Bayan Nur: Discover Water Conservancy and Hetao Culture

Those considering Bayan Nur as a travel destination can also include the wider regional context of Bayannur in their plans. Here, water conservancy and irrigation in the Hetao Plain meet wetlands, rock art and cultural traditions. When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to decide first what you would like to focus on: should the trip be mainly about the Yellow River and water conservancy, are you more interested in nature and cultural history, or would you like to combine several regional themes?

Water Conservancy and Wetlands

In the wider region, the Sanshenggong Water Conservancy Project lies at the “几”-shaped bend of the Yellow River. Construction began in 1959; the project is the starting point of the Hetao Irrigation District and is designated a national 4A-level tourist attraction. It combines sightseeing, recreation, outdoor sports and environmental education. This gives water conservancy a cultural and landscape dimension: it is not separate from the Hetao Plain, but is part of the region’s defining history.

The Yellow River Cultural Tourism Area in the Hetao Plain lies in Linhe District, between Linhe and Shuanghe. It is the largest open wetland tourism area in Bayannur. In 2014, it was rated a national 4A-level tourist attraction and was also designated a national water conservancy scenic area. The area’s main attractions include a wetland park and the Yellow River Water Conservancy Culture Museum; the attractions on offer may change.

Regional Routes and Itineraries

Four themed tourism routes structure the wider Bayannur region: a Yellow River route, an exploration route focused on Yinshan culture, a route through the Hetao villages, and one featuring borderland and folk customs. They can be combined into itineraries lasting from one to five days. You can focus on a single theme or bring several together. In Bayannur, the “Peace on the Yellow River” cultural tour includes the Sanshenggong Water Conservancy Project, the Hetao Irrigation District and Ulan Suhai Lake.

Lakes, Mountains and Rock Art

Ulan Suhai Lake is one of China’s eight major freshwater lakes and an important bird migration corridor. Each summer, it attracts more than 200 different bird species. Alongside its water conservancy, the regional landscape is therefore closely connected with nature and the changing seasons. The Yinshan Mountains run through the central part of the wider Bayannur region. The Urad Grassland lies to the north, and the Hetao Plain to the south.

There are more than 50,000 rock art images in the Yinshan Mountains of the wider Bayannur region. The area is one of the world’s largest sites for this ancient art form. The history of irrigation is also recognised as cultural heritage: in 2019, the irrigation district in the Hetao Plain was recognised as a World Heritage Irrigation Structures (WHIS) site. The customs of the wider Bayannur region combine influences from Shanxi, Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia, brought to the region through historical migrations.

Hetao Cuisine and Regional Products

Hetao cuisine is represented by “twenty flavours”: four meat dishes, four fruit dishes, four noodle dishes, four braised dishes and four snacks. Hetao tomatoes are protected by China’s national geographical indications for agricultural products. According to one account, Bayannur is known as China’s “Capital of Sheep”; the annual market volume of mutton and lamb is said to rank first nationwide.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Bayan Nur, you can first consider what kind of trip you have in mind: water conservancy and irrigation, seasonal nature, cultural history, or a mix of regional themes.

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