Linxia 3-Day Tour | Eight-Block Thirteen-Lane and Bingling Temple Classic Combination・Guide for All Ages

Linxia, a "Little Mecca of China" embraced by the Yellow River and Taizi Mountain, where brick carvings and wood carvings with Hui ethnic charm, the millennium-old Buddhist aura of grottoes, and the vastness of grasslands are hidden. Take seniors to listen to brick carving stories in ancient alleys, accompany children to chase butterflies in the grasslands; here, every day you can experience the beauty of diverse cultural integration. 🗓️Itinerary Overview Day 1: Arrive in Linxia → Eight-Block Thirteen-Lane → Hongyuan Day 2: Bingling Temple Grottoes → Liujiaxia Reservoir Day 3: Hezheng Ancient Animal Fossil Museum → Songming Rock → Departure 🏘️Day 1: Explore Ancient Alleys, Admire Brick Carvings 📍Eight-Block Thirteen-Lane (Free) Key Highlights: Known as "China's First Hui Ethnic Street," with ancient alleys dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the Republic of China era, filled with brick carvings, wood carvings, and colorful paintings, showcasing rich Hui ethnic customs. Seniors can admire the brick carving screen walls (featuring exquisite patterns like "Hundred Blessings," "Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, Chrysanthemum") in "Dagaxiang" and listen to grandpas tell stories of the ancient alleys; children can learn simple brick carving from intangible cultural heritage inheritors (30 yuan/session, can take home their work), buy Hui paper-cut pendants (20 yuan/each), and enjoy hand-grabbed lamb (60 yuan/jin) at "Eight-Block Big Bowl Beef Noodles," which is tender and not gamey. 🕙Opening Hours: All day (suggested visit 10:00-17:00 when all shops are open) 📸Photo Spots: By the Hongshui River (ancient alleys and river reflections), in front of brick carving screen walls (people framed with traditional patterns) 💡Tips: Respect Hui customs; remove shoes and do not wear shorts when entering mosques; wear non-slip shoes as many alleys have flagstone paths. 📍Hongyuan (Free) Key Highlights: A park blending Hui brick carvings with Jiangnan-style gardens, featuring pavilions, towers, and an artificial lake, perfect for a stroll and relaxation. Seniors can admire calligraphy in the "Stele Corridor" and chat on stone benches; children can feed fish by the lake (5 yuan/bag of feed), chase pigeons, and buy Tangyougao (fried sugar cake, 3 yuan/each) as a snack. 🏨Recommended Accommodation: "Hezhou International Hotel" next to Eight-Block Thirteen-Lane (family rooms available, includes breakfast), priced at 300-400 yuan/night, a 5-minute walk to the attractions. 🗿Day 2: Grottoes and Lake Scenery 📍Bingling Temple Grottoes (5A, entrance ticket 50 yuan, includes boat ride 110 yuan) Key Highlights: "The First Grottoes on the Upper Reaches of the Yellow River," excavated during the Western Jin Dynasty, with 183 existing caves, Buddhist statues, and murals blending Chinese and Western styles. The "Flying Apsaras" mural in Cave 169 is particularly precious. Seniors can take a boat (1.5 hours) to the grottoes and walk along the gentle boardwalk to see the Great Buddha in Cave 172; children can listen to guides explain that "Bingling" means "Thousand Buddhas," learn to draw simple Thangkas at the "Thangka Experience Center" (40 yuan/set), and buy grotto Buddha cultural and creative products (25 yuan/each). 🕙Opening Hours: 8:00-17:00 (two boat trips daily, suggested departure at 8:00 AM) 💡Tips: The boat ride is smooth, no pressure for seniors; no photography allowed inside the grottoes; bring a jacket (windy by the lake). 📍Liujiaxia Reservoir (Free, boat ride 30 yuan/person) Key Highlights: A large reservoir on the upper reaches of the Yellow River, with vast waters, where you can witness the spectacular "half yellow, half clear" phenomenon at the confluence of the Yellow River and Tao River. Seniors can watch the spillway at the pier (water in summer) and enjoy the lake view by boat; children can run and jump on the dam, learn about the reservoir model, and buy Yellow River stone ornaments (30 yuan/piece). 🍖Recommended Dining: "Liujiaxia Fish Restaurant" near the reservoir, a must-try is the Yellow River carp (88 yuan/fish, steamed fresh and tender) and Jiao Tuan (a local dish, 8 yuan/bowl), average cost 50 yuan per person, rich in river fresh flavors. 🦕Day 3: Fossil Exploration, Pine Roar Listening 📍Hezheng Ancient Animal Fossil Museum (4A, free admission, reservation required) Key Highlights: "Kingdom of Ancient Animal Fossils," housing fossils of shovel-tusked elephants, three-toed horses, and more, vividly recreating the "Hezheng fauna" from millions of years ago. Seniors can see the "Giant Rhinoceros Fossil" (largest in Asia) and listen to stories of Earth's evolution; children can assemble fossil models in the "Interactive Zone" (20 yuan/session), play "fossil excavation" games, and buy dinosaur dolls (35 yuan/each). 🕙Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:30) 📍Songming Rock (4A, entrance ticket 40 yuan) Key Highlights: "Famous Scenic Spot in Longshang," a forest park in the Taizi Mountain range, featuring Buddhist temples and Taoist temples. The "Hua'er Festival" (folk song festival) is held annually on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month. Seniors can stroll along the wooden boardwalk and admire the sea of trees from "Yuhuang Pavilion"; children can play wildly at "Songming Rock Ski Resort" (grass sliding available in summer, 30 yuan/session), pick wildflowers, and listen to "Hua'er" folk songs (sung by local seniors). 💡Tips: The mountainous area is cooler, bring a light jacket; seniors aged 60 and above get free admission, bring ID. 🍖Recommended Dining: "Farmhouse Restaurant" outside the scenic area, enjoy a final meal of hand-grabbed lamb (70 yuan/jin) and Jiangshui Noodles (6 yuan/bowl), average cost 55 yuan per person, savoring Linxia flavors. ✨Linxia Survival Guide 1️⃣Transportation: Taxi starting fare in the city is 6 yuan, bus 1 yuan/ride; to Bingling Temple, first go to Liujiaxia Town (taxi 60 yuan, 1 hour), then take a boat; chartering a car to Hezheng and Songming Rock costs 200 yuan/day, suitable for families with seniors and children. 2️⃣Clothing: Wear a light jacket in spring and autumn (cooler mornings and evenings in the mountains), short sleeves + sun protection clothing in summer (strong UV rays), down jacket in winter (cold and dry), and comfortable shoes (lots of walking). 3️⃣Taboos: Respect dietary customs in Hui residential areas (no pork products allowed); maintain quiet in mosques and do not take photos casually; no climbing or picking flowers/plants in scenic areas. 4️⃣Accommodation: Stay in the city on Day 1 (near Eight-Block Thirteen-Lane), stay in Liujiaxia Town on Day 2 (convenient for the next day's itinerary), return to the city on Day 3 for easy departure. 🛍️Must-Buy Souvenirs ① Linxia brick carving small items (50-100 yuan/each, intangible cultural heritage handmade, exquisite patterns) ② Hezheng Piteguo dried fruit (25 yuan/bag, sweet and sour, loved by seniors and children) ③ Hui paper-cuts (30-50 yuan/piece, rich in folk characteristics) ④ Hezhou steamed buns (vacuum-packed 20 yuan/bag, fresh and fragrant lamb filling, easy to carry) The soul of Linxia is the exquisite craftsmanship carved in the brickwork of Eight-Block Thirteen-Lane, the distant charm painted in the murals of Bingling Temple, and the vibrant life carried by the "Hua'er" folk songs. Whether it's taking parents to see brick carvings in ancient alleys, accompanying children to "excavate fossils" in the museum, or listening to "Hua'er" with friends in the grasslands, every moment here holds the warmth of diverse cultural integration. If you come to Linxia, would you rather explore the ancient alleys of Eight-Block Thirteen-Lane first, or visit the grottoes of Bingling Temple?