Gansu Province Map

Gansu Tour Map

Brief Introduction of Lanzhou

History: It is difficult to search that how long the history is. However, we can see that 4000 or 5000 years ago, there was the spark of the horde originality civilization in the areas of Dang River and Sule River by the stone, pottery, bronze utensils which came from the area of Dunhuang, Yumen and Huoshaogou. In the first period of Qin Dynasty (221 BC—206 BC), Yueshi and Wushun races resided in Dunhuang successively. In West Han (202 BC---8 AD) another more violent Huns race invaded in the river west from the Desert North Plateau, the Yueshi escaped in the old haunt of Daxia which is in the south of the Amu River. After the Hanwu Emperor (157 BC—87 BC) exterminated the Huns and unified the Hexi, he just really uncovered the first page of glorious cultural history of Dunhuang. Follow with the Silk Road (202 BC—138 BC), the emigrant solid side policy of the West Han government made Dunhuang appear the prosperous prospects, made it develop to become the military, administration center, the cultural and business important precincts in Northwest. The battle fire was rose in Hexizoulang of East Jin (317--420). In 439, the North Wei Dynasty unified the Hexizoulang, it was stability in Dunhuang, the economic and culture once more was prosperous, the Buddhism was prosperous. In 557 the Dunhuang County returned to the political power of North Zhou Dynasty (557--581). In 605—609 of Sui Dynasty (581--618) Dunhuang appeared the unprecedented prosperity and stabilities, the art style of Dunhuang Caves changed because of started head for the very prosperous period. In 640 of Tang Dynasty (618--907) made the Silk Road unimpeded, Dunhuang came to the most glorious period in history. In 781 Tubo Nationality governed Dunhuang for 67 years and the economic and culture were once prosperous; Mogao Cave appeared to the brilliant art of Buddhism in Tubo. In 1226, Yuan Dynasty attacked and occupied Dunhuang, art of Dunhuang was once more prosperous after declined.
Brief Introduction of Mogao Caves

Mogao Grottoes had been carved on the cliff at the eastern foot of Mingsha Sand dunes since 366. This Cave Complex has 491 grottoes well remained with over 2400 Buddhist statues and 45000 square meters of murals. Known as The Art Treasure House in World.
The art features of Mogao Grottoes, as an organic integration of architecture, sculpture and murals, systematically recorded a variety of aspects of cultural exchanges between China and the West during more than ten dynasties lasting for 1000 years from the Sixteen Kingdoms to Yuan Dynasty, which has become the rare cultural treasures and wealth of the human beings. Now the “Dunhuangology” has been studied comparatively worldwide. With the contribution from Japan, the Dunhuang Art Exhibition Center which imitated some of the essential original caves has been built up by Dunhuang Research Institute at the foot of Sanwei Mountain that opposition to Mogao Grottoes, which made the visiting more colorful.
The caves are cut in Sanwei Hill 1,680 m long north south. On a Cliffside 15～30 m high, there remain by now over 750 grottoes, 45,000 sq m of murals, more than 3,000 painted sculptures, and 5 wooden grotto eaves. Grand in scale and rich in content, the Mogao Caves constitute an invaluable gem in the history of Chinese culture and art and also a splendid pearl in ancient Oriental culture and art. In 1961, they were announced as a state protected ancient monument by China.
Long History of Construction In l39 and 119 BC, ZhangQian, envoy of the Han Dynasty, went to the Western Regions twice and opened up the "Silk Road" across the Asian continent, stimulating cultural and economic exchanges between ancient China and the West As a hub of communications along the road, Dunhuang became a commence of cultural streams from both the East and the West, and thus rapidly attained great prosperity. The Chinese characters "Dunhuang" just mean greatness and prosperity respectively.
It was through Dunhuang that Buddhism spread from the Western Regions to the interior of China. The construction of the Mogao cave-temples was begun in 366 AD. During the Sui and the earlier Tang periods, the work reached its height. In the Song Dynast, the Western Xia (Tangut kingdom) in the northwest was still engaged in cutting and renovating the grottoes, though the Mogao Caves were then on the decline due to the fact that Dunhuang had fallen into economic depression and the land "Silk Road" was no longer an important line of communications. From the Yuan period onward, no grottoes were cut there, and the Mogao Caves gradually became unfrequented and were finally abandoned, becoming little-known among the common people.
Discovery of the Cave-Temples In the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, the Mogao Caves began to draw attention again. In the 26th year of the Guangxu reign (AD l900), the Taoist priest Wang Yuanlu discovered by chance a sutra-keeping vault with more than 40,000 documents, hand written scriptures and cultural relics of different periods preserved in a good condition. This discovery was held to be the most valuable in the history of world culture in the 20th century. It created a worldwide sensation. Thereafter, British, French, Japanese, Russian and American adventurers came in one after another and seized treasures and cultural relics in the Mogao Caves. In l943, the site was nationalized, and the Dunhuang Art Research Institute was established locally, which marked the commencement of the preservation and research work on the Mogao Caves.
Invaluable Treasury of Art Painted sculptures and murals form the cream of Mogao art. The former number more than 3,000, the largest Buddha standing as tall as over 30m, while the smallest Yingsu applique measuring only some dozen centimeters. The latter are so great in quantity that their combined height amounts to more than 30 km; the subjects include Jatakas, scenes in Buddhist sutras, Buddhist figures, donors and decorative designs. Both types were created from the Sixteen States Period to Yuan times, covering more than a thousand years. Over a half of the works were made in
Buddhist art was the main aspect of ancient Chinese art, and Buddhist sculptures and murals were inevitable products of the spread of Buddhism. Many works of Buddhist art have vanished due to natural and man-made damage. Nevertheless as Dunhuang was located in the dry desert of northwester China and the Mogao Caves became untraversed after their fall, there were favorable conditions for painted sculptures and murals to be preserved perfectly.
Thus we can see splendid masterpieces created at the golden age of the Buddhist art, which are seldom found elsewhere. That is why the Mogao Caves at Dunhuang figure prominently in the history of art.
Brief Introduction of Dunhuang Yardang National Geologic Park

Dunhuang Yardang National Geologic Park, situated 180 km in the northwest away from Dunhuang City, is the largest one of that kind of Yardang Landform found so far. With the largest scale, it is the most mature in geologic configuration and having the highest value for enjoying, this scenic zone is divided into two parts-the northern and the southern, extending for 25 km long and 18 km wide. It features the unique and wonderful scenes and landscapes of Gobi-desert. The most magnificent view is that you can find the “miniature” for much world-famous architecture such as the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, the Potala Palace in Tibet, the Arabian mosque, the pyramid and Sphinx in Egypt, the relics of ancient Roman, and the beacon towers and so on. It seems as an architectural art museum of the world and delivers many attractions and enjoyments to you.  After the shooting of the movie named “Hero ”here, the spectacular views in this “Town of Demons” have attracted thousands of visitors, and now it has been an another hot scenic spot in Dunhuang.
Brief Introduction of Booming Sand Dune and Crescent Spring

The Booming Sand Dune and Crescent Spring, five kilometers southwest of Dunhuang City, create an amazing desert view. The dune’s name (Mingshashan) comes from the booming noise made by the sands when people climb up. The Spring’s name (Yueyaquan) comes from its crescent form, cradled in the dunes. For a lake near a dune to survive for a thousand years is a unique desert phenomenon. As it is near Dunhuang, it has a temple on its bank, adding to its fame.
Mingsha Sand Dunes is stretching for more than 40 km long and more than 20 km wide. The hill is composed of five-color sands in red, yellow, and green, black and white. The northern peak is cragged, steep and wonderful--looking like the sharp edge of a knife. Sands will come down and sound could be heard when you slide down from its top.  Crescent Moon Spring lies in the arm of the dunes at the foot of Mingsha Hills, extending for 118m from west to the east but only 25m from south to the north. Despite being surrounded by the sand hills, the Spring has never been covered by quicksand and kept clear perennially. Featuring the quite pretty scenes, It neither overflow after rain nor dry up after drought, It is really a wonder that the sands and spring lake coexist together for thousands of years.
Brief Introduction of Zhangye Danxia Landform 

Danxia landforms in Kangle Township, Sunan Uygur Autonomous County, are the best evolved examples in China of window lattice and palace forms. They can be seen only in the arid areas of Gansu and Qinghai provinces. The Danxia formations are surrounded by colorful hills, which seem to rise and fall like waves; with rock strata of different colors mixed in graceful disarray; it is an imposing and magnificent sight. The Zhangye’s palace Danxia formations and its colorful hills cover about 300 square kilometers. Because of aridity the Zhangye Danxia landform differs from that of south China. Dry and desolate, without any vegetation, geologists call this “window lattice and palace-shaped Danxia topography.”
Brief Introduction of Giant Buddha Temle

The Three Gorges, namely Bingling Gorge, Liujiaxia Gorge and Yanguoxia Gorge in Yongjing County, was jointly created by geologic movement and natural hands of Yellow River. Along the river, tourists can enjoy the steep cliffs, grotesque peaks, calm reservoir and other diversified colorful views on both sides of these gorges. Taking the tourist pleasure boat, you can appreciate a variety of fascinating scenic spots including Liujiaxia Reservoir, Bingling Si Grottoes, Dinosaur-footprint Fossils, Yellow River Wetland on Taiji Isle, Date Forest Scene and so on. Located in the canyon of loess plateau, the project of grand Liujiaxia hydropower station and wonderful reservoir is the first large one designed and constructed by Chinese themselves. Bingling Si Grottoes is a temple with a history of over 1600 years, and now in 183 remained caves there are murals of about 900 square meters and approximately 800 stone statues and clay sculptures. This temple features typically the stone-carved statuary, the empaistic stupa and the murals of esoteric teaching of Tibetan Buddhism. It is among three biggest cave complexes in Gansu together with other two, Mogao Grottoes and Maijishan Grottoes. There are 46 groups of dinosaur-footprint fossil, 404 footprints of dinosaur remained in Yanguoxia Goege, the largest footprint with 140cm long, and 120cm wide tops the others of its kind in the world in terms of both single footprint and the integrated scale.
Brief Introduction of Gannan Prairie

The charming Gannan (Southern Gansu) Prairie is a Shangri-La covered with pretty and dense grass. This is a flat and vast pasture on plateau and a piece of clean land where human beings and the nature coexist peacefully and harmoniously. Occupying an area of more than 3758 mu, this grassland mainly distributes in Maqu, Xiahe and Luqu counties. The vast Maqu prairie is the largest ecological wetland located at the first curve of the Yellow River as the paradise of the local Hequ Horse, ack-necked crane, swine, goa and spotted deer. Gahai Lake, the largest one on Gannan Plateau, is a shining gem embedded in the boundless Luqu Grassland. You can enjoy fascinating scenes decorated by various flowers and birds on the lush grassland in summer and autumn. Blue sky, white cloud and clear water will deliver a beautiful picturesque view of prairie with the snowy mountains standing afar. Sangker Grassland is famous for its top-quality pasture as well as the grand Tibetan festivals and Buddhist ceremonies held there every year. Cattle, sheep and tents are dotted here and there. On the far-flung Angker Grassland with smoke from the kitchen chimneys and the pastoral from herders, tourists can enjoy themselves on the grassland by wearing Tibetan clothes, riding on horses or yak and experiencing unique Tibetan folk customs, life styles and their culture.