Yinchuan was an important commercial center in northwest China during the Ming and Qing dynasties. China's reform and opening-up policies have brought vigor and vitality to the ancient city. Department stores, shopping centers, and chain stores line the streets in the commercial districts, such as Xinhua Street, Gulou Street, and Jiefang Street, among which the Gulou Street is the most brisk one. Yinchuan is also the distribution center for small commodities.

Local Products

Ningxia is famous for five treasures.

The Red Treasure
The red Wolfberry fruit is a precious Chinese medicinal herb, and is one of the famous local products for export. It is believed to be able to clean the lungs, brighten the eyes, nourish the liver, and strengthen the kidney.

The Yellow Treasure
Ningxia is home to licorice root, a good medicine for curing coughs. It was a tribute to the royal court in ancient China. It can relieve spasm and detoxicate, invigorate the spleen and replenish qi, and moisten the lungs.

The Blue Treasure
The Helan stone in imperial purple and green is noted for its fine texture and solidity. It is the raw material for inkstone, stamps, paperweight and stone carvings.

The White Treasure
The sheep in Ningxia is a fine breeding. Its fur is a famous product for export. It is thin and pure in color. The hair measures eight centimeters in length, light, soft, and preserve heat.

The Black Treasure
Facai, an edible hair-like moss, is an algae grown naturally in the deserts in north China. The fresh facai is blue and green or brown, and become black after dried. It contains many nourish elements, such as protein, calcium, phosphorus, and iron, and can aid digestion. It sells well in Hong Kong and Macao.

Other famous local products include the pearl rice, the jacquard woolen blanket, the Yellow River carp and the dove-fish.

Shopping Street on Foot

One of the busiest commercial centers in Yinchuan is located in the south of the Gulou Street in the old district.

Stretching 400 meters away, the wide street is lined by imposing buildings of shopping centers, and other facilities, such as post and telecommunication offices, hospitals, and banks Walking along the street, one can choose the fine-quality local products and enjoy various local snacks of the Hui people.