Provincial Travel

Gansu

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Spanning through the Qinghai-Tibet, Inner Mongolia and Loess Plateaus and located on the upper reaches of the Yellow River, Gansu province is 454,000 square kilometers in size and pursues a population of 25.43 million. Producing large amounts of wheat, corns, cotton, apples and Chinese medicinal herbs, it also contains many remarkable cultural relics along the 1,600 kilometers long legendary Silk Road.

Gansu cuisine features the use of beef and mutton, and the taste of spices. Some famous dishes include hand-stretched noodles with beef, yellow leeks with chicken and roasted pork, Lanzhou roasted pork and fried camel humps.

Attractions to visit

Lanzhou

Besides a popular tourist city on the Silk Road, Lanzhou is also the provincial capital of Gansu. Pursuing many remarkable attractions, it is also a fantastic place to sample the reputable Lanzhou hand-stretched noodles with beef and special Islamic dishes.

• Green Corridor on Binhe Road

  Approximately 20 kilometers in length, with fancy pavilions and gardens built along the corridor, the surrounding sceneries are rated as the most gorgeous.

• Yellow River Steel Bridge

  Also known as the "Number One Bridge on Earth", the steel bridge is the landmark of Lanzhou, which is built during the late Qing Dynasty.

• White Pagoda Mountain Park

  The park is a "must-visit" in Lanzhou, as visitors can enjoy the spectacular sceneries of the whole city there.

• Five Springs Mountain Scenic Zone

  Explore the 2,000- year- old classical garden and the marvelous Five Springs in the scenic zone; worshippers are welcome to visit the various Buddhist temples while in the area.

• Bingling Temple Grottoes

  Listed as an UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, approximately 694 stone sculptures are found in the 183 caves. The sculptures are currently regarded as treasures of archaeology.

Tianshui

According to the ancient Chinese legend, Tianshui was the birthplace of Fuxi, the ancestor of people with Chinese descent. It is also the second largest city in Gansu province.

• Maijishan Grottoes

  Approximately 70 kilometers away from downtown Tianshui, the Maijishan Grottoes is also known as the "Gallery of Oriental Sculptures". There are over 7,000 lifelike sculptures in 194 caves, making this amazing site comparable to the Longmen Grottoes in Henan and the Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi.

• Temple of Fuxi

  Built during the Ming Dynasty in 1490, the temple is 6,000 square meters in size and is rated as the largest temple for the worship of Fuxi.

Gannan

Situated at the border of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Gannan has nice prairies with beautiful flowers and is the center of Lamaism.

Labuleng Lamasery

Built during the early Qing Dynasty in 1709, it is one of the leading Lamaseries of the Gelug Sect and has altogether 3,000 Lama monks. The Lamasery contains over 10,000 precious artifacts and a 15-meter tall Buddha statue.

Zhangye

Located in the western part of the Hexi Corridor, Zhangye is a reputable historical and cultural city with numerous remarkable attractions.

• Dafosi (Giant Buddha Temple)

  Built in 1098, the temple has the largest lying Buddha statue in China, with a body length of 34.5 meters and a shoulder width of 7.5 meters. Furthermore, the temple also contains collections of brick and wood carvings, which best reflect the history of Buddhism and architectural techniques in ancient Zhangye.

• Matisi Grottoes Scenic Zone

  Besides taking a closer glance at the spectacular complex of grottoes, visitors may enjoy the fabulous sceneries and explore the local ethnic minority cultures in the area.

• Shandan Army Horse Ranch

  55 kilometers away from the Southern Shandan County, the horse ranch is the certified army horse provider since 3,000 years ago.

Jiayuguan Pass

Jiayuguan Pass is considered to be both the western tip of the Great Wall and the western boundary of the Chinese empire. It has been rated as the "Number one Heroic Pass On Earth" at the same time.

• Jiayuguan Fortress

  Built in the Ming Dynasty in 1372, the fortress served as an important line of defense against foreign invasion at the time.

• Great Wall Beacon Tower

  Built in 1539, it was the first beacon tower on the western tip of the Great Wall.

• Great Wall Museum

  Details regarding the construction and characteristics of the Great Wall are on exhibit in this spectacular museum. Visitors may get a better sense of this marvelous wall after their explorations.

• Overhanging Great Wall

  Stretching across the Gobi Desert and the Heishan Mountain, the wall is an extended portion of the Jiayuguan pass and appears to overhang the cliffs.

Dunhuang

Founded in 111 BC, Dunhuang was once an important stopping point on the Silk Road. The 1,600- kilometer trade route splits into both northern and southern routes from Dunhuang, giving the city a rich cultural and historical background.

• Mogao Grottoes

  Regarded as the largest and the most fabulous grottoes in China, the Mogao Grottoes is situated 25 kilometers away from downtown Dunhuang and is listed as an UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. The attraction has over 10,000 Buddha sculptures, scriptures and other valuable cultural relics, making it the world's treasury of art and cultural artifacts.

• Mingsha Sand Dunes

  They contain the most spectacular sand dune scenery in China, with dunes 200 to 300 meters in height. During windy weather conditions, the sand reportedly makes humming sounds and hence receiving the name "Singing Sand Dunes". Fun activities at the dunes include climbing, paragliding, sand sledding and camel riding.

• Crescent Moon Lake

  Located north of the Mingsha Sand Dunes, the lake is in the shape of the crescent moon and has gorgeous clear water.