There are directflightsfrom most major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Taiyuan, and Xi'an. Discounts are usually available. TheCAACoffice (tel.0951/691-3456) is located in the Minhang Hotel (Minhang Dasha) at the intersection of Nanhuan Dong Lu and Bei Jie[. A bus costing ¥15 ($1.90) toHedong Airportleaves the hotel 95 minutes before flights for the 25-minute trip. Buses meet every flight. A taxi into town costs about ¥40 ($5).
Therailway stationis in the new part of town, but there's a booking and ticket office in the old town on Xinhua Dong Jie. Major connections are with Beijing (K177/K178; 20 hr.) and Xi'an (2585/6 and 2587/8; 15 hr.). Trains connecting Hohhot and Lanzhou stop in Yinchuan (no. 2003 and 2004).
Thelong-distance bus station (qichezhan)is in the southeast corner of the old city on Shengli Bei Jie. From Xi'an, there are five afternoon sleeper buses to Yinchuan (720km/447 miles; 15 hr.; ¥125/$15) and three express buses daily to Xi'an at 7am, 8:40am, and 9am (723km/450 miles; ¥136/$17). Four buses connect with Taiyuan (763km/474 miles; ¥115-¥122/$14-$15); three express buses connect with Yan'an (449km/279 miles; ¥78/$9.50); and with Lanzhou (514km/320 miles; ¥41-¥89/$5-$11). Tickets can be bought up to 4 days in advance at the bus station.
Getting Around
Yinchuan has a new town (as of the 1960s) and an old town. The railway station is in the new town, but everything else the traveler would need or want is in the much more charming old town 10km (6 miles) to the east.Taxiswait in the parking lot at the railway station to transport passengers to the old town. Most prefer not to use the meter, and you'll have to negotiate for a reasonable fare (about ¥15/$1.90).Minibusno. 1 goes from the railway station to the Nan Men Qichezhan (South Gate Bus Station) via Jiefang Jie, which runs east to west through the center of the old town; the fare is ¥3 (40¢).Busno. 11 from the railway station follows the same route, but turns north instead of south at the end of Jiefang Dong Jie. Bus fare within the old city is ¥1 (15¢). Taxi rates are ¥5 (60¢) for the first 3km (2 miles), then ¥1.20 (15¢) per kilometer. Beyond 8km (5 miles), the rate is ¥1.50 (20¢) per kilometer. Fares within the old town will rarely exceed ¥6 (75¢).Tip:When negotiating trips to out-of-town sites, local residents calculate ¥1 (15¢) per kilometer.
Tours
NingxiaCITS,at Beijing Dong Lu 375 (tel.0951/671-9792), arranges pricey tours to nearby sites, Zhongwei, and Shapotou.
Fast Facts
Banks, Foreign Exchange & ATMs-- TheBank of China,at Jiefang Xi Jie 80, has a 24-hour ATM. Change traveler's checks and foreign currency at window 10. Bank hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6pm. For cash advances on credit cards, go to the second floor of the branch at Xinhua Dong Jie 5, which also has a 24-hour ATM and foreign exchange.
Internet Access-- Just south of the Yuhuang Ge, there's a true Internet bar(wangba)at Yuhuang Ge Nan Jie 53. Cocktails are served up front; the computers are in a small room at the back. The bar is open 24 hours and charges ¥2 (25¢) per hour. Dial-up is tel.163or 169.
Post Office --The main post office (open 8am-6pm) is on the northwest corner of the Jiefang Xi Jie and Minzu Bei Jie intersection.
Visa Extensions-- The Exit-Entry Office of thePSBis in the northeast quadrant of the old town at Yuhuang Ge Bei Jie 105, entered from Shanghai Dong Lu (tel.0951/501-5976). It's open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to noon and 2:30 to 6:30pm. The official processing time is 3 to 5 days, but it's usually done overnight. Take bus no. 4 from Wenhua Jie.