A collection of archival photographs offers a detailed look at the historical evolution of Linxia County and the surrounding region, starting from its ancient administrative origins. The site of the former county seat, Shuangsheng, traces back to the Qin and Han dynasties when it was established as the seat of Paohan County. A Ming Dynasty beacon tower, known as the Liangjiashan Fire Mound, was also constructed in this area around 1370 AD, marking the region's long-standing strategic importance.

The visual record captures significant urban and rural changes throughout the 20th century. Images from the 1950s and 1960s depict the streets of Linxia City, which was originally part of Linxia County, including the Nanguan Street and the South Gate Square. Other photographs show the construction of a water mill on the Beiyuan Canal in the 1960s and a panoramic view of the old county seat in Hanji. The People's Liberation Army crossed the Yellow River to liberate Linxia in August 1949, a pivotal event commemorated by the memorial hall.

Following the liberation, the photographs document the profound social and economic transformations. One image shows farmers in Fuhan Township receiving livestock that had been confiscated from landlords. The completion and opening of the Beiyuan Canal in November 1957 is another milestone recorded, alongside images from the 1960s showing mutual aid team members plowing with animals in Nanlong District. The collection also highlights the collective labor efforts of government officials and workers in the 1960s, who were engaged in land improvement projects at the Beiyuan plateau and the North Mountain.

The archive also provides a window into the region's industrial and agricultural development, as well as its social movements. A photograph from 1973 shows a seeder produced by the Linxia County Agricultural Machinery Factory, illustrating the push for mechanization. Other images from the same year depict educated youth participating in labor at a commune in Diaoqi and a farmland construction site in the Chuimatan area, which is now part of Jishishan County. The early years of the reform and opening-up period are represented by a photo of farmers working in the mountainous regions of Linxia County.

Finally, the collection captures key political and social milestones of the era. A group photo from October 1949 shows the staff of the Linxia Sub-area Administrative Inspector's Office. In 1954, a farmer from Zheqiao Township named Ma Fulu is seen planting a flag to celebrate his allocation of land. The photos also document the "bandit suppression and counter-revolution" campaign with a 1958 image of female militia members from the Hui ethnic group in Yinji, and a 1966 photo of Red Guards in Dahejia Commune reading a "big character poster." A final 1966 image from Xianfeng Township shows members of a "Iron Girls" team rehearsing a performance in a village cultural room, and a photo from the 1970s depicts farmers collectively paying their public grain taxes, marking the conclusion of this visual history of Linxia County.