Jingning County is a very small administrative district in Gansu, northern China, close to the Mongolian border. It is somewhat off the beaten track, but is an authentic hill tribe village.
It is this authenticity which makes it a must-visit for anyone looking for something a bit different. It is home to the ethnic Han and Hui tribes whose main income is farming and agriculture. There are hill tribe villages available on day tours, but these are often very touristy and the daily life is largely for show.
Jingning dates back thousands of years and there is even evidence of Neolithic settlements here. It has been inhabited throughout Chinese history and has always been home to farmers and agriculture.
Despite its not receiving many tourists, there are still a number of attractions which include a Confucian temple called Ping Shanwhich dates to 1543 and a large mosque which is used by the county’s Muslim population.
A number of mountains are dotted throughout the county (including the famous Wutai Mountain) and a memorial and museum are located in the county seat, which is dedicated to the People’s Liberation Army.
Getting There & Away
The nearest airport is in Lanzhou and there are buses available to take visitors to Jingning County. The airport receives daily flights from Beijing (1 hour, 30 minutes) and regular flights from Shanghai (2 hours).