Nearly 700 Taiwan youths signed up to participate in the 2026 cross-Strait (Ningxia) Youth Desert Slow Throw Softball Invitational Tournament, which kicked off in Zhongwei, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, on July 3.
Before the competition, the organizers planned multiple routes serving as cultural visits, allowing the group to learn more about Ningxia.
"I used to think Ningxia is in Northwest China and might be a bit desolate, but when I came here, I realized that it was completely different," said Taiwan youth Lin Yizhen.
At the Zhenbeipu Western Film Studio, they stepped into a parallel universe of movies as many of the sets inside are replicas of scenes from famous movies.
The group takes a group photo at the Zhenbeipu Western Film Studio. [Photo/Ningxia Daily]
They were also attracted by the treasures on display at Ningxia Museum — especially the artefact known as the Gilded Bronze Cattle. This cultural relic has a majestic shape and exquisite craftsmanship.
"I used to think history was very distant, but seeing these cultural relics with my own eyes gave me a sense of gravitas, as if I could touch the temperature of the past," said Lin.
During their stay, they also visited the Xixia Imperial Tombs and explored characteristic modern agricultural bases such as those for wine and goji berries, immersing themselves in the scenery and folk culture of the region.
Taiwan youths are attracted by a prehistoric cow horn fossil. [Photo/Ningxia Daily]