Gansu

Author: Editorial Committee of "China Travel Guide"
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-01-01
Features: Gansu Province, abbreviated as Gan or Long, is located in the northwest region of China. Historically, it was part of the ancient states of Yong and Liang. During the Spring and Autumn period, it belonged to the state of Qin and the Western Rong. In the Ming Dynasty, it was part of Shaanxi Province, and in the Qing Dynasty, it became Gansu Province. It is also known as Long due to the presence of Long Mountain. The province is home to various ethnic groups, including Han, Hui, Tibetan, Dongxiang, Yugur, Bonan, Mongolian, Kazakh, Tu, Salar, and Manchu. The provincial capital is Lanzhou.
Gansu is situated at the intersection of the Mongolian, Tibetan, and Loess Plateaus. The Hexi Corridor, a 1,200-kilometer-long strip between Wushaoling to the west, Beishan, and the Qilian Mountains, has been a key part of the ancient Silk Road since ancient times. The province's cultural heritage is represented by the 1,600-kilometer-long Han and Tang Road, including the Dunhuang Grottoes, the Great Wall at Jiayuguan, Lanzhou's Wupingshan and Baitashan, the Maijishan Grottoes in Tianshui, the Bingling Temple Grottoes in Yongjing, the Labrang Monastery in Xiahe, the Longshan in Yuzhong, and the Zhangye Buddha Temple.
Gansu boasts not only enchanting green mountains, clear waters, alpine grasslands, and vast deserts but also the majestic Loess Plateau, stunning Danxia landscapes, and glaciers and snow-capped peaks. The ethnic cultures of the Yugur, Hui, Tibetan, and other groups are rich and uniquely charming. Visitors can explore the Silk Road and immerse themselves in the flow of history. The Liujiaxia Hydropower Station and the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center are also well-known.
Traditional handicrafts of Gansu include Longtao's imitation ancient carpets, Jiuquan's luminous cups, and Tianshui's carved lacquerware.