The hit movie Once Upon a Time in the Middle East has put Shitanjing, a popular film shooting base in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, in the spotlight. With its rugged Gobi landscapes, vast deserts and striking industrial ruins, the former coal-mining town was transformed into a Middle Eastern setting for the film. But Shitanjing is just one of many surprises waiting to be discovered in Ningxia.

From towering mountains and winding rivers to deserts, grasslands and lakes, Ningxia is often described as a "miniature landscape of China." It is also a destination where history, culture, food, wine and starry skies come together.

At Shitanjing, the foothills of the Helan Mountains create a natural film studio, with diverse landscapes ranging from hills and canyons to the Gobi Desert. The town has served as a filming location for a variety of productions. Nearby, the Zhenbeipu Western Film Studio is another must-visit for movie fans, as it is famously featured in A Chinese Odyssey and other Chinese classics.

For food lovers, Ningxia offers much more than stunning scenery. Its signature Yanchi Tan lamb dish is a must-try, with specialties ranging from hand-pulled lamb and whole-roast lamb to spicy lamb and lamb soup. Other local favorites include La Hu Hu, a spicy and aromatic hot pot; Sand Lake fish head, known for its tender, flavorful meat; Dawukou cold rice noodles, a refreshing local staple; and Wuzhong-style morning tea, featuring hand-pulled noodles paired with Eight-Treasure Tea, a traditional blend of eight ingredients, including goji berries, a local specialty.

Nature is another major attraction. Shapotou in Zhongwei City combines sweeping desert landscapes with the Yellow River, while Sand Lake in Shizuishan City creates a striking contrast between the golden dunes and shimmering waters. The region is also an important habitat for hundreds of bird species, making it a popular destination for birdwatchers.

Ningxia is also known as the "home of the stars." With clear skies and relatively little light pollution, its deserts in Zhongwei City offer spectacular stargazing experiences. From desert camps to dedicated astronomy-themed tourism, watching the Milky Way has become one of the region's most romantic ways to experience the night.

The region has also earned attention for its understated approach to aesthetics. From the Xixia Imperial Tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to a variety of desert hotels and the Molian Desert Museum, many attractions emphasize harmony with the surrounding landscape rather than overpowering it. Here, the scenery itself takes center stage.

For wine lovers, the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains are another highlight. The area is widely recognized as an ideal region for growing wine grapes, thanks to abundant sunshine and large day to night temperature differences. By 2025, the area was home to over 40,000 hectares of wine vineyards, making it China's largest contiguous wine grape-growing region, with over 260 wineries producing around 140 million bottles of wine annually – nearly half of China's domestically produced estate wine. During the harvest season, visitors can travel through expansive vineyards, tour wineries and sample locally produced wines.

Ningxia is equally appealing to road-trip enthusiasts. Scenic routes connect landmarks including Shapotou, the Xixia Imperial Tombs and sections of the Great Wall, while the popular Zhongwei No.66 Route offers dramatic desert and mountain views that have made it a favorite among drivers, cyclists and photographers.

And for those inspired by the famous line "One is not a true man until he has climbed the Great Wall," Liupan Mountain in Guyuan City offers a journey through history. It was here that Mao Zedong wrote the renowned poem Qingpingyue: Liupan Mountain in 1935, and today the area forms part of the Long March National Cultural Park in Ningxia.

This is Ningxia — where the Yellow River meets vast deserts, ancient frontier history meets contemporary aesthetics, and rugged landscapes meet warm hospitality. Several destinations can only offer a glimpse. The best way to discover this treasure trove is to see it, taste it and experience it for yourself.