白银市

Why this place

Baiyin is a copper-mining city in Gansu, and its Yellow River district at Jingtai has one of the more surprising sights in the province: the Yongtai ancient city and the Yellow River stone forest, where the river cuts through a maze of rock pillars.

What to see

• The Yellow River stone forest at Jingtai — the river winding between rock pillars, best by boat
• The Yongtai ancient city, a Ming fort on the Silk Road
• The Shoulu Mountain and the Huining revolutionary meeting site

What to eat

• Gansu lamb and noodles; the local 'shuichuan' long noodles
• Baiyin is known for its 'huining' and its dried fruit

Best time

May–October