Huama Temple National Forest Park

　　    Huama Temple National Forest Park is situated in Yanchi County and was established in December 2002 with approval from the State Forestry Administration. The park borders Dingbian County of Shaanxi to the east, Huan County of Gansu to the south, and Qiandian Banner of Inner Mongolia to the north, and is 120 kilometers from the capital city of Yinchuan. Covering a total area of 5,000 hectares, it consists of three scenic areas: Chengnan, Habahu, and Camel Well. The park enjoys a unique geographical location, abundant natural resources, and distinctive cultural landscapes. It is characterized mainly by biological diversity, magnificent desert scenery, wetlands, and lakes. It is a high-quality national forest park integrating ecology, science education, adventure, leisure, and summer retreat.

　　    Within Huama Temple National Forest Park, mountains, sand dunes, and water blend harmoniously. The area boasts lush forests, majestic sandy hills, vast grasslands, soft and expansive sandy beaches, and clear blue lake waters, offering picturesque and magnificent scenery. The park features dense shrubbery, forest bathing areas, birdsong everywhere, grassland charm, golden sand dunes, secluded winding paths ideal for exploration, as well as moist wetlands where lakes often mirror the sky and ancient towering trees have witnessed the vicissitudes of time. Visitors can enjoy the grandeur of nature while sightseeing, recreating, and relaxing.

　　    The park is home to 315 species of wild vascular plants from 169 genera and 54 families, as well as 180 species of animals across 50 families and 25 orders, earning it the title of a “gene bank” for the flora and fauna of the northern deserts. The landscapes here, where mountains and rivers hold charm and allure, offer fresh air and an elegant environment. Visitors can climb to high vantage points for panoramic views or stroll leisurely. Among the flowers and grasses, birds chirp and butterflies flutter; in the forest, streams murmur gently; the deep, quiet trails are seemingly endless; climbing the watchtower, you’ll feel the breeze from the sky and hear the distant sound of waves, with the scenery stretching for miles spread out before your eyes. The lakes sparkle under the sunlight, with rugged banks, birds soaring in the blue sky, and fish swimming just beneath the surface. Tourists can boat on the water, enjoy enthusiastic fishing, and find joy beyond words. Stepping into the sea of sand, you can walk barefoot on the soft ground, ride horses, shoot arrows, lose all sense of time, and at night admire the bright moon while savoring a heavenly experience. Further experiences include the “Huama Bird’s-Eye View,” “Cloud-Watching in the Sand Sea,” “Willow Bending in the Clouds,” “Mist and Haze over West Lake,” “Orioles Singing in the Willow Waves,” and “Tide-Watching on the Sand Island”—all immensely delightful, refreshing, and leaving visitors lingering with no desire to leave.

　　    A long history and rich cultural heritage have endowed Huama Temple National Forest Park with a wealth of cultural landscapes. The area is imbued with auspiciousness and numerous legends. The time-worn ancient castles, the renowned Ming and Sui Dynasty Great Wall, the ancient and extensive microlithic culture of Habahu Lake, the bustling Lingying Temple, and Huama Temple all showcase the historical process of the development and growth of the Chinese nation.

　　    As the heart of Ningxia’s ethnic minority community, Huama Temple Forest Park also boasts profound Islamic and Mongolian grassland cultures. This has given rise to an ethnic cultural landscape dominated by mosques, religious halls, Islamic shrines, Mongolian yurts, and temples. It has also fostered a uniquely flavorful culinary culture, with delicacies such as fried dough twists, covered bowl tea, lamb, hand-grabbed mutton, and whole roasted lamb recognized as famous Chinese dishes. The yurts, holiday cabins, and tourist reception centers are of high quality, with comprehensive facilities for dining, accommodation, transportation, entertainment, and sightseeing, as well as convenient transport links. Huama Temple National Forest Park, together with the Suyukou Forest Park of the Helan Mountains, the Sand Lake AAAA-level tourist attraction, and the Shapotou tourist area, forms the initial framework of Ningxia’s economic tourism circle.

　　    Huama Temple National Forest Park is set to become another major tourist hotspot and highlight in western China.