Gansu, a magical land located in the northwest of China, has rich natural landscapes and profound historical and cultural heritage, attracting countless domestic and foreign tourists to explore. These scenic spots not only showcase the rich natural resources and unique landform features of Gansu, but also reflect the long history and profound cultural heritage of Gansu. Whether it is art lovers, historians or ordinary tourists, they can find their own share of touching and harvest here. The following is a brief introduction to several major tourist attractions and their characteristics in Gansu Province:

Main History
Emperor Wu of Han established the four Hexi commanderies along the Silk Road; during the Sui and Tang dynasties Liangzhou flourished as a key hub. In the Yuan dynasty Gansu Province was formally created. It later became the military and administrative center of the northwest, and today it is celebrated as the golden section of the Silk Road and a cradle of Chinese civilization.

Latitude & Longitude
Provincial range: 32°31′ N–42°57′ N, 92°13′ E–108°46′ E.

Total Area
425,800 km².

Permanent Resident Population
≈ 24.9 million (end-2023).

Airports (9 civil)

Lanzhou Zhongchuan International (LHW)

Dunhuang Mogao International (DNH)

Main Railway Stations
High-speed hubs: Lanzhou West, Lanzhou, Tianshui South, Zhangye West, Jiayuguan South, Dunhuang.
Conventional hubs: Lanzhou, Tianshui, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan, Jiayuguan.

Metro Opening & Network
First metro (Lanzhou Line 1) opened 23 June 2019; as of June 2025 two lines operate: Lanzhou Lines 1 & 2.

Geographic Position in China
Inland northwest China, upper Yellow River; borders Shaanxi (east), Qinghai & Xinjiang (west), Sichuan (south), Ningxia & Inner Mongolia (north) — the golden segment of the Silk Road.

Geographic Features
“Three ranges between two plateaus”: Qilian, Altun and Long mountains; Hexi Corridor and Loess Plateau; elevation 1,000–5,500 m with the Yellow River running through.

Climate Characteristics
Temperate continental arid–semi-arid: cold long winters, warm short summers, large diurnal range, abundant sunshine, low dust-storm days.

Months of the Four Seasons

Spring: April–May

Summer: June–August

Autumn: September–October

Winter: November–March

Annual Average Temperature
≈ 7–10 °C

Annual Average Precipitation
≈ 35–760 mm (decreasing southeast to northwest)

Best Times to Visit
May–October (dry, comfortable for Silk Road, Danxia, grasslands and snow mountains); December–February for ice Dunhuang experiences.

Peak Tourist Seasons

July–August (Silk Road + grassland escape)

September–October (National Day + poplars & Danxia)

Chinese New Year Golden Week

Major Tourist Attractions

Mogao Caves (Dunhuang); Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake; Jiayuguan Pass; Zhangye Danxia Landform Geopark; Maijishan Grottoes; Gannan Zhagana; Dunhuang Yardang National Geopark

Main Shopping Streets

Lanzhou Zhangye Road Pedestrian Street (Zhangye Road, Chengguan District)

Dunhuang Night Market Commercial Street (Shazhou Town, Dunhuang City)

Signature Local Specialties
Lanzhou beef noodles, fermented cold-skin noodles, hand-grabbed lamb, pickled-cabbage noodles, yellow-noodle donkey meat, grey-bean dessert.

The Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang: a world cultural heritage and a treasure house of Buddhist art, with exquisite murals and sculptures.

Jiayuguan Great Wall: the starting point of the western end of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, a magnificent and magnificent example of ancient military defense engineering.

Zhangye Danxia Landform: The colorful Danxia Mountains are a palette of nature, with great ornamental value.

Crescent Moon Spring in Mingsha Mountain: An oasis in the desert, where you can experience the fun of sand sliding and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Crescent Moon Spring.

Maiji Mountain Grottoes: One of the four major grottoes, famous for its exquisite clay sculpture art, showing the superb skills of ancient craftsmen.

Kongtong Mountain: the birthplace of Taoist culture, with beautiful scenery and profound cultural heritage.

Yellow River Stone Forest: A stone forest landscape by the Yellow River, where mountains and rivers are intertwined, making it a good place for adventure and sightseeing.

Zhagana: a natural "stone city", combining primitive natural scenery with Tibetan culture, is unique and charming.

Labrang Monastery: An important monastery of the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, with unique architectural style and strong cultural atmosphere.

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