Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Atlas

Author: Zhang Hong, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The "Atlas of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region" is an atlas that introduces the general overview of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. It consists of four parts: preliminary maps, municipal and county maps, urban maps, and tourist attraction maps. The preliminary maps primarily reflect the natural environment and overall landscape of the region. The municipal and county maps provide detailed representations of water systems, residential areas, roads, tourist sites, and other elements in each city (district) and county, accompanied by textual descriptions. The urban maps illustrate the street layouts, government agencies, and the distribution of enterprises and institutions in the cities. The tourist attraction maps show the floor plans of famous tourist sites in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, along with textual annotations. Ningxia is abbreviated as "Ning." Located in the central part of China's northwest, along 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 China's main residential areas for the Hui ethnic group. The region is divided into three prefecture-level cities and one administrative office in one prefecture, which in turn include two 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 intersection of the Inner Mongolian Plateau and the Loess Plateau, with terrain dominated by mountains and plateaus, all at an elevation of over 1,000 meters. The northwestern part is covered by desert. Major mountains include Liupanshan, Hexishan, and Niuruishan. The land between the mountains is relatively flat, hosting the Yinchuan Plain and the Weininxia Plain. The Yellow River flows northward through the region, with important tributaries such as the Qingshui River and Kushui River. Ningxia is located in a temperate continental climate zone, where temperatures are generally lower in the south and higher in the north, and precipitation is greater in the south than in the north. Average temperatures range from 5 to 10°C, and annual rainfall varies between 190 and 700 millimeters. The region's mineral resources are primarily coal, supplemented by gypsum, limestone, iron, phosphorus, and salt. The industrial sector focuses on coal, electricity, machinery, wool spinning, construction materials, and food, with traditional industries such as leather processing and carpet weaving. The region has a long history of agricultural production, benefiting from Yellow River irrigation systems. The Yinchuan Plain, known as the "Jiangnan of the Deserts," has been celebrated for its fertile land for over a thousand miles since ancient times, earning the reputation of "the rich Ningxia by the Yellow River." Major crops include rice, wheat, sorghum, and corn, while economic crops include flax, rapeseed, and sugar beets. The livestock sector is primarily centered on sheep farming, with the Tan sheep and Sha mountain goat renowned for their superior coat quality. The region is also one of China's major bases for dairy and beef production. Transportation in Ningxia relies mainly on railways and highways. The Baoji-Lanzhou Railway is the main artery, with branches such as the Pingru, Baozhong, Ganzhou, and Yinxin lines. Highway networks are centered around cities like Yinchuan, connecting national and local roads into a comprehensive system. Yinchuan has air services, and certain parts of the Yellow River are navigable by water. The region's tourist attractions are predominantly cultural and historical. The Western Xia Imperial Tombs are the burial grounds of the emperors of the Western Xia dynasty, known for their grand scale and solemn atmosphere, often referred to as the "Oriental Pyramids." The Shapotou Desert Control Area in the Yellow River region is an important research base for desertification control in China, offering a rich variety of landscapes that combine scientific research with tourism.