Best Places to Visit in Gansu: Lanzhou, Dunhuang, Zhangye, etc

Gansu, a mysterious and beautiful place, is a vital part of the Silk Road and one of the cradles of Chinese civilization. With its rich natural landscapes and cultural heritage, Gansu captivates countless visitors. Highlights such as the Yellow River Iron Bridge in Lanzhou, the Danxia landforms in Zhangye, the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, and the Maiji Mountain in Tianshui are must-see wonders on any journey through Gansu. Here are the best places to visit in Gansu.

Top 1: Lanzhou City

Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province, historically known as Jincheng, is located in the central part of the province and is one of the key cities in the western region, serving as an important node along the Silk Road Economic Belt. With a history of over 2,000 years since its establishment in the Qin Dynasty, Lanzhou has long been a vital transportation hub that connect with all regions around, earning the nickname "Pearl of the Yellow River".

Thanks to its strategic position on the Silk Road, Lanzhou has become a crucial transit point for travelers heading to attractions like Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Zhangye, and Gannan, linking notable attractions such as the Mogao Caves, Maiji Mountain Grottoes, Zhangye Danxia, and Labrang Monastery.

Also as the capital of Gansu, Lanzhou has a long and rich history that Yellow River culture, Silk Road culture, Central Plains culture, and Western Region culture blend with each other within this city. The Yellow River flows through Lanzhou, with the famous "Yellow River Scenic Line" along South Binhe Road at the south of the river, featuring landmarks like the Yellow River Iron Bridge (Zhongshan Bridge), Yellow River Mother sculpture, and the Waterwheel Expo Park, with White Pagoda Mountain Park located directly across from Zhongshan Bridge. The Gansu Provincial Museum and Wuquan Mountain Park can also be found south of the river.

Top 2: Zhangye City

Zhangye, historically known as Ganzhou, is recognized as a national historical and cultural city and an ecological city of Gobi wetlands, serves as a tourism hub in the Hexi Corridor. Located in the northwestern part of Gansu Province, Zhangye is positioned in the central section of the Hexi Corridor, where the Qilian Mountain water conservation area, the Heihe Oasis, and the desert Gobi ecosystems intersect, showcasing diverse landscapes such as snow-capped mountains, glaciers, forest grasslands, Danxia formations, fertile fields, wetland habitats, and desert dunes.

Zhangye is often referred to as the "Golden Zhangye", with a rich cultural heritage and a wealth of humanistic attractions. It features the Qilian Mountain grasslands, Zhangye Danxia, Heihe wetlands, Heihe Gorge, and Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon. Zhangye is also home to the largest Shandan Horse Farm in the country, the best-preserved section of the Han Great Wall, the historically significant Yanzhi Mountain, the ancient city of Camel City, the battle site of the Red Army, and a martyrs' cemetery. It also has the closest glacier, the largest indoor clay reclining Buddha Zhangye Giant Buddha, the sitting Buddha Sandan Giant Buddha, and the Mati Temple grottoes, which date back to the same era as the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, along with unique customs from the Yugu, Mongolian, and Tibetan ethnic groups.

Top 3: Dunhuang City

Dunhuang, also known as Shazhou, is located in the northwest of Gansu Province, at the western end of the Hexi Corridor, which is a county-level city administered by Jiuquan City. Situated on the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, Dunhuang's terrain slopes from the southwest to the northeast, resulting in a low-lying central basin, hence the name "Dunhuang Basin". Since the Han and Tang dynasties, Dunhuang has served as a vital hub on the Silk Road and a significant transit point between China and the West.

Dunhuang has a rich history and vibrant culture, with numerous historical sites and stunning natural landscapes. The culture of Dunhuang is a microcosm of traditional Chinese culture, having continued for nearly two millennia, and is recognized as the world's largest and best-preserved treasure trove of art. Its unique geological features and extreme arid climate have created captivating landscapes, which, combined with its geographical location along the ancient Silk Road, host a wealth of cultural heritage.

Dunhuang is home to UNESCO World Heritage Site Mogao Caves, the desert wonders of Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring, the world's largest Yadan landform cluster, and significant historical sites such as Yang Pass and Yumen Pass, two ancient border fortresses on the Silk Road.

Top 4: Tianshui City

Tianshui, formerly known as Qinzhou, is located in the southeastern part of Gansu Province. It is the hometown of cultural ancestors Fuxi and Nuwa, serving as an important node city on the Silk Road Economic Belt and a transportation hub in southeastern Gansu. With distinct seasons and a pleasant climate, Tianshui is often referred to as the "Little Jiangnan" of Northwest China.

As a nationally recognized historical and cultural city, Tianshui is renowned as the "City of I Ching," where Fuxi is said to have created the Bagua (Eight Trigrams), a significant site for the global Chinese community seeking roots and ancestral worship. The city is home to numerous cultural relics, with 169 nationally and provincially protected sites. Notable sites include the Dadiwan Ruins, which preserve valuable Neolithic and Yangshao culture artifacts; the Tianshui Fuxi Temple, featuring the only statue of Fuxi in China, with intricate carved beams and ancient cypress trees; and the Maiji Mountain Grottoes, one of China's four major grottoes, often referred to as the "Oriental Sculpture Museum", containing over 7,730 ancient Buddhist statues from various periods, forming an important part of the "Grotto Art Corridor" along the eastern section of the Silk Road.

Top 5: Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture

Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, abbreviated as Gannan Prefecture, is located in the southwestern part of Gansu Province. The region is divided into three natural zones: the southern Min and Die Mountains with a mild climate, recognized as one of China's "six major green treasure troves"; the eastern hilly areas that integrate agriculture and animal husbandry; and the northwestern vast meadows, one of the country's "five major pastoral areas".

As an integral part of the Silk Road and the ancient Tang-Tubo route, Gannan not only boasts stunning plateau landscapes but also rich Tibetan Buddhist cultural heritage, merging natural beauty with human culture. In the paradise-like Gannan, the scent of yak butter lingers in the air over Sangke Prairie, the sounds of debating monks from Labrang Monastery rise with the cooking smoke, and the idyllic Zhaqana seems like a secluded paradise, with the calls of migratory birds echoing around Gahai Lake.

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