Gansu is Situated in China’s northwest on the upper reaches of the Huanghe River (Yellow River) and striding the Qingzang, Neimenggu and Huangtu plateaus, Gansu borders on Shanxi in the east, Sichuan, Qinghai in south, Xinjiang in the west, Inner Mongolia and the People’s Republic of Mongolia in the north and Ningxia in the northeast. The province covers an area of over 450,000 square kilometres with a population of 25.62 million (2006) belong to the Han, Hui, Tibetan, Dongxiang, Yugur, Bonan, Mongolia, Kazak, Tu, Salar and Manchu nationalities. The capital city of Gansu is Lanzhou.
Lanzhou, a well-known ancient city in China, is the capital of Gansu, which is the second largest city in the northwest China. It occupies a total area of 450,000 square kilometers, and has a population of 23, 7 million with a multinational population with a large concentration of Hui Chinese. Gansu was the place where the main traffic line in ancient time between China and Western countries-the famous Silk Road passed through. Located in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, northwest China, Gansu is one of the cradles of Chinese cultures, which forms many places of interest and historical monuments. Prominent cities include Lanzhou, Jiuquan, Jiayuguan, Jinchang, Wuwei and Gannan.
Lanzhou, Jiayuguan, Jiuquan and Dunhuang are open to tourists. Despite of nearly a thousand years’ of natural and human damage, the famous Mogao Grottoes, 492 in all, have been preserved, representing ten dynasties---the Sixteen States, Northern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, Song Western Xia and Yuan. In Lanzhou, the visitors may be carried away by the breathtaking charm of the two parks, Wuquanshan and Baitashan, located on the north and south hills in the city proper. Binglingsi Grotto, 135 kilometres from Lanzhou, has been considered a gem decorating the Silk Road with its ancient stone-carving art. The mural tombs of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in Jiuquan, Jiayu Pass--- the western end of the Great Wall, Yangguan and Yumeng Passes in Dunhuang Country are all ready to receive travellers from both China and other countries with their different ancient outlook.
Gansu enjoys a temperate monsoon climate featured by an apparent transition towards continental climate. It is dry and short of rainfall with considerable temperature difference. Winter is long and cold and summer short and warm, while spring and autumn come and go instantly even without one’s knowledge. The coldest month is January with the temperature ranging from -14°C to 4°C(6.8°F to 39.2°F ) from northwest to southeast; and hottest month.
Gansu has a developed tourist industry. The world-famous ancient Silk Road once passed through the province and left a great number of historic relics. Haizang Temple etc, are all well-known to tourists. The production of flax ranks the first in China. Fruits and melons are grow mainly in Lanzhou, Tianshui, Zhangye and other places, of which Bailan melon and Zui (Drunk) melon are well-known throughout the country. Among its traditional handicrafts, the best known are luminous cups made in Jiuquan, Tea inkslab in Lanzhou and carved lacquer in Tianshui, etc. |
