Yulin (Shaanxi) Overview

Yulin City (榆林市) is located in the northernmost part of Shaanxi Province (陕西省) and has long been known as “Shangjun (上郡)” and the “Nine Frontier Strongholds (九边重镇)” in Chinese history. Situated at the intersection of Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, and Shanxi, Yulin is a city where desert, grassland, the Yellow River, and the Loess Plateau meet.

Today, Yulin represents a unique combination of energy resources and ecological restoration. Beneath the land lies one of China’s richest energy reserves, earning it the reputation of “China’s Kuwait,” while on the surface the city has achieved the world-renowned ecological transformation of the Mu Us Desert (毛乌素沙漠) from “sand advancing” to “sand retreating.” With its deep history, distinctive northern frontier culture, and improving tourism infrastructure, Yulin is developing into an important cultural tourism destination in Northwest China.

Basic Information of Yulin City

Geography, Climate, and Regional Connections

Yulin is located in the northern part of Shaanxi Province and occupies a strategically important position between Northwest China and North China. The city connects the Loess Plateau in the south with the Ordos Plateau and Mu Us Desert in the north, creating a unique landscape transition zone between agricultural civilization, nomadic culture, and desert ecology.

To the east, Yulin is separated from Shanxi Province by the Yellow River. It borders Inner Mongolia to the north, Ningxia and Gansu to the west, and Yan’an City (延安市) to the south. This geographical position has historically made Yulin an important military, trade, and cultural corridor connecting the Central Plains with northern frontier regions.

Yulin has a semi-arid continental monsoon climate. The city receives abundant sunshine throughout the year, with an annual average temperature of around 8°C and annual precipitation of approximately 400 millimeters. Summers are relatively hot and dry, winters are cold and windy, while spring and autumn experience rapid temperature changes. The climate and geography have shaped the region’s distinctive desert-edge ecology and northern agricultural traditions.

Transportation Overview of Yulin City

Yulin has developed a comprehensive transportation network connecting Northwest China, North China, and surrounding regions. The city has gradually become an important regional transportation hub through the integration of aviation, railway, and highway systems.

Yulin Yuyang Airport (榆林榆阳机场) serves as the city’s main aviation gateway. By the 2025 winter aviation season, the airport had opened dozens of routes connecting more than 40 domestic cities, including major destinations such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Xi’an. During tourism seasons, international charter flights to destinations such as South Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia have also been introduced.

Rail transportation plays an important role in Yulin’s energy and passenger transport network. Major railway lines including the Baoshen Railway (包神铁路) and Shenshuo Railway (神朔铁路) connect the city with Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, and other parts of China. Future highway and railway improvements will further strengthen Yulin’s role as a regional transportation center.

The city’s road network is also highly developed. National highways including G210 and G307, together with expressways and provincial roads, connect Yulin with Xi’an, Yan’an, Taiyuan, Ordos, Ningxia, and other surrounding regions. These transportation advantages make Yulin an important gateway for travelers exploring northern Shaanxi, the Yellow River region, and desert landscapes.

Population, Ethnic Groups, and Cultural Heritage

Yulin is mainly inhabited by Han Chinese, while Hui and other ethnic groups also live in the region. Although the proportion of ethnic minorities is relatively small, the city has historically been a place where agricultural, nomadic, military, and commercial cultures interacted.

The cultural identity of Yulin is deeply connected with northern Shaanxi traditions, including the Yellow River culture, Great Wall frontier culture, Loess Plateau civilization, and revolutionary heritage. The city preserves strong regional characteristics through folk music, traditional architecture, local customs, and agricultural traditions.

Yulin is also an important birthplace of Northern Shaanxi folk culture (陕北民俗文化). Traditional art forms such as northern Shaanxi folk songs, yangko dance (秧歌), paper cutting, storytelling, and local handicrafts represent the unique cultural expression of the region. These cultural resources have become important foundations for cultural tourism development.

Economic Development of Yulin City

Yulin is one of China’s most important energy-producing cities and is often called “China’s Kuwait” because of its abundant underground resources. The city possesses the Shenfu Coalfield (神府煤田), one of the world’s largest coal reserves, as well as major oil and natural gas resources.

The energy industry forms the foundation of Yulin’s economy, with developed sectors including coal mining, petrochemicals, natural gas processing, and modern chemical industries. In recent years, Yulin has accelerated industrial transformation by developing renewable energy, hydrogen energy, photovoltaic power, and circular economy industries.

At the same time, the city is promoting cultural tourism, ecological industries, and modern services. The successful ecological restoration of the Mu Us Desert has become an important example of sustainable development, transforming former desert areas into valuable ecological and tourism resources.

Yulin Culture and Tourism Bureau: International Tourism Development Planning and Positioning

The Yulin Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau (榆林市文化和旅游局) is responsible for promoting the city’s cultural tourism development strategy. In recent years, the bureau has focused on transforming Yulin from an energy-based city into a diversified cultural tourism destination through integrated development of history, ecology, culture, and modern tourism industries.

Core Strategic Positioning: Building a Cultural Tourism Strong City

Yulin’s tourism strategy focuses on the dual goals of:

“Strengthening Culture and Developing Tourism (文化强市、旅游兴市)”

The city is promoting a tourism development framework known as:

“One Core, Three Belts, Three Parks, Seven Key Areas (一核、三带、三公园、七重点)”

This framework aims to integrate historical heritage, Yellow River culture, desert ecology, Great Wall culture, and urban tourism resources into a comprehensive tourism system.

Building International Tourism Brands and Experiences

The Yulin Culture and Tourism Bureau has actively developed recognizable tourism brands, including:

• “Chinese New Year in Northern Shaanxi · Yulin (陕北榆林过大年)”, highlighting traditional festivals and local customs.
• “Refreshing Yulin (清爽榆林)”, promoting summer tourism and ecological experiences.

These brands aim to increase Yulin’s visibility among domestic and international visitors by combining traditional culture with modern tourism experiences.

International Market Development and Tourism Integration

For international tourism development, Yulin is focusing on creating tourism products based on its unique regional advantages:

• Yellow River cultural exploration.
• Great Wall historical tourism.
• Desert ecological experiences.
• Northern Shaanxi folk culture experiences.
• Historical and archaeological research tourism.
• Industrial heritage and energy transformation tourism.

The city is also improving tourism services, international reception capabilities, cultural interpretation systems, and tourism infrastructure to attract overseas visitors interested in Chinese history, frontier culture, ecological restoration, and rural experiences.

Tourism Industry Upgrade and Future Development

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), Yulin received more than 172 million tourist visits and generated over 103.4 billion RMB in tourism revenue, demonstrating strong tourism growth potential.

The city has established a tourism development support system, including annual special funds for tourism industry development and policies encouraging tourism projects, cultural innovation, and destination marketing.

In the future, Yulin aims to strengthen its position as a cultural tourism gateway in northern China by combining its ancient frontier history, Yellow River civilization, desert ecology, and modern industrial transformation. Through sustainable tourism development and international promotion, Yulin is becoming an emerging destination where visitors can experience China’s northern landscapes, traditional culture, and ecological transformation achievements.