01Huining County is loca…
Huining County is located in the central part of Gansu Province, southwest of Baiyin City, in the hinterland of the Loess Plateau, belonging to the hilly and gully region of the Longxi Loess Plateau. The county covers an area of 6,439 square kilometers, with a permanent population of about 406,000 (2023). Huining has a long history, established as a county in 114 BC during the Western Han Dynasty, and has been known as the 'Key to Qin and Long.' It is the site where the three main forces of the Red Army successfully joined forces, marking the end of the Long March in October 1936, thus earning the title 'Red Holy Land.' Huining is also a renowned education county in Northwest China, having produced over 1,000 doctoral graduates and tens of thousands of master's graduates since the resumption of college entrance exams, earning it the nickname 'Number One Scholar County.' Its unique geography and cultural heritage make Huining a charming destination for red tourism, historical culture, and ecological sightseeing.
I. Core Red Sites 1. Red Army Huining Meeting Site: Located in the county center, covering 45,000 square meters, including the Meeting Tower, Meeting Building, and the Red Army Long March Victory Memorial Hall (free, open 8:30-17:30). The Meeting Tower is 28 meters high, symbolizing the 28 years of the Communist Party of China. The memorial hall displays over 300 artifacts, comprehensively showcasing the history of the Long March meeting. 2. Dadunliang Red Army Martyrs Cemetery: About 20 km from the county seat, it houses 887 Red Army martyrs who died during the Long March. The cemetery includes a monument and memorial hall, free admission, recommended 1-hour visit. 3. Manniupo Red Army Battle Site: Located in Hepan Town, 40 km from the county seat, it was a fierce battle site between the Red Army and the Nationalist army, with preserved trenches and a monument.
II. Historical and Cultural Sites 1. Huining Confucian Temple: Built in the Ming Dynasty, located in the east of the county, it is one of the best-preserved Confucian temples in central Gansu. The Dacheng Hall is a Qing Dynasty building, housing a statue of Confucius and historical inscriptions. Free admission, suitable for study tours. 2. Bell and Drum Tower: Located in the county center, a Ming Dynasty building 20 meters high, offering a panoramic view of the county. Free admission. 3. Xiyan Mountain Scenic Area: 3 km from the county seat, with Xiyan Temple built in the Northern Wei Dynasty, featuring existing grottoes and cliff carvings. Hiking takes 1 hour, suitable for trekking.
III. Natural Ecological Scenery 1. Tiemu Mountain Nature Reserve: 30 km from the county seat, altitude 2,400 meters, forest coverage rate of 70%, known as 'Oxygen Bar of Longshang.' The scenic area includes the ancient Tiemu Mountain Temple, ticket 20 yuan, summer escape and cloud sea viewing. 2. Taohua Mountain: 5 km from the county seat, peach blossoms cover the mountain in spring, with a Ming Dynasty beacon tower site. Free admission, suitable for spring outings. 3. Huajialing Forest Belt: Located in the southern part of the county, it is a man-made shelterbelt, with colorful forests in autumn, suitable for self-driving and photography.
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IV. Specialties and Shopping 1. Huining Mutton: Mainly from Tan sheep, tender meat, recommended 'Clear Simmered Mutton' (Ma's Mutton Restaurant in North Gate, 50 yuan per person), 'Hand-Grabbed Mutton.' 2. Huining Coarse Grains: Buckwheat noodles, oat noodles, lentil noodles, etc., can be made into 'Jiangshui Noodles' or 'Jiaotuan' (Old Brand Coarse Grain Restaurant in South Gate). 3. Huining Apples: Mainly Fuji variety, sweet and crispy, can be picked in orchards in autumn (Gangouyi Apple Base in suburbs). 4. Local Products: Huining flaxseed oil, almonds, paper-cuts, Red Army souvenirs (shopping street near the Meeting Site).
V. Transportation Guide 1. External Transportation: Huining has no train station; take high-speed rail to 'Dingxi North Station' (about 80 km, 1.5-hour drive) or 'Baiyin South Station' (about 100 km, 2-hour drive), then transfer to bus. Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport is about 160 km away, with direct buses (3 daily, about 3 hours). 2. Internal Transportation: The county has 5 bus routes, fare 1 yuan; taxi starting fare 5 yuan. Charter cars for attractions (about 200 yuan per day), or take township buses (departing from the Meeting Site Square, 10 yuan to Tiemu Mountain).