The vast desert and brocade-like silver lake rely on each other and contrast finely with each other: when the blue water of the lake undulates, and the golden waves ripple across the desert -- a peculiar northern frontier landscape easily associated with the scene in the film East Evildoer and West Poisoner: the beautiful woman combs her hair by the blue water while on the other side is the boundless mighty golden sand where a group of cool and combative bandits scud away on horseback.

The lake is the haven of birds and the world of fish. In early summer, newly growing reeds are exuberant like a high screen of bamboos, swaying gently and gracefully in the soft wind. The lake is home to 1 million birds of 198 species, such as white cranes, gray storks, and swans. In spring, large flocks of migratory birds come to breed in the reed marshes, with eggs of various colors strewn everywhere. In summer and autumn, birds contend in singing and cover the sky when flying.

Emerald reeds, blue sky, golden sand, blue waves, and white sea gulls make a harmonious "Heaven of Nature".

 Qingtongxia Pagoda 108

The Qingtong Gorge is located in Qingtongxia City in the dam area of the Yellow River, about 60 kilometers south of Yinchuan. The gorge itself is not an amazing sight, but on the mountain slope of its western bank, stands the impressive Pagoda 108 originally built in the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).

Arranged in twelve rows in the shape of a large equilateral triangle -- tapering from one to nineteen, the pagoda complex is a cenotaph for Buddhism with enduring mystery. All pure white in color contrasting nicely with the golden desert, they are all brick Lamaist pagodas with an octagonal Sumeru pedestal supporting the inverted-bowl-style main body crowned with a bead, of which the pagoda at the tip of the triangle on top of the slope is the biggest.

The unique form, style and the great number of pagodas have never been seen before, giving birth to all kinds of enchanting tales. According to the Buddhist preaching, there are 108 kinds of troubles and miseries in the life of human beings; for relieving the numerous troubles, a devout Buddhist is to wear a rosary with 108 beads and says prayers 108 times in acknowledgement of man's sins. Therefore it is said when a pagoda is counted, a kind of trouble is eliminated. Also, if one counts all the pagodas in a single breath, he or she will be completely relieved from all kinds of troubles.

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