Ningxia Off-the-Beaten-Path Hiking Route - Trekking Helan Mountain Que and Climbing Dongfeng Canyon

In the far northwest, Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu are all popular travel destinations with high traffic, but Ningxia, surrounded by them, seems forgotten, rarely visited by tourists. This weekend, I planned an off-the-beaten-path hiking route around Ningxia. Day 1 - Helan Mountain South Temple (p1-p9) Helan Mountain stretches over 200 kilometers north to south and 20 kilometers east to west, serving as the boundary between Inner Mongolia and Ningxia. On one side lies the endless desert of Inner Mongolia, and on the other, the fertile land known as the "South of the Great Wall" in Ningxia. The Helan Mountain South Temple Scenic Area is located on the western side of Helan Mountain in Alxa Left Banner, Inner Mongolia, about a 1.5-hour drive from Yinchuan. The route to the summit of Helan Mountain’s fifth highest peak, Bayansunbur Peak, is also the top-rated trail among Yinchuan hiking enthusiasts. Contrary to expectations, Helan Mountain here is not a bare rocky mountain but somewhat similar to Xinjiang’s landscape. Especially the ridge line from Helan Yuntian to Ba Peak is so beautiful that it’s impossible to look away. Day 2 - Dongfeng Grand Canyon (p10-p18) Dongfeng Grand Canyon is located in Yanchi County, Wuzhong City, about a 2.5-hour drive from Yinchuan. The canyon’s sheer cliffs and intricate ravines were formed by wind erosion, creating a unique landform. It had rained here two days before our visit, making the canyon muddy and difficult to traverse. Hiking through the canyon required lateral movements and weaving up and down, with the deepest mud trapping feet. Before reaching the narrowest part of the canyon, there was a small cliff of three to four meters that required rope-assisted climbing. Although we didn’t complete the entire route due to road conditions, the canyon hike was still incredibly fun and fulfilling. Besides hiking, eating lamb in Ningxia is an essential experience. Tan sheep’s meat is tender and delicate, with no gamey taste, making it a top-quality lamb choice.