Gansu Travel and Tours Guide

Gansu Province is located in the middle part of the Silk Road between Xinjiang Yygur autonomous Region and Shanxi Province in the Northwest China. It covers and area of 454,000 sq. km with the population of 24 million. Lanzhou is the capital of the province.

Proud of its long history, Ganzu is one of the cradles of Chinese ancient civilization. It is the birthplace of Fu Xi, the Chinere ancestor well known for its great inventions in Eight-digram, charcters and calendar. The initial farming also appeared here in earlier Zhou period, 3000 years agao. The cultural relics in Ganzu fall mainly into the Neolithic culture, the Yellow River culture, and the Great Wall culture representing the history of the civilization of the Chinese people for 8000 year. Meanwhiel, the Silk Road culture in Ganzu has drawn attention from other parts.

Gansu has always been a must along Silk Road, and an important thoroughfare of culture and trade between China and the west. Over the past 2000 year, from the loess plateau in the east to the Gobi-desert in the west, there had been groups of famous figures like envoy Zhang Qian, mond Xuan Zang and Marco Polo advancing through mountains and over rivers.

Gansu is reputed as the Golden Section along the road, and regarded as "The Hometown of Grotto Arts." The most popular ones are Mogao Grattoes, Maijiashan Grottoes and Bingling Si Grottoes. In addition, there are many attractive historical sites along the Silk Road, such as temples, monasteries, Great Wall, towers, pagodas, tablets and ancient castles. The majestic and charming natural sceneary in Gansu, include the endliess plateau prairie, vast expanse of Gobi-desert, magnificent loess plateau and grotesque Danxia landform as well as snow-capped mountains.

Gansu Province is rich in mixed cultures of Budddhism, Islam, Christiannity, Confucionism and Taoism due to its position along the Silk Rroad , therefrom many religious cultureal relics have become major component of the Silk Road cultur, and ethnic groups like Tibetan, Hui, Yugur and Mongolian carry onecivilization and their colorful folklore will enliven the Silk Road tour.

The means of modern communications shoten the distance of travel on the Silk Road, although afar on the map. Today, the Silk Road tour is never only by camal and the modern airlines, railway make Silk Road Tour in Gansu more convienient.

Follow Me to Lanzhou

Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu, is a large modern city as the political, economical and cultural centre of the province. The city covers about 13086 sq. km. with a population of around 2.8 million, half of which live in the urban area.

Lanzhou takes the heart position of China and owes a reputation of The City Of Melon and Fruits to its semiarid temperature climate. Local peach, water melon, honey dew melon and melon seeds are all well known.

Lanzhou was an important strategic town on the ancient Silk Road, and is now a key link on the present Eurasia Bridge. It is the standard Yellow River crossing point and owns its historical significance due to its geographical position. The spectacular scenery and relics around Lanzhou include the statue of Yellow River Mother, Water Wheel Park, Zhongshan Iron Bridge and White Pagoda Park dotted along the Yellow River. Gansu Provincial Museum, Five Spring Park, Mt. Xinglong and Mt. Tulugou, etc. Which make Lanzhou well worth a stop.

Lanzhou is a major transport terminal of Ganzu. Over 20 flights are opened to major cities from Zhongehuan Airport, some 70 km from the town. There are 92 passenger trains extend daily to all directions from Lanzhou Railway Station and back and also good highways link the neighbouring parts. Lanzhou today is a key tourist city with complete infrastructure, many star-rated hotels and tour operators.

Zhongshan Iron Bridge

located at the middle part of Riverside Road, is at the foot of White Pagoda Park. It is the earliest bridge on the Yellow River, first built in 1372 and rebuilt in 1909. But 5 steel archways were added in 1954 for reinforcing the bridge.

Five Spring Park,

in the south side of the city proper of Lanzhou, is at the north foot of Gaolan Mountain. This Park, bustling with visitors and activities, is famous for springs on the hillside which :merged from a legend of 2000 years ago. Today, it's a lovely place to go while away an afternoon, its buildings are intricate and there is a large Buddhist temple in the centre.

White Pagoda Park,

laid out across a steep hillside, is small and fairly attractive, famous for a white pagoda of Yuan Dynasty on the top. There is a fine view of Yellow River snaking its way in Lanzhou from the top.

Xinglong Mountain, situated in Yuzhong county, some 56 km southeast of Lanzhou, is a forest park of provincial level. There is a stream sandwiched in between two peaks, and Yunlong arch bridge is spectacular. The coffin of the founder Genghis Khan of Yuan Dynasty has once been buried here, which made the mountain famous since the past.

Follow Me to Wuwei
Wuwei, the east gateway of Hexi Corridor and the first stop westward from Lanzhou, was once called Liangzhou, reputed as "Silvery Wuwei" for its prosperity in ancient time. It's a historical and cultural city of state level, the famous cultural relics are Confucious temple, Haizang temple, Tiantishan Grottoes and Desert Park. In particularly, the Han Tomb of Leitai, where the renewed Bronze Flying Horse of Ganxu was excavated and it has become the logo of national tourism of China.

Han Tamb
Han Tomb Of Leitai is located in the old Leitai Park of Wuwei. The tomb consists of 19.34 m long passage, 3 coffin chambers and 3 side chambers. There were 231 gold, silver, bronze, iron, jade, bone and pottery articles, and 99 bronze warriors and horses excavated from here, among which the Bronze Flying Horse is the most valuable.

Confucious Temple
Confucious Temple, lies in the southeast of the city proper of Wuwei, was built in 1439, in the Ming Dynasty. It's a large-scale magnificent complex of palatial architecture. The temple has once been an institute for studying, the largest and best preserved one in Gansu.

Haizang Temple,

located 2km northwest of Wuwie city, is the largest complex of ancient buildings in Wuwei. The temple was opened as a park. The well preserved gateways, archways, pavilions and temples of Ming and Qing Dynasties are surrounded by river, lake and age-old trees, which make the park a quiet spot with its spectacular scenery.

Follow Me to Zhangye

Zhangye is located in the middle section of the Hexi Corridor. The city owes its historical significance to its geographical location and fertile oasis, which means that throughout the dynasties it has been the political, economic, cultural and diplomatic centre of the Northwest China. Many famous figures such as envoy Zhang Qian, general Ban Chao, Buddhist monks Fa Xian and Xuan Zang went to Western Region via Zhangye. And evenmore the Italian traveller Marco Polo lived there for about one year.

Zhangye is also one of 12 national key commodity grain bases of China, a beautiful and richly endowed place in Hexi, and got the name "Gold Zhangye" from the past.

Matisi grottoes

is situated in Sunan Yugur Autonomous County, some 62km to Zhangye City. The spectacular spots around this tourist zone are grotto arts and national scenery of prairie, forest and snow-covered Qilian Mountain. However, there is fascinating Yugur folklore. Yugur is a unique nomadic minority of Gansu. The sociologists believe that Yugur people have the snipe historical origins with Hungarian.

Shandan Army Horse Ranch

is situated in Damayin pastureland of Qilian Mountain, 55km south of Shandan county of Zhangye prefecture. This Ranch has a history of ever 2000 years. Today, it takes the second position in the world and the largest in Asia. There are still about 10,000 army horses herded there.

Hexi corridor
Hexi corridor or Gansu corridor, to the west of the Yellow River, has always been a must of the Old Silk Road. This is really a narrow but long stretched passage lasting for 1200 km from steep Wushaolin hillside to Xinxinxia gorge at the border of Gansu and Xingiang. There are many fertile oasis surrounded by vast expanse of Gobi-desert, sandwiched in between snow-covered Qilian Mountain to the south and north mountain and deserts to the north.

Follow Me to Jiuquan

iuquan, or wine spring, is lacated in the western part of Hexi corridor. Legend has it that during the Western HJan. Emperor Wu Di sent general Hurl Qubing ajar of wine to reward his victory over the I Hun. However, Hurl poured the wine into the Gold Spring and shared with all his soldiers. hence the name of this town.

Meanwhile, the local luminous jade cup for drinking is also well l-known from then on. Due to its strategic position and historical significance, there are many attractive relics in Jiuquan such as Bell and Drum Tower, Jiuquan Park and Jiuquan Arts and Crafts Plants for producing the jade cups.

Jiuquan Park has a history of ever 2000 years, famous for an old spring and its interesting story. The clear spring water flows northward into a lake which has a landscaped island in the center, a stone bridge crossing and willows weeping around it, which make the park a worth visit spot.

Follow Me to Dunhuang

Dunhuang, at the extreme western point of the Hexi corridor, was sometimes the crossroads for the northern and southern Silk Routes, and is a major stop along the Chinese leg of the Silk route today.

Dumhuang is a famous national cultural city of historical significance, and top tourist city of China .There are a number of interesting sights around it, such as Mogao Grottoes, Mingsha Sand Dunes, Crescent Moon Lake, Yangguan and Yumenguan passes, and modeled Shazhou Town of Song Dynasty, etc.

Mogao Grottoes, some 25km southwest of Dunhuang city, were carved on cliff between 4th and the 14th century. This thousand Buddha cave complex is arguably the most spectacular and the finest in the world as a world art treasure house. There are 491 caves, in which 45000 sq. m of murals are still well preserved. Mogao Grottoes is a world ;t world cultural legacy protected by UNESCO.

The mural of Mogao Grottoes reflects the happy life in Buddhist paradise. This painting of flying devils and Bodhisattva is the most spectacular.

Minsha Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Lake form an interesting sight in Dunhuang with huge rolling sand dunes surrounding a pretty lake. Cable and French report that "The skill of man made the caves of the thousand Buddha, but the hand of God fashioned the lake of the crescent Moon," which forms a wonder of desert. It's great fun to climb this singing sands. It'. a bit as this is hard but well worth the effort. a good place just to relax and explore slowly.

Yumenguan pass is over 100km away from the town, opposite the Yangguan pass. Yumenguan is the famous "Jade Gate", a pass at the Han Great Wall, through which travelers heading west across the Lop desert would pass after leaving Dunhuang.

Follow Me to Jiayuguan

As the termination point of he Great Wall, Jiayuguan was the gateway to the Chinese empire from the west, a remote, desolate outpost on the edge of the wilderness.

There are a couple of important sights here: Jiayuguan Pass, First Beacon Tower and Over-hanging Great Wall. Now restored and just outside the town, the pass are the ancient fort which once marked China's western entrance. In addition, there is countless mural-bearing Bricks tombs scattered around the area dating back to 4th century AD. Some of them at Xingcheng are opened.

Overhanging Great Wall: In order to mark the official "other end" of the Great Wall, the Chinese tourist hoffins have overseen the restoration of an impressive stretch some 8km north of the Jiayuguan pass. It's certainly worth a visit. It is not so much a case of renovation as it was of complete rebuilding. It's fun to climb the wall but that is hard work and for the energetic only.

There are about 1400 tombs, some 20km east of the city center, dating back to the Wei-Jin Dynasties (220- Most tombs excavated have mural-bearing bricks, and reputed as the largest underground art gallery in the world. The paintings in the open tombs (No. 6) are perfectly preserved. depicting everyday activities, and quite a few draw perfect circles freehand. It is interesting to visit at virtually any time as the custodians live here.

Follow Me to Linxia

Linxia Hui Autonomous prefecture is to the southwest of Lanzhou, inhabited mainly by Hui nationality. Islam is one of the most important religions for centuries. Its strategic position at the juncture of loess plateau of Muslim and Garman Prairie of Tibetan meant chat throughout years it has controlled traffic to Tibetan area from central China.

Linxia owes its historical significance to its Majiayao Neolithic remains. The interesting sights are Liujiaxia reservoir, BinglingSi Grottoes, Red Garden, Donggong Palace, Nanguan Mosque, Lianhua Mountain and Songminyan mountain etc.

Nangguan Mosque is located at Jiefang road of linxia City, a sacred place of local Muslims for everyd. religious activities. The mosque was rebuilt in 1979, covering an area of2180 sq.m. It is well worth a stop to enjoy the unique architecture in hods Chinese and Arabian style.

Confucious Temple, lies in the southeast of the city proper of Wuwei, was built in 1439, in the Ming Dynasty. It's a large-scale magnificent complex of palatial architecture. The temple has once been an institute for studying, the largest and best preserved one in Gansu.

BinglingSi Grottoes (Buddhist caves) is some of the most impressive sights in China and alone worth a visit. They are reached by bus and boat, Not only are 183 caves themselves in good condition with 800 stone sculpture and 900 sq.m of murals, but the setting is truly spectacular, as they are stuck on a sheer cliff. In face above the Yellow River. In fact, it's the setting and the river journey that makes the tour worthwhile.

Follow Me to Tianshui

Tianshui was the main stopping point on the Silk Road from Van to Lanzhou. Its history dates back further than this. However, a number of sources cites on the banks of the Wei River were the "cradle "of Chinese civilization.This region has been inhabited since Neolithic time, excavated relics has a history of 8120 years, maybe it was the heart of the prehistory China.

Fuxi, the earliest Chinese ancestor was born here. Its strategic significance was not lost either. A stop here is highly recommended for the excursion to Maijishan Grottoes, Immortals' Cliff, FuXi Temple, Jade Spring Taoist Palace, Curtain Cave Grottoes, Giant Buddha Hill, etc.

FuXi is one of China's three mythical ancestors. FuXi Temple was originally constructed in the Ming Dynasty. The statue of FuXi inside is the only one existing in China. Among other things he is credited with the creation of the Eight Diagrams on the ceiling, which represents mathematical permutations and ultimate order.

Maiji Grotoes o1 Tianshui is a Top-heavy Wheat Stack Peak peppered with Carvings, alcoves and caves. The setting is extraordinarily impressive in the Maijishan national Natural Scenery Zone.There are 194 well-preserved Buddhist caves with 7200 stone sculptures and 1300 sq. in of murals inside, dating back to the 4th century and as late as the 17th, and the caves are linked by a high-rise walkway.

Immortals' Cliff boasts three cliffs, six temples, 196 Buddha and 83 sq. m of murals. The setting really is lovely. Do visit this place by climbing the long flights of steps. Make it fun for the superb views from the top. Climbing is well worth doing.

Follow Me to Pingliang

Pingliang is in the most eastern part of Gansu, on the upper reaches of Jinghe River, it is a gateway westward along the old Silk Road from Xi'an. Its strategic position and historical significance are all important. Pingliang is famous as an important Taoist fairyland. The spectacular sceneries are Kongtong Mountain, South Grottoes Temples, Taoist Mother Queen Palace, Yunya Temple, Shigong Temple, Liuhu Lake, and Longquan Temple, etc.

Kongtong Mountain,

the earliest famous mountain of Taoist under Heaven, lies 15km west of Pingliang City. The Mountain is in the national scenery zone, has long been known for its majesty and beauty endowed by its towering pines and cypresses, verdant bushes, grotesque peaks, countless caves and jagged rocks. It is well worth a stop for pilgrimage and Ecology tours.