National park · China
Xixia Wangling National Park西夏王陵国家公园
Visit Xixia Wangling National Park: take the 9 AM tourist bus from Yinchuan (¥8 each way) for a 2‑hour tomb tour, or rent a bike to explore the museum and forest of steles at your own pace; avoid peak weekend mornings.
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- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
50 km² (19 sq mi)19 sq mi (50 km²)
approximate
Established
2025
Best months
Apr–May, Oct
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
At a glance
- Country
- China
- Area
- 50 km² (19 sq mi)19 sq mi (50 km²)
- Figures vary by source; park covers about 50 km² of archaeological landscape (check).
- Established
- 2025
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct
- Permits
- Not needed
- Base
- Yinchuan
Xixia Wangling National Park protects the nine Western Xia royal tombs and over 140 companion tombs on the eastern slope of Helan Shan, plus museums and a forest of steles, forming a major imperial cemetery listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2025.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 2025Imperial tombs listed as UNESCO site in 2025.
Size and age
50 km² (19 sq mi)19 sq mi (50 km²) · national park since 2025
Figures vary by source; park covers about 50 km² of archaeological landscape (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Yinchuan.
Why go
- Explore the nine Western Xia royal tombs and 140 companion tombs on Helan Shan.
- See the Western Xia Museum and the Forest of Steles within the park.
- Experience a well‑protected imperial cemetery with extensive architecture.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanCold but clear; comfortable walking.
- FebCold; fewer visitors.
- MarMild, spring blossoms.
- AprPleasant weather, ideal for hiking.
- MayWarm, low rain.
- JunWarm, occasional showers.
- JulHot; consider midday heat.
- AugHot, possible thunderstorms.
- SepCooling down, good visibility.
- OctClear skies, comfortable.
- NovCool, dry.
- DecCold, crisp.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steppe birdsApr–Sep · Common in open grassland around the park. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Gate and shuttle stop | Entrance, ticket booth, shuttle to museum and tombs. | Open daily. |
| Western Xia Museum | Exhibits on the Western Xia dynasty. | Open with park access. |
| Tomb area | Nine royal tombs and companion tombs, plus forest of steles. | Shuttle or walk/bike from gate. |
Sketch map
- 1Yinchuan Station · Ranger station≈38.470, 106.010Main railway hub, approx. 30 km (19 mi) east of park.Main railway hub, approx. 19 mi (30 km) east of park.Map ↗
- 2Park Gate · Gate≈38.415, 105.981Map ↗
- 3First Tomb · Viewpoint≈38.399, 105.970Map ↗
- 4Third Tomb · Viewpoint≈38.435, 105.987Map ↗
- 5Forest of Steles · Viewpoint≈38.432, 105.991Map ↗
Take the points offline
5 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates centred on the park gate; other points approximate from source data.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist bus (one‑way) | CNY 8 (≈ US$2) | person | Leaves Yinchuan at 9 AM, 1 h ride. |
| Taxi (round‑trip, 20 min) | CNY 100 (≈ US$14) | person | Approximate return fare. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- CN¥8≈ US$2
- CN¥100≈ US$14
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Check with the park or your operator before you go.
Park rules
- Drones
- Not allowed without special permission from park authorities.
- Guides
- Not required for self‑guided tours, but recommended for the full tomb circuit if unfamiliar with the area.
- Camping
- Not permitted inside the park; stay in Yinchuan.
Where to stay
Near the park
Yinchuan city
Hotels, hostels and guesthouses 20‑30 km (19 mi) from the park gate.Hotels, hostels and guesthouses 20‑19 mi (30 km) from the park gate.
Safety
Heat in summer medium
Getting lost on tomb circuit low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Shuttle bus provides short rides to main sites; paths are mostly level but some steps at tomb entrances.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on marked trails to protect archaeological sites.
- Use the park shuttle instead of private cars.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Xixia Wangling National Park?
There is no separate entry fee; access is via the ¥8 tourist bus (one‑way) or a ¥100 taxi round‑trip from Yinchuan.
What are the best hikes in Xixia Wangling National Park?
The main tomb circuit (2–3 h, moderate) links the nine royal tombs; the Forest of Steles walk (30 min, easy) and museum visits are also popular.
When is the best time to visit Xixia Wangling National Park?
April to October offers mild weather; April and October are especially pleasant.
Can I bike around the park?
Yes, bikes can be rented and used on the paved paths between the gate, museum and tomb area.
Is a guide required for the tomb tour?
A guide is not mandatory, but recommended for the full tomb circuit if you are unfamiliar with the layout.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Xixia Wangling National Park
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