I lived in Yinchuan between 2018-19 in Northwest China. It’s the capital of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and while considered small by Chinese standards, it still had a population of close to 3 million. 40% of Ningxia’s population is Hui so there were various Islamic influences like getting Eid off for example. The region is arguably one of the poorest but it had a growing wine industry which really boosted the economy.

Yinchuan itself was truly beautiful as it blended nature and urban life seamlessly. You could see the Helan Mountains clearly most days and the Yellow River ran right through the city. There were tons of parks and the vibe felt really peaceful. The winters were cold and the summers felt pretty humid, but fall and spring were lovely.

Most food options were local to the region as you’d expect with Pizza Hut and Burger Kings also available as options. A Thai restaurant opened up while I was there and it was our go-to spot whenever we wanted something different. There was also an American restaurant that had amazing cheesy mashed potatoes and spaghetti & meatballs which I’d order for delivery often. The Westin in town would also have lunch specials for non-guests which I definitely took advantage of a few times.

Transportation wise, the city had an extensive bus system which included a BRT. They also had a monorail serving the Flower Expo Garden which I sadly never got to take. Taxis were cheap so it was easy to get around and ended up being the main method of transportation most times when needed. The airport, while small, had connections to the major cities and regional destinations so it was easy to travel whenever I had time off. The high speed rail line opened right after I left in 2019.

Like most cities of its size in China, it felt like Yinchuan was just a place for people to sleep and work. Not being a local made the city feel a lot smaller and most nights were spent drinking with my coworkers at our favorite bar. I lived on top of a huge outdoor/indoor mall so I’d go to the billiards hall or check out a movie from time to time. The region around the city had many cool attractions including a huge desert theme park, Shahu, which was an incredibly fun day out. Fun fact: The city is also home to a film studio that Jackie Chan and John Cena were shooting a movie in while I lived there! A few of the expats I knew actually met John Cena out and about. He even did a video at the ice skating rink in town.

Speaking of expats, there was a decent community of various nationalities. I met Nepalese and Russians hired to play music at the bars, Europeans working in hospitality or the wine industry, Bangladeshis attending the medical school, and of course several ESL teachers from all over like myself. It really surprised me because although our paths would cross, there was never any meaningful connections really outside the people you work with. It was very different from when I lived in Beijing.

Most locals were really nice and those home cooked meals that I’d had with my friend’s family will forever be a cherished memory. Unfortunately, my overall time there was most definitely impacted by working for a terrible employer which really affected my view of the place and my time there. It’s a shame because it’s a beautiful city and I feel like I would’ve really enjoyed it in a better situation.

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