Zhenbeibao Western Film City in Yinchuan City is located in Zhenbeibao Town, Xixia District, Yinchuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. It is a national 5A-level tourist scenic area. Here, the scenes of famous movies and TV shows filmed here have been preserved and replicated, and it enjoys the reputation of "Chinese movies step into the world from here". The film city is composed of scenic spots such as Ming City, Qing City, and Laoyinchuan Street, covering an area of approximately 0.7 square kilometers. Its architectural style is simple and rough, with a strong western characteristic, showing the style of ancient towns in the northwest. Here, tourists can feel the unique film and television cultural atmosphere and experience the feeling of traveling through time and space.
History and Culture
Zhenbeibao was originally a border defense castle in the Ming and Qing dynasties, which gradually fell into disrepair under the erosion of time. In 1961, Zhang Xianliang, who was still undergoing labor reform on a farm, discovered it and began to introduce it to the film industry in the early 1980s.
In 1980, the crew of "One and Eight" filmed here, kicking off the prelude of Zhenbeibao as a film and television shooting base. Subsequently, many excellent films such as "The Herdsman", "Red Sorghum", "A Chinese Odyssey", and "New Dragon Gate Inn" were filmed here, making Zhenbeibao Western Film City renowned far and wide.
With the birth of more and more film and television works here, Zhenbeibao Western Film City has gradually become an important representative of film and television culture in western China. It not only promotes the development of China's film industry but also attracts a large number of tourists for sightseeing, becoming a well-known cultural and tourist attraction in Ningxia and even across the country.
Main Scenic Spots
Ming City
Ming City is an important part of Zhenbeibao Western Film City, built during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty. Many ancient buildings and city walls are preserved here, full of a sense of historical vicissitudes. Classic scenes such as the Moon Gate in "Red Sorghum" and the Pan Si Cave in "A Chinese Odyssey" are all located here. Tourists can stroll around, feel the atmosphere of the movies, and also see the display of some film and television shooting props and costumes.
Qing City
The architectural style of Qing City is different from that of Ming City. It is relatively more complete and exquisite. There are shooting scenes of "New Dragon Gate Inn" here, such as the inn building. Qing City also has some characteristic shops selling various film and television-related souvenirs. Tourists can experience the life of an ancient inn here and feel as if they are in a martial arts world.
Laoyinchuan Street
Laoyinchuan Street shows the urban style of Yinchuan in the 1930s and 1940s. There are various shops on both sides of the street, such as pharmacies, cloth stores, and photo studios, restoring the commercial scenes of that time. Tourists can learn about the historical changes of Yinchuan here and feel the hustle and bustle of old Yinchuan.
Delicacies
Hand-Grabbed Mutton
Hand-grabbed mutton is one of the characteristic delicacies of Ningxia. High-quality local mutton is selected and simply cooked to retain the original flavor of the mutton. The meat is tender, fatty but not greasy, and when dipped in the special seasoning, it tastes even more delicious. Tourists can taste authentic hand-grabbed mutton in the restaurants around the film city.
Mutton Giblets
Mutton giblets are made from the main ingredients such as the heart, liver, lungs, intestines, and stomach of sheep. After being cleaned and cooked, seasonings such as scallions, ginger, garlic, and chili peppers are added. The soup is rich, and the mutton giblets have a rich taste, which is a traditional snack deeply loved by the locals. Delicious mutton giblets can be found at the snack stalls near the film city.
Big Fish Head of Shahu Lake
The big fish head of Shahu Lake comes from Shahu Lake in Ningxia. The fish head has tender meat and is rich in nutrition. There are various cooking methods for the fish head here, such as steaming and braising in soy sauce, and it tastes delicious, which is one of the delicacies that tourists should not miss. This delicious dish can be tasted in some restaurants around the film city.
Ticket Prices
Full-price ticket: 80 yuan
Half-price ticket: 40 yuan
You can search for the WeChat official account "镇北堡西部影城" to get the latest updates and purchase tickets online to avoid queuing up at the ticket office of the scenic area.
Opening Hours
Opening hours: 09:00 - 17:00
The opening hours of the scenic area may be adjusted according to special circumstances. Tourists can follow the WeChat official account of the scenic area to get the latest updates.
Tour Routes
Tourists can start their tour from Ming City, visit the shooting scenes of "Red Sorghum", "A Chinese Odyssey" and other films in turn, and feel the integration of history and movies. Then go to Qing City to experience the martial arts atmosphere and admire the scenes of "New Dragon Gate Inn". Finally, visit Laoyinchuan Street to learn about the history and culture of Yinchuan. The whole tour takes about 3 to 4 hours. If you have enough time, you can stay longer at each scenic spot to take photos or visit some film and television-related exhibitions.
Transportation
- By Bus: You can take the tourist direct bus in Yinchuan City to Zhenbeibao Western Film City. There are departures from Xinyue Square and Yinchuan Tourist Bus Station. The ticket price is about 15 yuan, and the journey takes about 1 hour.
- By Taxi: Taking a taxi from Yinchuan urban area, the cost is about 50 yuan, and the journey takes about 40 minutes. The specific cost depends on the actual road conditions and the pricing of the taxi platform.
- By Self-driving: Starting from Yinchuan urban area, you can go via Beijing Road or Helan Road. Just follow the navigation. There is a parking lot in the scenic area, and the parking fee is about 5 to 10 yuan.
Must-visit Scenic Spots
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Ming City
It has many classic movie shooting scenes, such as the Moon Gate in "Red Sorghum" and the Pan Si Cave in "A Chinese Odyssey". The ancient and vicissitudes buildings are full of a sense of history. You can watch the display of film and television props and costumes and deeply feel the movie atmosphere.
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Qing City
The buildings are exquisite. There are shooting scenes of "New Dragon Gate Inn" and other films. There are characteristic shops selling film and television souvenirs. You can experience the life of an ancient inn and feel as if you are in a martial arts world.
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Laoyinchuan Street
It restores the urban style of Yinchuan in the 1930s and 1940s. There are various shops on both sides of the street. You can learn about the historical changes of Yinchuan and feel the hustle and bustle of old Yinchuan.
Tour Tips
- Understand the opening hours and ticket policies of the scenic area in advance and arrange your travel time reasonably.
- You can wear some clothes suitable for taking photos, especially those related to the film and television theme, and take photos as souvenirs at each scenic spot.
- Since the scenic area is large, it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes for long-time walking.
- When visiting in summer, pay attention to sun protection measures, such as bringing sunscreen, a sun hat, etc.; in winter, pay attention to keeping warm and wear a thick coat.
- You can learn about some classic film and television works shot here in advance to better appreciate the fun during the tour.
Notes
- Comply with the various regulations of the scenic area and do not randomly damage the buildings and facilities in the scenic area.
- Pay attention to safety during the visit, especially in some ancient buildings and narrow passages to avoid accidents.
- Respect the local customs and habits and do not engage in inappropriate behavior.
- Take good care of your personal belongings, especially in crowded places, to prevent loss or theft.
- If you need to take commercial photos or carry out other commercial activities, consult the relevant staff of the scenic area in advance and obtain permission.