Linxia

Linxia (临夏; Línxià) is a city in Gansu Province. It is the capital of the Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture.

Understand
Colorful market town located in the mountains south of Lanzhou. Many consider Linxia a main center of Hui Muslim culture in China. The city is known by locals as one of the most culturally diverse in China, shown visibly by the Tibetan stupas on the hills around the city.

Get in
Linxia is only accessible by road.

By bus
Most travelers are coming or going to Lanzhou, which is about three hours away. Buses run throughout the day and leave from Lanzhou's West Bus Station. Alternatively it shouldn't be too hard to arrange a private taxi to take you out here. Ask any of the people hanging around the bus station for a ride (updated August 2008).

From Lanzhou - Only Lanzhou Nanzhan (Lanzhou South Bus Terminal, near Lanzhou University of Technology shortly Li Gong Da) serves the buses to Linxia, Gannan (including Xiahe, Hezuo and Langmusi, etc.). 2/3 of the road Lanzhou-Linxia is highway, thus trip time shortened now, for about 2.5 hrs. Be careful to the people around you outside the gate of Lanzhou Nanzhan. Frequency: about every 30 minutes serves a bus to Linxia, starting 7am-5pm.

From Linxia - There are 2 bus stations in Linxia. One is called 汽车西站 (West Terminal), which is operated by state-owned trans company. The other is named 汽车南站 (South Terminal), operated by private sectors, i.e., individuals. Fares are almost the same.

From Xiahe - There are buses every hour morning until mid afternoon from Xiahe's bus station. They take 2 – 3 hours.

Usually, people in China like to take state-owned buses for their travel, maybe for the sake of safety.

The South Bus Station is at Jiefang Road.

Route times, updated 2016:
 * Lanzhou - takes about 3 hours
 * Menda Tianchi - takes about 4 hours
 * Xiahe - takes about 2 hours
 * Xining - takes about 5 hours
 * Xunhua - takes about 4 hours

Get around
Linxia is small enough to walk to most of the attractions. The hotels where foreigners can stay are all centrally located, making walking even more convenient.

Taxi rides in the downtown area are ¥5 a short ride (October 2016). Drivers will collect passengers along the way, but all pay individually.

There are short direct route taxis at the West Bus Station which take a fixed fare to visit some of the surrounding villages / sites. They leave when full.

See






Numerous mosques (qing zhen si) and Islamic mausoleums (gongbei) can be found throughout the city. One of the delights of this town is to experience the diversity - go for a walk!

Do
Hike up the escarpment of the loess plateau north of town, to the pagoda of Wanshou Guan, a Taoist temple, for the great views of the Daxia River valley in which Linxia City is located.

Buy
Throughout town there are vendors that sell the skullcaps of the local Muslim Hui ethnic minority in a variety of styles.



Eat
Most of the restaurants in town serve Islamic food.

Unlike eastern China, where people mostly eat bread in the form of steamed bread (mantou), baked bread products abound in Muslim-heavy western China, including Linxia.

Drink


Five one square (五一广场) - the main entertainment area in town. Has a large supermarket with a decent range of Western products. Many coffee shops and bars as well as a cinema and Ferris wheel. This is in the new part of town.

Sleep
Foreign visitors to Linxia City can stay at the following hotels:



Go next

 * Liujiaxia Reservoir on the Yellow River. Accessible by minibuses going to Lianhua Tai.
 * Bingling Temple, by private boat from Lianhua Tai.