The canyon neighbors Mt Kongdong to the east, Mt Liupan on the west and Old Dragon Pool on the south. Formed in the Ordovician Period of about 800 million years ago, it was named after the minority Yanzhi Clan of the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). The clan evolved from the Yanzhi Tribe, and then lived near the canyon during that period.

The river runs joyously through the steep canyon and transforms into waterfalls in various sizes and forms. Everywhere in the central area of the canyon, you can see strangely shaped pines and weird rock formations, flowers and rare vegetation.

There are several views of natural tableaux, such as "Kwan-yin Appreciating Music" and "Taoists Worshipping the Moon." The lower reaches of Yanzhi Canyon connect Mt Kongdong in Gansu Province.

With mountains reflecting on the surface of the river and clouds and mist forming wreaths in the sky, it's quite a spectacular fairyland.

The Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, established in 1958, is bordered by Shaanxi Province to the east, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the west and north and Gansu Province to the south. The Yellow River runs across 12 cities and counties in the region.

Chinese Muslims, the Hui people, make up 33.4 percent of the total population of 6 million people in 35 ethnic groups. In ancient times, the Tangut kingdom of Western Xia, was locked in confrontations with the Song, Liao and Jin dynasties for 189 years.

There are six major tourist zones: Shahu Lake, the Western Xia Mausoleums, Jinshui River, Qingtongxia Gorge, Shapotou Oasis and Liupan Mountains.