Yinchuan Yellow River Ancient Ferry

Yinchuan Yellow River Ancient Ferry

The Hengcheng Ferry is an ancient crossing on the Yellow River, in existence as early as the Western Xia Dynasty, when it was known as the Shunhua Ferry. From here, one could travel eastward via the “Yuansin Post Road” or the Xia-Sui Post Route to reach the Song Dynasty capital of Bianliang. Thirty li to the west lies Xingqing Prefecture, the capital of the Western Xia. Because there is a place called Huangshazui (Yellow Sand Mouth) north of Hengcheng, during the Ming Dynasty the Hengcheng Ferry was also called the “Huangsha Ancient Ferry.”

A sheepskin raft is an ancient watercraft used on the Yellow River. It is made from more than a dozen inflated goat-skin “tun” (bladders). The largest rafts are formed by tying together over 600 sheepskin bags and are commonly seen in Gansu and Ningxia.

Location

East Bank of the Yellow River, Xingqing District, Yinchuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region