Bei Lu also offers bus routes to Wuzhong. Wuzhong Bus Station is located in Litong Bei Jie. From 08:00 to 18:30, buses to Yinchuan depart every 15 minutes. 

2. Directions to the 108 Lamaist Stupas: Take public buses from the Qingtong city proper to the Qingtongxia Reservoir and then change to ferries. The entire journey will take about one and a half hours. In addition, Wuzhong has public buses running directly to the Tongxin Great Mosque or visitors can take private motorbikes to the destination. 

Wuzhong is situated inland, bearing a temperate semi-dry continental climate. It has four distinct seasons, but summer is not hot. Being one of the most abundantly sunny cities in China, Wuzhong has rich agricultural land favorable for farming. Generally, the temperature of Wuzhong weather varies greatly during the day and night. May to October is the golden season in Wuzhong, with comfortable weather and picturesque scenery.

 History: Human relics left thirty thousand years ago have been discovered in this area and in ancient times, pastoral-nomad tribes inhabited the region. During the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC) the court began water projects to help field irrigation and by the Tang Dynasty (618-907), it had become a flourishing land.

 Physical Features: The Loess Plateau, Ordos Massif, alluvial plain of the Yellow River and mountainous area are all geographic features of the city. The terrain of Wuzhong generally declines south- north. Its northern area belongs to the Yinchuan Plain, while the south has a distribution of hills and mountains.

 Special Local Products: Yellow River carp, pearl rice, apple, melon seed, Tan Sheep skin