Huangshagudu

Huangshagudu is an ancient ferry crossing on the Yellow River. A poem titled "Huangshagudu" by Zhu Zhan, the Prince of Qing during the Ming Dynasty, depicts the magnificent scenery here and highlights the ferry’s significant role in transportation. The scenic area is located in Yueyahu, Xingqing District, Yinchuan City, 28 kilometers from downtown Yinchuan, 38 kilometers from Yinchuan Hedong Airport, and 43 kilometers from Yinchuan Railway Station. The scenic area spans a planned area of 32.4 square kilometers and consists of several zones including the Sand Control Demonstration Area, Wetland Culture Zone, Desert Recreation Zone, Ancient Ferry Culture Zone, Frontier Frontier Culture Zone, and Yellow River Ancient Town. The area delves deep into the historical culture of Huangshagudu, restoring historical sites and landscapes such as the Yellow River Altar, Huangshazui, Ninghe Platform, Sunrise Viewing Platform, Yu the Great’s Well, Yellow Dragon River-Controlling Figure, Ancient Ferry Crossing, Yellow River Fishing Village, Yellow River Ancient Town, Ancient Ferry Houses, Huangshagudu Yellow River Tower, Hunhuai Barrier, Snow Drifting Over Reeds, Yellow River Houses, Ancient Ferry, Yellow River Town, Solitary Smoke in the Desert and Yellow River Sunset, Moon-Viewing Hill, Fortune Turning Pavilion, Hengcheng Ancient Ferry, Crossing the Yellow River at Hengcheng Fort, Zhu Zhan’s Border Patrol, Emperor Kangxi Crossing the Yellow River, Ancient Charm of the Yellow River, and the Statue of Wang Zhaojun’s Marriage Alliance. It has also revived scenes such as the Desert Camel Farm, Northern Desert Camp, Old Sheepfold on the Yellow River Beach, Erdongdun, Ancient Yellow River Route, and Frontier Old Pasture.

The mighty Yellow River cuts through central Ningxia, spanning over 390 kilometers, and the region is home to many ancient ferry crossings. Historical records indicate that during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, there were 16 official ferries, including Hengcheng, Gaoya, Lixiang, Matou, Linhe, Yongkang, Changle, Xindun, Ninganbao, Guangwu, Laoshuizui, Zhangyi, Qingtongxia, Binggou, Quanyanshan, and Tianjiatan South. Among these, Hengcheng Ferry was the most renowned. Hengcheng Ferry is an ancient Yellow River crossing that dates back to the Western Xia period and served as a crucial transportation hub for the Western Xia Kingdom. Located on the eastern bank of the Yellow River, about 30 li east of Yinchuan City, Hengcheng offers a vast expanse of endless yellow sand to the east and boundless green fields to the west across the river. The surging Yellow River flows northward from here, while the winding Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty extends southeastward. Since there is a place called Huangshazui north of Hengcheng, the Ming people also referred to Hengcheng Ferry as "Huangshagudu."

Huangshagudu flourished even more during the Ming Dynasty. The Ming scholar Yu Jiapin described its prosperity in his essay "Record of the Ninghe Platform on the Central Route." The Ninghe Platform was a military watchtower built during the Ming Dynasty to ensure the smooth operation of this ferry. The platform stood 5.5 zhang high, with three pavilion rooms on top and side chambers on all four sides. Outside the platform was a city wall about 90 zhang in circumference and 2.4 zhang high, with heavy gates on each of the four sides. Officials managing the ferry and soldiers guarding it resided on the Ninghe Platform. At that time, Ningxia was located at the frontier of national defense and was one of the “Nine Borders” of the Ming Dynasty. The "Record of the Ninghe Platform on the Central Route" noted: “If the crossing at Hengcheng becomes dangerous, the route to Lingzhou will be blocked. If the route to Lingzhou is blocked, supplies from the inland regions cannot be transported northward efficiently, putting Ningxia in urgent peril!” This illustrates the military and transportation importance of Huangshagudu. A previous observer described the bustling activity at Huangshagudu: “The river flows eastward from Kunlun, its muddy waters crashing against the morning ferry. Travelers come and go in noisy crowds at the crossing—driven by ambition, they rarely have leisure.” The surrounding yellow sands and green fields, beacon towers and the Great Wall, the Yellow River and ferryboats, riverbanks and lush grass, soldiers and travelers, together form a uniquely beautiful frontier landscape.

Huangshagudu has been an important port for Yellow River water transport since the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties periods. After the opening of Yellow River water transport during the Northern Wei Dynasty, its prominence endured through history. During the Tang Dynasty, the Shuofang Military Command was stationed in Lingzhou, and its military rations were often purchased from Beidu (Taiyuan, Shanxi) and then transported upstream to Lingzhou. To defend against the Turks, Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, ordered the establishment of a navy in Lingzhou, dispatching General Yu Jun to recruit shipbuilders from the south to build China’s first fleet on the Yellow River, turning Huangshagudu into a naval port for a time. The Tang Dynasty also established the Six Cities Water Transport Office to manage Yellow River shipping in what is now Ningxia and Inner Mongolia. During the Yuan Dynasty, scientist and hydraulic engineer Guo Shoujing proposed establishing grain transport along the Yellow River in Ningxia. Emperor Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty adopted his suggestion and also ordered the construction of a postal relay system from Yingli Zhou (Zhongwei County) to Dongsheng in Inner Mongolia, setting up ten relay stations along the river with 66 postal boats. In 1688, during the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Kangxi personally led a campaign against Galdan and appointed Grand Secretary Yu Chenglong to coordinate military grain transport in Ningxia, requisitioning 103 ships. Kangxi and his entourage traveled to Ningxia by land but returned to Beijing via water, departing from Huangshagudu. They used 101 ships in total, including a “tower ship.” Along the way, Kangxi composed a poem: “Having traversed the frontier mountains, I cross the river again; the sands are flat, the shores wide, the water still. The surging flow southward owes much to careful dredging, but it is this branch canal that brings the greatest benefit.” This verse depicts the busy scene at Huangshagudu and underscores its importance in transportation. Since ancient times, Huangshagudu has been a vital hub for water transport in Ningxia.

Transportation

Take bus routes 701 or 720 to Huangshagudu (Bus Stop), then walk to the destination.

Ticket

Ticket: CNY 30; Sightseeing Bus: CNY 15 one-way / CNY 30 round-trip; All-inclusive Pass: Adult CNY 218 / Concessionary CNY 198; Optional Activities: Desert Crawler CNY 40/50 / Go-Kart CNY 30 / Desert Whirlwind CNY 50 (January 1 – December 31, daily)

Opening Hours

09:00–18:00 (All day); Last admission: 17:00 (October 1 – April 30, daily)

08:30–18:30 (All day); Last admission: 17:30 (May 1 – September 30, daily)