Things to do in Jingbian County

The scenic area is quite large, but its main attraction is rather singular: the various rock paintings carved into the cliff faces. However, since they are remnants of the daily lives of ancient people, they are still worth seeing.

Because we had children with us, we opted to take the sightseeing bus up and down, which was very relaxing. We got a close look at the pagoda, took photos, and learned about its history, especially the plaques at the north and south gates: "Soaring high above the heavens, overlooking the mortal world"—for over 1000 years, the pagoda has achieved this.

Shuanglin Temple comprises three courtyards and ten halls arranged in a staggered layout. The temple houses over two thousand painted clay sculptures from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, encompassing round sculptures, suspended sculptures, and wall sculptures, earning it the title of "Oriental Treasure House of Painted Clay Art." Each painted clay sculpture is exquisitely lifelike, especially the Four Heavenly Kings in the Hall of Heavenly Kings, and the Weituo and Guanyin statues in the Hall of a Thousand Buddhas—these are considered classic examples. The sculptures are vividly expressive and remarkably realistic. Unfortunately, the gloomy weather prevented me from fully enjoying them!

The building is grand and the facilities are good, but the introduction of the value of key cultural relics needs improvement. The museum should strive to leave a deeper impression on visitors.

I visited Ganquan Grand Canyon during the National Day holiday, avoiding the crowds at major cities and tourist attractions. It was a less crowded but still excellent experience! Recommended by China National Geographic magazine, definitely worth a visit! It's chilly and damp inside the canyon, so be sure to wear a thick coat. I wouldn't recommend coming in winter; it would probably be too cold.

The scenic area was larger than I expected. I went on the seventh day of the National Day holiday, and surprisingly, it wasn't too crowded, considering it's in a county town. But as descendants of the Yellow Emperor, having come all the way to Yan'an, I figured I should at least see it. The scenic area is half modern architecture and half historical sites, especially the several thousand-year-old cypress trees and some inscriptions by famous figures. The two Yellow Emperor Temples, one ancient and one modern, each have their own unique characteristics and are definitely worth seeing. However, there's one thing I really want to complain about: Didi (a ride-hailing app) is completely banned in Huangling County. You have to hail a taxi on the roadside, and the only ones you can find are very old-fashioned taxis—old and smelly. The drivers don't use meters and even share rides. But I don't want to complain about any of that because it's practically impossible to hail a taxi. It's impossible to find a car near the hotel or the scenic area entrance. I waited for over ten minutes before finally getting one, and I almost missed my train. You can't be picky. People say Didi disrupts market order, but in my opinion, it's precisely because there's no market competition that the travel experience in Huangling is so terrible. This problem really needs to be addressed.

I think it's worth a visit for those who like deserts. I've lived in Wuhai for several years but never officially visited. But this trip was quite breathtaking. It's probably even more beautiful in summer. Overall, the experience was alright.