Yinchuan

Yinchuan or Yinchwan (both: yĭn`chwän`), city (1994 est. pop. 412,900), capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China, on the Huang He (Yellow River). It is a shipping point for the products of the fertile Ningxia plain. Textiles, chemicals, rubber, and machinery are manufactured. Marco Polo visited Yinchuan in the 13th cent. Ningxia Univ. is in the city.

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Yinchuan

 or Yin-ch'uan

City (pop., 2003 est.: 535,743), capital of Ningxia autonomous region, north-central China. It is located near the western end of the Great Wall. Originally a county in the 1st century BC, it became the capital of the Xi (Western) Xia dynasty in AD 907. In 1227 it came under the Yuan dynasty and was later ruled by the Ming and the Qing dynasties. In 1928 it became the capital of the newly formed Ningxia province. In 1954, when Ningxia province was abolished, the city became part of Gansu province. With the establishment of the Ningxia autonomous region in 1958, Yinchuan once again became the capital. Largely nonindustrial, it is the chief agricultural market and distribution centre for the area.