Gansu Map Album

Author: Zhang Jianhua, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-01-01
Features: Gansu Province is located in the northwest of China and is a long, narrow province extending from northwest to southeast. The province consists of 14 prefecture-level cities and 86 county-level cities and districts, covering an area of 454,000 square kilometers with a population of 24 million. The provincial capital, Lanzhou, is the political, economic, and cultural center of the province. Gansu transitions from subtropical humid climate in the southeast to temperate arid climate in the northwest. The average annual temperature ranges from 0 to 15°C, and the average annual rainfall is between 300 and 500 millimeters.
Historical Culture and Tourism Resources
Gansu has a long history and is one of the birthplaces of ancient Chinese culture. The legendary ancestor of the Chinese people, Fuxi, was born here and created writing, the calendar, and pioneered the early stages of human civilization. Over 3,000 years ago, primitive agriculture emerged in the Jing and Wei River valleys, marking the beginning of a splendid agricultural civilization in the Yellow River Basin. Gansu was a key route for Zhang Qian's diplomatic missions to the Western Regions, Xuanzang's pilgrimage to India, Genghis Khan's campaigns in the south and north, and Marco Polo's travels. The ancient Silk Road winds through Gansu for over 1,600 kilometers, leaving behind a wealth of cultural and educational treasures along its path. Gansu served as a vital link between ancient East and West, recording an enduring history of friendly exchanges and the development of human civilization, attracting more scholars and tourists to explore its heritage.
Gansu's tourism resources are represented by Silk Road culture, ancient ancestor culture, Yellow River culture, Three Kingdoms culture, Great Wall culture, and political culture. The cultural relics and historical sites include grottoes and temples, Great Wall passes, pagodas, towers, ancient city ruins, and historical artifacts. Gansu boasts unique natural landscapes, featuring charming green mountains and clear waters, alpine grasslands, vast deserts, and the majestic Loess Plateau, as well as Danxia landforms, glaciers, and snow-capped peaks. With a rich cultural tapestry, Gansu is home to over a dozen ethnic groups, including the Han, Tibetan, Hui, Yugur, Bonan, Dongxiang, and more, each with its own distinctive traditions and charm. A journey to Gansu allows travelers to wander along the Silk Road and immerse themselves in the flow of history.
Traditional Tourist Routes
Gansu is located on the golden section of the Silk Road. There are three traditional tourist routes along the Silk Road—west, east, and south—allowing visitors to choose and combine them as needed.
West Route: Starting from Lanzhou, the route passes through Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan, and Jiayuguan before reaching Dunhuang, covering a total distance of 1,148 kilometers. Along the way, visitors can see the Wuwei Leitai Han Tomb, the site of the bronze horse, a symbol of Chinese tourism, and the Xixia Stele, a rare bilingual dictionary in Chinese and Xixia script. The Zhangye Big Buddha Temple and Shandan Big Buddha Temple, preserving the world's largest indoor reclining Buddha, are also highlights. The Shunnan Maqin Temple, combining the culture of the Yugur ethnic group, grassland scenery, and grotto art, offers a unique experience. Other attractions include the Jiuquan Han Dynasty (Qianhu Park), the "Heavenly Pass" Jiayuguan, the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Singing Sands Mountain and Crescent Spring, as well as desert oases and snow-capped peaks. The route can be extended westward to Turpan and Urumqi or southward to Golmud, reaching Lhasa or Xining.
East Route: From Lanzhou eastward, passing through Tianshui and Pingliang to Qingyang, this route focuses on root-seeking, cultural relics, and Loess Plateau culture. Highlights include the Maiji Mountain Grottoes in Tianshui, known as the "Museum of Eastern Sculpture," the Paiguai Terrace where Fuxi created the Bagua, and the Fuxi Temple. The "Taoist Sacred Mountain" Mount Kongtong in Pingliang and the Wangmu Palace, where the Taoist goddess Wangmu descended to the mortal world, are also notable. In Qingyang, visitors can explore the Beicuo Temple, cave-dwelling residences, and folk handicrafts. The east route continues to Xi'an via Baoji, and the north route leads to Guyuan and Yinchuan in Ningxia.
South Route: From Lanzhou southward to Linxia and Xiahe, covering 280 kilometers, this route offers a glimpse into Hui and Tibetan ethnic customs, religious art, and grassland scenery. Must-see attractions include the Bingling Temple Grottoes, known as the "Ten Thousand Buddha Caves," the vibrant Hui culture in Linxia, and the South Gate Mosque, a grand Islamic temple. The Red Garden showcases brick-carving art. Xiahe, often called "Little Tibet," features the Labrang Monastery, Gengtang Pagoda, and Sangke Grassland. South of Xiahe, 700 kilometers away, lies the stunning natural beauty of Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan. Northwest of Xiahe, 330 kilometers away, is Xining, the capital of Qinghai.
Special Tourism Activities
Gansu hosts annual events such as the Dunhuang Summer Festival, Tianshui Fuxi Culture Festival, Xiahe Labrang Monastery Grand Ceremony and Xianglang Festival, and Zhangye Maqin Temple Tourism Festival. Tailored activities include Silk Road express tours, motorbike and car rallies, mountain climbing, Great Wall restoration tours, grassland horseback riding, desert expeditions, Yellow River rafting, hunting, root-seeking pilgrimages, Tibetan Buddhist and ethnic tours, and study tours.
Tourism Services
Gansu has 20 international travel agencies specializing in overseas tourism, 47 domestic travel agencies, 45 star-rated hotels, 21 designated foreign-related restaurants, 4 designated tourism transport companies, 6 designated tourism commodity manufacturers, and 40 designated tourism stores. Major tourist cities along the routes offer comprehensive services, including transportation, accommodation, dining, sightseeing, entertainment, and shopping. Additional services include travel insurance, medical consultations, emergency centers, foreign currency exchange, international mail services, and tourist complaint handling.
Tourism Transportation
Gansu has civil airports in Lanzhou, Dunhuang, and Jiayuguan. Centered in Lanzhou, over 20 domestic and international routes connect the province to 26 cities, with hundreds of flights weekly. The Lanzhou-Huangshi Expressway links the province to other regions, and the three major traditional routes are well-connected by national and provincial highways.
Communication Services
Gansu offers convenient communication, with all counties and cities equipped with digital, automated, and programmed telephone systems. Visitors can make direct calls to any city in China or international destinations, as well as send faxes, telexes, and telegrams. International hotels and local post offices provide communication and postal services.