Ningxia is one of China's poorest provincial-level regions, but the local government is hoping to take advantage of the area's predominant religion - Islam - to provide a much-needed economic boost.
The Capital of the Ningxia Hui Muslim Region
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In the midst of arid desert, the muddy brown Yellow River, China's second longest, is the essential lifeline that flows through the heart of Yinchuan, Ningxia. (Stephanie Ho/VOA)
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Many of Yinchuan's road signs are trilingual – with Arabic script alongside Chinese characters and western romanization. (Stephanie Ho/VOA)
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Na Jia Hu has more than 500 years of history and is one of the oldest surviving mosques in China. (Stephanie Ho/VOA)
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Seventy-four year old villager Na remembers when Na Jia Hu was almost torn down during the Cultural Revolution, but was saved because elderly villagers resisted and the mosque was being used as a copper factory at the time. (Stephanie Ho/VOA)