Map of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

Author: Wang Ruiping (Editor-in-Chief)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is abbreviated as Ning. Located in the northwest of China and the middle reaches of the Yellow River, it covers an area of 66,000 square kilometers and has a population of 5.3 million, making it one of the main Hui ethnic minority settlements in China. The region administers 3 prefecture-level cities, with 1 prefecture-level city under the administration of an administrative office; it further includes 2 county-level cities and 15 counties. The regional capital is Yinchuan. Shizuishan, Wuzhong, and Qingtongxia are major cities in the region. The area is situated at the junction of the Inner Mongolian Plateau and the Loess Plateau, with terrain dominated by mountains and plateaus, all with an elevation exceeding 1,000 meters. The northern part is covered by desert. Major mountains include Liupanshan, Heshan, and Niuruishan. The terrain between the mountains is flat, with the Yinchuan Plain and Weinin Plain distributed. The Yellow River flows from south to north through the region, with the Qingshui River and Kushui River being important tributaries. Ningxia is located in a temperate continental climate zone, and due to its overall topography, temperatures and rainfall are lower in the north and higher in the south. The average annual temperature is 5~10°C, and the annual precipitation ranges from 190 to 700 millimeters. The main mineral resources are coal, with others including gypsum, limestone, iron, phosphorus, and salt. The industrial sectors of Ningxia include coal, power, machinery, wool spinning, building materials, and food, as well as traditional handicrafts such as leather processing and carpet making. The region has a long history of agricultural production, benefiting from the Yellow River water conservancy facilities. The Yinchuan Plain, with its fertile land stretching over a thousand miles, has long been known as the "Jiangnan of the Frontier" and is famously said to be "the Yellow River has always enriched Ningxia." The main crops include rice, wheat, sorghum, and corn, as well as economic crops such as flax, rapeseed, and sugar beets. Livestock farming is primarily focused on sheep, with the Tan sheep and sand goat being renowned for their high-quality fur. The region is also one of China's major dairy and meat production bases.