Things to do in Gulang

I went there on July 31, 2020. The navigation was correct. Coming from Lanzhou, I had to walk a bad road after getting off the highway, but it was not too long. The road to Gulang County was very good. Here is the key point. Due to the epidemic, the memorial hall was closed, so I could only look at it from the outside. Twenty minutes was enough.

I stopped here while driving by. The hike was fairly easy, with wooden boardwalks throughout. The last platform had a sign indicating it was where three plateaus met. However, the snow on the opposite mountain had already melted at this time of year. The scenic area is great because it's free, so stopping by was no problem at all; you can finish in about an hour if you're quick. Later, while driving, I also saw several sections of the Great Wall, supposedly ruins of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. Those interested can check them out.

It's a bit far from downtown Yinchuan. There weren't many tourists when I went in the summer, so the overall visit was quite comfortable. Perhaps because it's a relatively new scenic spot, the facilities are quite good, but it's a bit sunny.

The Western Route Army of that year fought bloody battles in Gulang and Yongchang in the Hexi Corridor, and composed a series of tragic, majestic, yet righteous heroic war songs. It was an army that was not well-known, and many people might not even know their names, but this revolutionary army, which accounted for two-fifths of the Red Army, should never be forgotten by people, and their revolutionary deeds were equally earth-shaking.

Lina, the lecturer at the Gambo Museum, is exceptionally skilled. During the two-hour learning experience, she demonstrated a thorough understanding of the chronological order and comparative analysis of the artifacts, meticulously integrating historical evolution with everyday life. I look forward to the completion of the new Gambo Museum and visiting it again next time.

A pair of discerning eyes, seeing through a thousand years. Neither defiled nor pure, neither increasing nor decreasing. Marco Polo visited me, King Shah Rukh also came, Emperors of all dynasties rebuilt me, burning incense, bowing, and making vows to me, Let the world be noisy, neither sad nor happy, neither born nor dying. I have attained Nirvana.

There was a student activity going on at Wenchang Palace, so it was a bit chaotic. The 44 plaques here are quite interesting. The statues in Dacheng Hall are all new. The exhibition at the Printing Museum is quite good.

Taking kids to see the Maya Snow Mountain? A distant view is enough! The jagged, snow-capped mountain stands majestically before you, a truly breathtaking sight. No need for a long hike; simply park along the roadside to admire the view, making it incredibly family-friendly. Climbing to the summit would be quite challenging, so enjoying the scenery from afar with children is perfect. The journey follows the Hexi Corridor, with snow-capped mountains paired with grasslands, creating a rich and varied landscape. Stop along the way to take photos and experience the unique grandeur of Northwest China.

You might not be familiar with the name Kumarajiva, but words like "affliction," "love," and "moment" that come to mind so readily, all originate from this eminent monk from the Western Regions—Kumarajiva—more than 1600 years ago. He resided in Liangzhou for seventeen years, during which time he vigorously promoted Buddhism, translated numerous Buddhist scriptures, and made indelible contributions to the development of Chinese Buddhism.

Upon arriving at the Yellow River area, we headed straight there. We wanted to try the famous "Flying Yellow River" (Yellow River Zipline). The package included a round-trip cable car ticket uphill, which was thoughtful, but it was incredibly crowded today. We queued for almost an hour, put on the ropes, and when it was our turn, we were told we couldn't wear glasses! My heart sank. But the ride itself was still exhilarating, and we were even able to ride back up – excellent value for money! Afterwards, we went sandboarding. No long queues! We found a less crowded, steep slope, sat firmly, gripped the board tightly, didn't brake, closed our eyes, and just went down. The sand was fine, the speed was fast, the wind was whistling, and landing with a mouthful of sand was still fun. Finally, a reminder: bring plenty of water, wear sunscreen, and be careful as dust easily gets into your phone in the sand. Put it in a sealed bag, and wash your face in the Yellow River afterwards – perfect!