Northern Shaanxi, or Shaanbei (陕北), is the portion of China's Shaanxi north of the Huanglong Mountain and the Meridian Ridge, and is both a geographic as well as a cultural area. It makes up the southeastern portion of the Ordos Basin and forms the northern part of the Loess Plateau. The region includes two prefecture-level cities: Yulin, which is known for the Ming Great Wall traversing through its northern part; and Yan'an, which is known as the birthplace of the Chinese Communist Revolution.
A view of yaodongs, a traditional cave house common to the Loess Plateau, in Qingjian County
Traditional waist drum dancers from Ansai District
Shaanxi is an inland province in Northwestern China. It borders the province-level divisions of Shanxi, Henan (E), Hubei (SE), Chongqing (S), Sichuan (SW), Gansu (W), Ningxia (NW), and Inner Mongolia (N).
Loess Plateau in Wubu, Shaanxi
Tongwancheng, capital of Northern Xia (407–431).
Cliff inscriptions in Red Stone Gorge from 1587 to 1949.
A typical yaodong residence.