Shanbei, Historical region in northern Shaanxi Province, China.
Shanbei is a historical region in northern Shaanxi Province that encompasses diverse landscapes and terrain types. The area stretches from the loess plateau in the south to the Ordos Desert in the north, including several major cities and extensive rural communities.
The region became the center of the Chinese communist movement starting in 1935, with Yan'an serving as the revolutionary headquarters. This legacy continues to shape how the history of modern China is understood in this area.
The people here speak Mandarin with a local accent and keep traditional crafts like handmade paper production alive in daily practice. These skills reflect how communities have adapted and maintained their ways over time.
The best time to visit is from June through September when the weather is pleasant and stable throughout the region. Winter requires warm clothing, and early spring can bring sandstorms, so protective gear is helpful during that season.
The Lantian Man archaeological site preserves remains of early hominins that show how humans lived in East Asia hundreds of thousands of years ago. These discoveries rank among the oldest known human traces found in this part of the world.
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