Gansu Travel Guide: The Best Place to Visit in Asia
In 2017, Lonely Planet ranked the top 10 best places to visit in Asia. The No. 1 place goes to Gansu Province of China. It borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Shaanxi in northwest China. With a long history, Gansu is one of the birthplaces of Chinese culture and civilization. Historically, because of its location, it has also been an important part of the ancient Silk Road.
As you travel across Gansu, through major places like Tianshui, Lanzhou, Zhangye, you’ll encounter amazing sites including the Mogao Caves, Jiayuguan Pass, Fuxi Temple, and Zhangye Danxia Geopark. Whether you’re unfamiliar with the province or planning a trip to Gansu, this Gansu travel guide will give you all the information you need.
Chinese: 甘肃 gān sù
Capital: Lanzhou
Location: Northwest China
Population (urban area): 24,920,000
Why Travel to Gansu?
- The Gorgeous Western China:Gansu is known for its typical western China landscape, like the Danxia landform of Zhangye and the Crescent Lake of Dunhuang. The remote Hexi Corridor or Gansu Corridor has many hidden gems for visitors.
- History of Asian Civilization:Gansu has many attractions along the Silk Road that preserve the rich history of this ancient trade route. You’ll witness the grandeur of the famous Yumen Pass and Jiayuguan Pass.
- Local Culture and Spirituality:Experience the local culture and traditions during your Gansu trip. Learn about local religious history and religious life at sites like Fuxi Temple and Labrang Monastery.
- Artistic Ingenuity of the People: You’ll notice everywhere the artistic ingenuity of Gansu people, in the architecture of the temples, the Great Wall, and the most awe-inspiring of all, the intricate Buddhist sculptures and murals at Maijishan Grottoes and Mogao Caves.
- Unforgettable Delicacies:Food has a huge part in Chinese regional culture. Local Gansu diet contains a lot of beef and lamb, as well as different kinds of noodles.
Top Travel Destinations in Gansu
Top Things to Do in Gansu
One of the Four Greatest Grottoes in China: Mogao Caves
Mogao Caves, also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves, is located in Dunhuang, Gansu. It was first built in the sixteen kingdoms period across many dynasties. Explore the 735 caves, 45,000 square meters (484,376 square feet) of murals, and 2,415 clay painted sculptures. It has the largest collection of Buddhist art in the world.
Together with Yungang grottoes in Datong, Longmen grottoes in Luoyang, and Maijishan grottoes in Tianshui, Mogao Caves is known as one of China’s Greatest Grottoes.
Wonders of the Desert: Echoing Sand Mountain & Crescent Lake
The Echoing Sand Mountain and the Crescent Lake are 5 kilometers (3 miles) south of Dunhuang city. The mountain got its name from the natural phenomenon when sand makes sounds because of the wind, vibration, or sliding against each other. These find sands are red, yellow, blue, white, and black.
The Crescent Lake lies among Echoing Sand Mountain. It is named so because of its shape like a crescent moon. The lake never dries even though it’s in the desert. The clear water creates a beautiful contrast with its environment. In this Dunhuang Oasis, you can try desert activities like camel riding and sand sliding. It is also an ideal spot for viewing the sunset.
Stunning Natural Landform: Zhangye Danxia Geopark
Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park is the most representative and the largest Danxia landform in China. It covers more than 536 square kilometers (207 square miles), is known across the world for its colorful rock formations. The scenery is so unbelievable, the park has been ranked as one of the “Top 10 Geographical Wonders of the World” by National Geographic.
World’s Greatest Pass: Jiayuguan Great Wall
Jiayuguan Pass has the reputation of being the World’s Greatest Pass. It is the western part of the Great Wall and served an important defensive role on the Silk Road. It has appeared in many ancient Chinese poetry as a place associated with the end of civilization, nostalgia, and poignancy. You can climb the Great Wall and feel the history of this great construction under your feet.
Sacred Site of Tibetan Buddhism: Labrang Monastery
Labrang Monastery was built in 1709 in Xiahe County of Gannan. It is recognized as one of the six most important monasteries of the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. Witness the life of devoted Tibetan Buddhist monks engaging in rituals and prayers. Walk about the monastery and admire the beautiful architecture and religious artworks.
Traditional Gansu Foods to Try
The most classic dish of Gansu and Lanzhou is Lanzhou Beef Noodles. It is famous across the country for its hand-pulled noodles and delicious beef broth. You’ll find family-owned traditional noodle places everywhere you go. Lamb Paomo is another local favorite made with lamb between flatbreads. Other than those, make sure you try knife-cut noodles and Liang Pi as well.
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Gansu Weather & Best Time to Visit
Gansu weather is generally dry, sunny, and cold, with significant temperature difference between day and night. The heat and cold can be pretty extreme in July and January, above 30°C (86°F) or below -10°C (14°F). Rainfall is limited even in rainy season from June to September.
The weather in Lanzhou is dry and warm with little rainfall. There is plenty of sunlight throughout the year. Dunhuang has four distinct seasons. Others like Jiayuguan and Zhangye have a similar climate.
The best time to travel to Gansu is from May to October, because the weather tends to be more pleasant, and the scenery is at its best. Summer is the best time to see the Gannan grasslands. The lush green meadows are covered by blossoming flowers and grazing yaks. Autumn is the peak season to explore Dunhuang and Zhangye to witness the awe-inspiring Danxia landforms.
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Gansu Transportation: How to Get to Gansu
By Air:
You can easily get to Gansu from either China or overseas. The two major airports, Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport and Dunhuang Mogao International Airport, have both domestic and international flights. You can connect in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guangzhou, and Urumqi.
Other Gansu cities have smaller airports like Zhangye Ganzhou Airport, Jiayuguan Airport, Tianshui Maijishan Airport, and Gannan Xiahe Airport. But they only have limited domestic flights.
By Train:
Gansu has a very developed railway network connecting western China and the rest of the country. The busiest railway station is Lanzhou West Railway Station, which has high-speed train services to major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Xi’an, Chengdu. There are plenty of bullet and normal train stations in other Gansu cities like Dunhuang, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, and Tianshui.
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