A new castle-like structure has appeared by the side of the old castle city of Zhenbeibao (meaning: Northern Garrison Post) which during the Ming and Qing dynasties were stationed with garrison troops in defense of Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia, against possible invasions by Mongols from north of the Helan Mountain. Having withstood the ravage of the elements and human destruction for centuries, the mighty castle with its classical looks remains a major tourist attraction on the eastern side of the Helan Mountain. Since 1980, it has become the location for a number of award-winning western Chinese movies, including Herdsman, Red sorghum and Ballad of the Yellow River. Zhang Xianliang, a contemporary Chinese novelist, has opened his Huaxia Western Motion Picture City here, and since then directors and actors and actresses from Beijing, Xi’an, Taiwan and Hong Kong have made away with a total of 30 movies. With all the scenes and stage props kept intact, and a movie data bank and a projection room constructed, Zhengbeibao has become the only castle-based motion-picture location center in China.