Guyuan

Guyuan sits in the mountainous south of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and was for centuries a fortress town guarding a branch of the ancient Silk Road. Its economy rests on agriculture and animal husbandry, notably potatoes, cold-climate vegetables, medicinal herbs and mutton, alongside a growing eco-tourism sector built around the cool summer climate. The Xumishan Grottoes, a set of Buddhist cave temples carved from the Northern Wei dynasty onward, and the forested Liupan Mountains are its best-known draws. Higher education is anchored by Ningxia Normal University, the main teacher-training institution for the region, while the Guyuan Museum houses striking Northern Zhou and Silk Road artifacts. For an international student, Guyuan offers a strongly Hui Muslim culture, halal food everywhere, dramatic mountain scenery and very low living costs.