Yinchuan Zhongshan Park

Yinchuan Zhongshan Park

The largest scenic area in downtown Yinchuan. Located in the northwest corner of the urban area. Historical records indicate that this site was originally the ruins of the Yuanwu Palace of the Western Xia Dynasty. At that time, the Yuanwu Palace "stretched for miles, with pavilions, terraces, towers, and ponds all in great splendor," making it the largest building in the Western Xia capital of Xingqing Prefecture, but it was later destroyed in war. During the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, it served as military barracks for the town, commonly known as ‘Xi-’. In 1929, Feng Yuxiang’s department, under Zhizhong, built a park here and officially named it “Zhongshan Park.” After 1949, through over 30 years of careful planning and construction, the park expanded to 780 acres, adding more than 20 attractions such as the “Martyrs Memorial Pavilion,” “Shuofang Pavilion,” “boat dock,” “Jade Belt Bridge,” “Youth Science and Technology Station,” “Children’s Activity Area,” and a zoo. The park is covered with thick shade, features scattered pavilions, and attracts many visitors every day.

After years of construction and renovation, it has become the city’s largest comprehensive park with multiple functions. It currently houses over 20,000 plants, including 101 notable and protected trees, with a green space rate of 79.41%. The zoo within the park covers 90 acres and is home to more than 500 wild animals.

The famous historical site “Wenchang Pavilion” is located on the north shore of Silver Lake. Built during the Qing Dynasty, it is majestic and serves as the park’s main landmark. The bronze bell in the Bell Pavilion was obtained from an abandoned Western Xia temple during the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty, recast in 1465. The bell stands 7 feet tall, has a circumference of 9 feet, and weighs over 7,000 jin. It has a unique design, and legend says the bell would chime on its own during quiet nights. During the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, someone tried to melt it down to make cannons, “but failed, and even eight oxen couldn’t pull it.”

Modern garden architecture mainly includes Three Lakes and One Pavilion, Nine Pavilions and Five Bridges, among others. Especially in the past 20 years, the park has developed rapidly, with significant changes in green spaces, flowers, animals, garden structures, and recreational services. High-quality scenic and amusement areas, children’s activity zones, flower viewing areas, animal exhibition areas, and quiet resting zones for visitors have been established. Notably, the newly built Cultural Square, Water Park, as well as the main southern entrance, secondary western entrance, and northern entrance feature novel designs and beautiful shapes, reflecting the beauty of modern gardens. These enhancements have given Zhongshan Park a fresh vibrancy, making it a “Pearl of the Frontier” in Ningxia and a showcase of Yinchuan’s civilization.

Zhongshan Park is not only a scenic attraction and a hub for public recreation in Yinchuan, but also the best venue for major celebrations in Ningxia. Since the founding of New China, numerous celebratory events have been held here. Major leaders of the Party and state, including Lin Boqu, -, -, and -, have inspected the park. Many international friends have also planted friendship trees in the park.

Address: No. 203, Hubin West Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan

Type: Urban Park

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0951-5032427

Opening Hours:

6:30–20:00; Zoo: 8:00–19:30

Ticket Information:

Free entry. The zoo and other attractions are separately charged.

Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925), whose given name was Wen, courtesy name Zaizhi, art names Risun and Yixian, childhood name Dixiang, alias Zhongshanqiao, often used Zhongshan as his name. Born into a farming family in Cuiheng Village, Xiangshan County (now Zhongshan City), Guangdong Province. In his youth, influenced by the revolutionary traditions of the people of Guangdong, he admired the cause of the Taiping Rebellion. He was a pioneer of China’s modern national democratic revolution, a great forerunner of the democratic revolution, the founder of the Republic of China and the Kuomintang, an advocate of the -, and the creator of the “Five-Power Constitution.” He was the first to raise the banner of thorough anti-feudalism... More details about Sun Yat-sen ++

Yinchuan Wenchang Pavilion

Ningxia Qiaolu Prohibition Bell