en.infoglobe.cz » China: A Long Journey VII. - Yinchuan III. A Town of Chinese Muslims
China: A Long Journey VII. - Yinchuan III. A Town of Chinese Muslims
Published: 29.7.2013
As it has been already said in the previous article, Yinchuan is the capital of Ningxia, an autonomous region of the Hui people. Long story short, the Hui people are Chinese Muslims and you may recognize them at first glance for men as well as women wear typical hats.
The Hui people are a distinctive ethnic group; they don’t have their own language and have lot in common with ethnic Chinese. On our trip around China we met them in almost every city; either we saw a mosque or just Hui restaurants famous for their noodles (in Chinese literally “pulled noodles” la-mien 拉面).
In Yinchuan, we alos found a beautiful mosque Nan-kuan (南关清真大寺). True, they wanted 15 yuans for ticket but the picturesque mosque was worth of money. It was built already during the rule of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), however in the 1960’s it was demolished and built again in the 80’s. It is one of a few Chinese mosques that have no features of Chinese architecture; it is like one enters entirely different world.
The only thing resembling China are Chinese characters decorating the mosque not only inside but outside as well. It makes a smooth mix with decorative Arabic characters. We ascended to the main praying chamber, which can take up to thousand believers, and we were fascinated with its beauty. It was forbidden to enter, indeed. However, even gazing inside was breathtaking.
Pleasant Huis showed us historic photographs, the surroundings of the mosque and modest classrooms. Of course , our curiosity led us to an adjacent stall with everything an average Hui needs – from typical hats, Quran in Chinese and Arabic to shiny hoem furniture.
We were enjoying delicious Hui noodles and busy Yinchuan while we were preparing to another adventurous part of our journey to the small town of Pching-liang and its monumental mountain Kchung-tchung-shan. Then we didn’t know we would cross it our backpacks…
Text/photo: Hana Bášová
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From Bejing to TaZ Pekingu do Datong. From Datong to Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia, our second stop on our way across China. We waited on the Datong train station, instant noodles (in Chinese their name is fang-pien-mien, „comfortable noodles“, a really convenient name), we held happily our tickets. There was jing-cuo written on them (“hard seats”).
China: Wall Ten Thousand Miles Long
Published: 21.1.2013
The Great Wall of China. The Long Wall. The Endless Wall. There are many names for the same wall, the wall that everybody knows wherever he/she lives. If you are Chinese, it is THE wall. You are proud of it because it is a national symbol. As Mao Zedong once said: “Who never got on the Great Wall of China is no man.” Or Chinese.
China: Long Journey III - Datong
Published: 23.3.2013
A journey from Beijing to Datong was smooth, without complications. We arrived at the place few minutes to midnight and the city was unusuallay quiet and deserted. It almost seemed as some sort of furious storm swept through the city and wiped out everything alive. Even lamps were turned off. This made our orientation, if we can use this term for a situation when we had absolutely no clue...
China: Si-an
Published: 25.2.2012
Ancient city of Xian, or Si-an is about 3000 years old. It is one of the most important places throughout Chinese history, since it is here that housed 11 Chinese imperial dynasties. At the time when Beijing was a mere village, golden Si - an shone by bright colours of temples, wide boulevards and architectural excesses.
China: A Long Journey V – Hohhot II
Published: 27.5.2013
When you set out to Hohhot, it is almost impossible to miss famous Mongolian steppes. There are plenty around Hohhot, we chose Si-la-mu-zhen. With our backpacks we got in a bus and two hours later the driver unloaded us in the middle of nowhere.
China: Long Journey VI – Yinchuan II Tombs of Western Xia Dynasty Kings
Published: 29.6.2013
One of most popular tourist attractions of the Province of Ning-Sia are royal tombs about 35 kilometers from the center of Yinchuan. It is a landmark you just have to visit. We set out there soon after we get an accommodation. After while we found a bus heading to Shun Hing, literary “western Xia Square”.
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