Baiyin Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 白银市 (bái yín shì)
Population: 1,734,200
Area: 21,200 square kilometers (8,185 square miles)
Location: in the central Gansu Province, northwestern China
Administrative Division: 2 districts (Baiyin, Pingchuan); 3 counties (Jingyuan, Huining, Jingtai)
Area Code: 0943
Zip Code: 730900
GDP (2018): CNY 511.6 billion (USD 77.32 billion)
 

Baiyin City is situated in central Gansu Province, the upper reaches of the Yellow River. It is bordered with Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to the east and Inner Mongolia to the north. The capital city of the province, Lanzhou is adjacent to its west. Baiyin is rich in mineral resources. In the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), the official set up the Silver Factory (Baiyin Chang) mining here. Hence Baiyin got the name. Now Baiyin is the largest nonferrous metal industrial base in China and an important energy and chemical base in Gansu Province. Within Baiyin, there are a lot of historical relics and the stone forest landscape.

 Yellow River Stone Forest
Nowadays, a geographical park has been established in southern Jingtai County to preserve the Yellow River Stone Forest four billion years ago. Yellow River Stone Forest Scenic Spot is located in Longwan Village in Jingtai District of Baiyin City. It was formed by the rising of the Earth's crust. Just as beautiful as the famous Stone Forest of Yunnan, Yellow River Stone Forest Scenic Spot is composed of many sand stalagmites and stone pillars in various sizes and shapes.  Some are about 80-200 meters (262-656 feet) tall. Unique pattern on the cliff sides formed by water and wind erosion made the stone forest more attracting. The fabulous scenes reflect the prodigious craftsmanship of nature's creation. People have imaginatively given many peaks vivid names, such as "Lovers under the Moon", "The Goddess Looks at the Moon", "Qu Yuan Asks Heaven" and "A Gleam of Sky".

The Chinese Mother River – the Yellow River flows east-west through this 34 square kilometers (13 square miles) scenic area, adding dynamic beauty to the landscape. Together with the surrounding deserts, oases and farms, Yellow River Stone Forest Scenic Spot has become a location for many famous Chinese movies and television plays. Attracted by its imposing, wild, and secluded views, more and more visitors come here for sightseeing, and exploration, seeking novelty and recreation.

Admission Fee:

CNY 40

 Dunhuang Movie Set
Located on the half way from the Yellow River Stone Forest to the ancient city of Yongtai (Turtle city), the movie set boast pagoda forest, Paifang (arch), Mingqing Street and numerous ancient buildings. This is the first movie set in China carrying on the culture of Dunhuang, having the 1:1 replication of the Mogao Caves.

 Other Scenic Spots: Shoulushan Nature Reserve, Faquan Temple 

This city is 78 kilometers (48 miles) from Lanzhou and only 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport. Through the airport expressway, the Lanzhou airport can be reached from this city in one hour. City Bus Station stands in No.2, Renmin Road, offering buses to Lanzhou every twenty minutes. In addition, the tourist bus station is in No. 12, Shuichuan Road.

Baiyin bears a temperate monsoon climate having both semi-dry and dry zones distributed. It enjoys an average temperature of 6C-9C (42.8F-48.2F). July to September gathers over sixty percent of the city's rainfall throughout the year.

 When to Go: summer and autumn

 History: Baiyin means silver. As the name suggested, the city is a treasure land, whose mining industry began as early as the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD). During the end of Tang Dynasty (618-907) to the start of the Song Dynasty (960-1127), it was once occupied by the Tubo Kingdom of Tibet. By the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), mine industry of this area reached its zenith, and hence its name.

 Physical Features: Located in the transition area from the Tengger Desert and the offshoots of Qilian Mountains to the Loess Plateau, the terrain basically slopes downward from southeast to northwest. The Yellow River zigzags through the city taking on a shape of 'S'.

 Special Local Products: lamb, lamb's coat fur, black melon seeds