The up-and-coming small city of Yinchuan, located in the Northwest of China, is currently hosting its very first biennale, curated by Indian artist-curator Bose Krishnamachari.This inaugural event has brought together over 80 leading global artists to respond to the theme “For an Image, Faster Than Light,” displayed at the city’s imposing Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) until December 18, 2016.Yinchuan, which is literally translated as “silver river,” is a meeting of point of cultures and histories, boasting a wide range of scenic landscapes from dry deserts to dense green forests. What was historically a key point for commerce and culture on the Silk Route has blossomed into a rising city with 25 ethnic groups, major cultural sites, and a thriving agricultural industry thanks to the Yellow River traversing through Yinchuan.Although the first Yinchuan Biennale is reason enough to travel to China, we round up seven more attractions that Yinchuan has to offer. 1. Diverse landscapesCovering an area of 9,555 square kilometers, Yinchuan is portrayed as a “prime travel destination” as it combines a wide range of scenic landscapes. It is a home of deserts, plains, forests, gullies, and canyons, including popular scenic spots such as the Suyukou National Forest Park, which possesses an abundance of trees and flowers and other towering spruces, pines, and cherry trees; the Golden Water Tourist Area, which provides an ideal view spot to take in the impressive Yellow River and the vast desert; and Shaku Lake, distinctive for its golden sands, blue water, and mountain range.2. An abundance of attractive adventuresSuch a diverse landscape offers a variety of opportunities. Yinchuan’s remote natural beauty is its top charm, enabling adventurers to raft the turbulent Yellow River, hike in mountainous areas, camp in deep woods, and ride over sand dunes.3. A famous historical and cultural cityYinchuan has a unique blend of disparate cultures, combining Central Plains culture, Frontier Fortress culture, Silk Road culture, Islamic culture, and Xixia culture. Today, it is the home of 25 ethnic groups including the Hui, Mongolian, and Manchu. As such, Yinchuan holds plenty of pagodas and mosques throughout the city, as well as other historical sites and monuments such as Jade Emperor Pavilion, Western Xia Tomb, 108 Dagobas, Nanguan Mosque, Najiahu Mosque, and the Yinchuan Drum Tower.4. Two pagodas in Yinchuan are part of the “Eight Famous Scenery of Ningxia”Two significant pagodas are part of the “Eight Famous Scenery of Ningxia” which include the emblematic Haibo Pagoda in the northern suburb. It is one of the major Buddhist temples in Yinchuan, with a history of 1,500 years. The second is the Chengtiansi Pagoda located in the West.5. Yinchuan has the largest Buddhist temple in NingxiaPagoda of Chengtian Temple, signifying “Bearing Heaven Pagoda,” is the largest temple in Ningxia, being an eleven-story octagonal brick structure built in the 11th century.6. Yinchuan is a treasure of Chinese and Muslim cultureYinchuan is a meeting ground of both Chinese and Muslim culture as the city features over 2000 mosques and and is famous for delicacies made with mutton and beef. Yinchuan is also one the very few regions where an ethnic minority – the Hui people – hold the power of governance.7. Sneak peek of the Great WallThose who haven’t had the opportunity to travel to the Great Wall outside of Beijing will be able to catch a glimpse of this grand historical monument near Yinchuan.Yinchuan Biennale runs through December 18 at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Yinchuan, China. Read more