Linxia Administrative Divisions

Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture (临夏回族自治州) lies on the upper reaches of the Yellow River in southwestern central Gansu, where the Loess Plateau meets the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Founded in November 1956, the prefecture covers about 8,169 square kilometres and borders Lanzhou and Dingxi to the east and northeast, Qinghai Province to the west, and Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture to the south.

According to the dedicated prefecture overview updated on July 13, 2026, Linxia administers one county-level city and seven counties, including two autonomous counties. It has 123 towns and townships plus seven subdistricts, making 130 township-level administrative divisions in total. The 123 rural/urban township units comprise 58 towns, 61 ordinary townships and four ethnic townships. At the end of 2025, Linxia had 1,084 administrative villages, 125 communities, a registered population of 2.510736 million and a permanent resident population of 2.0715 million.

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Linxia’s administrative geography is closely tied to its tourism identity. Linxia City is the cultural and commercial core; Yongjing concentrates Yellow River and UNESCO heritage; Hezheng is famous for Cenozoic fossils; Kangle and Linxia County form the main Taizishan mountain and forest tourism belt; Guanghe is a centre of Qijia archaeological culture; Dongxiang combines Dongxiang ethnic culture with river valleys and Danxia landscapes; and Jishishan is the principal homeland of Bao’an culture.

Linxia also has two internationally recognized heritage identities. Linxia UNESCO Global Geopark, designated in 2024, covers about 2,120 square kilometres and contains 79 identified geosites, including Danxia landscapes, dinosaur and pterosaur tracks, Yellow River terraces and exceptionally rich mammal fossil deposits. Bingling Cave-Temple Complex in Yongjing is a component of the UNESCO World Heritage property Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an–Tianshan Corridor.

Administrative Structure at a Glance

The current Dongxiang County government overview, updated in January 2026, specifically confirms 8 towns and 15 townships; some older sources still show 16 townships because they predate the latest adjustment.

Tourism Resources by County and City

Linxia City – Hui Culture, Brick Carving and Urban Heritage

Linxia City (临夏市) is the prefectural capital and the natural starting point for most trips. Its best-known attraction is Bafang Shisanxiang (八坊十三巷), a living historic neighbourhood rather than a reconstructed theme street. Traditional residences, courtyards and lanes preserve a distinctive fusion of Hui brick carving, Han wood carving and Tibetan-style painted decoration. The 4A scenic district contains numerous protected historic residences and more than one hundred intangible-heritage-related cultural projects.

Other important attractions include Dong Gongguan (东公馆), Linxia Prefecture Museum / Painted Pottery Museum (临夏州博物馆／彩陶馆), Linxia Global Geopark Museum, Hongyuan Park and the Hezhou peony cultural areas. Linxia City is also the best base for halal cuisine, Hui culture and evening tourism.

Yongjing County – Bingling Temple and the Yellow River

Yongjing County (永靖县) contains the prefecture’s highest-profile international tourism resources. The Bingling Temple World Cultural Heritage Tourism Area (炳灵寺世界文化遗产旅游区) is a National 5A attraction incorporating Bingling Temple Grottoes, Bingling Lake and the surrounding Danxia stone-forest landscape. The grottoes form part of the UNESCO Silk Roads World Heritage property.

The county also contains Liujiaxia Reservoir, the Yellow River–Tao River confluence, Liujiaxia Dinosaur National Geopark, Yellow River cultural exhibitions, Taiji Island and industrial heritage associated with the Liujiaxia hydropower project. It is one of the key zones of Linxia UNESCO Global Geopark.

Hezheng County – Fossil Kingdom and Songmingyan

Hezheng County (和政县) is the palaeontological centre of Linxia. The Hezheng Paleozoological Museum (和政古动物化石博物馆) preserves exceptionally rich late Cenozoic mammal fossils, while the Hualin fossil area provides further context for ancient ecosystems and biological evolution.

The county is also famous for Songmingyan (松鸣岩), a 4A mountain scenic area associated with the nationally recognized Songmingyan Hua’er Festival, together with Fataishan, forest landscapes and winter sports. Hezheng Paleozoological Museum and Linxia Prefecture Museum have both reached national first-grade museum status.

Kangle County – Forests, Hua’er and Taizishan Landscapes

Kangle County (康乐县) lies in the greener southern part of the prefecture. Tourism focuses on Lianhua Mountain (莲花山), Zhuzigou (竹子沟), Caochangou (草长沟), birch forests and Yanzhi Lake (胭脂湖).

Lianhua Mountain is especially important culturally because of the traditional Lianhuashan Hua’er Festival, while the county’s grassland, woodland and mountain environments make it one of Linxia’s principal summer-retreat destinations. It is an important section of the Taizishan Tourism Corridor, which connects mountain attractions across southern Linxia.

Linxia County – Gateway to the Taizishan Tourism Corridor

Surrounding Linxia City on several sides, Linxia County (临夏县) provides the transition from the urban basin to the mountains along the Qinghai border.

Representative tourism resources include Hezhou Yuan (河州苑), local brick-carving workshops, mountain-view camps, rural tourism villages and viewpoints along the Taizishan Tourism Corridor. The county is particularly suitable for self-driving, camping, countryside dining and viewing the higher peaks toward the south and southwest.

Its location also makes it an important road gateway between Linxia, Qinghai and Gannan. Official prefectural tourism routes regularly combine Linxia County with Hezheng, Kangle and Linxia City.

Guanghe County – Qijia Culture and Prehistoric Archaeology

Guanghe County (广河县) is one of Linxia’s most important archaeological destinations. The Qijia Culture Museum (齐家文化博物馆) introduces the prehistoric Qijia culture named after Qijiaping in the county and provides an important window into Bronze Age settlement, agriculture, pottery and early metallurgy.

Guanghe therefore fits particularly well into archaeology, museum and educational tours rather than conventional scenic sightseeing. The prefectural tourism authority includes it in cultural and research-oriented itineraries.

Dongxiang Autonomous County – Dongxiang Culture and River Landscapes

Dongxiang Autonomous County (东乡族自治县) is one of China’s principal Dongxiang ethnic areas. Its strongest tourism identity combines Dongxiang food, folk traditions, prehistoric archaeological remains and the deeply dissected landscapes between the Yellow, Tao and Daxia rivers.

Important attractions include Shengshi Binhu Tourism Area (盛世滨湖旅游区), Tangwang Apricot Village (唐汪杏花村), Bulenggou Village (布楞沟村) and Linjia Painted-Pottery Cultural Tourism Area (林家彩陶文化旅游区). Dongxiang is also famous for Dongxiang hand-grabbed mutton, the epic Milagahei (米拉尕黑) and traditional felt-making. The current county government lists one 4A and three 3A attractions.

Jishishan Autonomous County – Bao’an Heritage and Mountain Gorges

Jishishan Bao’an, Dongxiang and Salar Autonomous County is the main homeland of the Bao’an people, one of China’s smaller ethnic groups. Cultural tourism focuses strongly on the Bao’an Three Villages (保安三庄) and the traditional craft of Bao’an knife forging (保安腰刀锻制技艺).

Natural attractions include Dadunxia Gorge (大墩峡), Huangcaoping and mountain landscapes around the Jishi Mountains. For cultural travellers, the county is particularly rewarding when village and craft visits are arranged in advance rather than treated as ordinary sightseeing stops.

Linxia Tourism Geography in One Table

Linxia now promotes tourism through several larger regional systems rather than isolated attractions, particularly the Linxia UNESCO Global Geopark study route, Taizishan Tourism Corridor and Bingling Lake/Yellow River tourism circuit.

Complete Administrative Divisions of Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture

The following section separately lists all current county-level and township-level administrative divisions. English names are practical pinyin transliterations for international travel reference.

Note on Dongxiang County

Older administrative references may still list Gaoshan Township (高山乡) and therefore show Dongxiang County as having 16 townships. The Dongxiang County Government’s January 1, 2026 overview now states 8 towns and 15 townships, which is the structure used above.