Name in Chinese: 甘肃 Gān Sù [gæsu]
Location: Northwestern China, GMT+8
Population: 26.47 million
Keywords: the Silk Road, Dunhuang Grottoes and Zhangye Danxia Landform
Overview
Gansu is a province in Northwestern China, bordering some Chinese provinces, namely, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Ningxia, the Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang and Qinghai. It is situated on the arm of land between Mongolia Plateau, the Loess Plateau and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The Ancient Silk Road traverses the province from east to west. Gansu is also called Hexi Corridor. Hexi refers to the west land of the Yellow River. It is well-known as the revolving-door of the cultural exchanges between China and the western countries. Covering an area of 425,800 square kilometers(164,402 sq.mi), the land is the home to 16 Chinese ethnic groups, such as, the Han, the Hui, Tibetans and Mongols. The province is divided into 12 prefectures. Some of the popular holiday destinations are Lanzhou, Zhangye, Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Gannan and Linxia. Lanzhou is the capital city of Gansu, is nicknamed as the Shining Pearl in the Yellow River Basin. Gansu Province is rich in sightseeing resources. The must-see attractions in the province are Zhangye Danxia National Geo-park, Jiayuguan Fort, Dunhuang Grottoes, Labrang Monastery, the Echoing Sand Dune and the Crescent Lake.
Attractions
Zhangye Danxia National Geo-park
Zhangye Danxia National Geo-park is located 37 kilometers(23 miles) to the west of downtown Zhangye. It is well-known as China’s Rainbow Mountain. Danxia is a special landform in China which features its spectacular view of red cliffs and rugged landscape. Developed on continental red terrigenous sedimentary beds, Danxia landform has been influenced by endogenous forces, including the upthrust, and sculpted by exogenous forces, such as the weathering and erosion.
Jiayuguan Fort
Jiyuguan Fort is well-known as the No.1 Pass of the Great Wall or the Most Magnificent Fort under Heaven. It can be dated back to the year of 1372. The ancient fort covers an area of 2.5 hectares(6.17 acres). It is a complex, consisting of towers, ramparts and some other military buildings. The fortress town is enclosed by two ramparts, namely the outer rampart and the inner rampart. The outer rampart is 13.4 meters(44 feet) in height and 733 meters(2,405 feet) in circumference. It connects the fort with the Great Wall. The inner rampart is 10.7 meters(35 feet) in height and 640 meters(2,100 feet) in circumference. There are two gates built along the inner rampart. Both are huge gate towers. Visitors can climb up the walkways to the top of the rampart and the Great Wall.
Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes
Well-known as the oriental Louvre, Mogao Grottoes are a treasure trove of artworks and antiques. The assemblage of statues and murals has revealed the history of the Silk Road and Chinese Buddhism. It is also known as the Thousand-Buddha Grottoes. The carving project began in 366 and lasted for almost 1,000 years. The site of the grottoes is located 25 kilometers(15.5 miles) to the southeast of downtown Dunhuang. It was added to the list of world cultural heritage site by UNESCO in 1987.
The Echoing Sand Dune and Crescent Lake National Park
The Echoing Sand Dune and Crescent Lake National Park is one of the top two attractions in Dunhuang. It is also known as Mingsha Mountain and Yueyaquan Lake. The park lies in the south suburb of Dunhuang. The view of the sand dunes is amazingly gorgeous. The sand dunes often echo in sunny days. It sounds like the orchestral music. Sometimes, visitors can hear it, when they slide downhill from the top of the sand dunes. The Crescent Lake refers to a beautiful pond which is in the shape of a crescent moon. It is surrounded by the sand dunes. There is an oasis nearby the pond, small but stunning.
Climate
The topography of Gansu is complex and diverse. It leads to various climate features in different parts of the province. The river valleys in Southern Gansu have a subtropical climate while the north keeps an arid temperate climate. Gannan Prefecture lies in Southwestern Gansu, bordering on Qinghai-Tibet High Plateau. The weather conditions in Gannan are as harsh as Tibet due to the high altitude. Generally, both spring and winter come early in Gansu and the land is heated up and cooled down fast. Summer is hot and rainy. The dry season lasts from September to April. Hot sun and cold winds can soon dry out your skin. It is highly suggested to bring some suncream to protect your skin from harmful effects of the sun and the winds.
Local Specialities
Ramen Noddle 拉面 Lā Miàn [la:miæ]
Ramen Noddle is the most famous local speciality in Gansu Province. It is also called Lanzhou Hand-made Noodle with Beef. The noodle has a nice chewy texture while the beef soup is tasty.
How to Get to Gansu
There are ten airports in Gansu Province, such as, Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport, Jiayuguan Airpor, Dunhuang Airport and Zhangye Airport. Among them, the busiest one is Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport. Lanzhou is the capital city and aviation hub of Gansu. The airport is located 67 kilometers(42 miles) to the north of downtown Lanzhou. By the end of 2019, more than 100 domestic air routes and 9 internationals have been operating in Lanzhou. Overseas travelers can directly fly to Lanzhou from Frankfurt, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Singapore, Bangkok, Nagoya, Osaka and Dubai. They can also travel to Gansu by air from most of major cities in Mainland China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing and Guangzhou. Another option is to travel to Gansu by bullet train from Chengdu or Xi’an.
Author: Tina Luo
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