At dusk, Mingsha Mountain.
The sunset dyes the desert golden, a camel caravan slowly moving forward, camel bells ringing. In the distance, Crescent Moon Spring lies quietly in the desert like a crescent moon. Climb the dunes, watch the sunset dye the sky orange-red—in that moment, you’ll understand what “Lonely smoke rises straight in the vast desert, the setting sun rounds the long river” means.
This is the most beautiful scene on the Silk Road.
Gansu is a place that amazes you.
Province Profile#
- Location: Northwest China, upper reaches of the Yellow River
- Best Travel Season: May-October
- Highlights: Silk Road, Dunhuang art, Danxia wonder, Hexi Corridor
Must-Visit Attractions#
Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes: Oriental Art Treasury#
Mogao Grottoes is the world’s largest existing Buddhist art treasury, with 735 caves, 45,000 square meters of murals, and 2,415 painted sculptures.
Cave 96 has Mogao’s largest Buddha statue, 35.5 meters high—Mogao’s symbol. Cave 17 is the Library Cave, where over 50,000 ancient documents were discovered, shocking the world. Cave 45’s Bodhisattva statue is praised as the “Oriental Venus,” graceful and elegant.
Best Experience: Reserve Class A tickets in advance to see 8 caves and two digital films. Hire a guide to hear the stories hidden behind the murals.
Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring: Desert Wonder#
Mingsha Mountain is named because the sand “sings,” Crescent Moon Spring is named because it’s shaped like a crescent moon.
For thousands of years, Crescent Moon Spring has never dried up in the desert, called the “First Spring in the Desert.” Climb Mingsha Mountain, overlook Crescent Moon Spring, see desert and spring water depend on each other, marvel at nature’s wonder.
Best Experience: Ride camels up the mountain at dusk, watch the desert sunset. Watch the starry sky in the desert at night.
Zhangye Danxia: Seven-Color Danxia#
Zhangye Danxia is one of China’s most beautiful Danxia landforms, called “God’s Spilled Palette.”
On red sandstone, colors of red, yellow, orange, green, white, gray-green, and gray-black appear, layered like a dream. Seven-Color Danxia Scenic Area has four viewing platforms—each angle is a painting.
Best Experience: Come at dusk, watch the sunset dye the Danxia golden-red, colors even more brilliant.
Jiayuguan: The First Majestic Pass Under Heaven#
Jiayuguan is the westernmost pass of the Ming Great Wall, “The First Majestic Pass Under Heaven.”
The pass city was built between Qilian Mountain and Heishan Mountain, the throat of the Silk Road. Climb the city tower, see the vast Gobi, imagine the scene of camel caravans passing through, feel the desolation of “West of Yangguan, no old friends.”
Best Experience: Climb the city tower at dusk, watch the sunset dye the pass golden, feel the majesty of the frontier.
Special Experiences#
Maijishan Grottoes#
Maijishan Grottoes is one of China’s four great grottoes, famous for clay sculptures.
The grottoes were carved on cliffs, with plank paths hanging in the air—thrilling. Cave 4’s “Flower Scattering Tower” is Maijishan’s essence, with exquisite murals and vivid sculptures.
Labrang Monastery#
Labrang Monastery is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, called the “World Tibetan Buddhist Academy.”
Red walls and golden roofs, prayer flags fluttering. Walk through the prayer wheel corridor, listen to monks chanting, feel the solemnity of Tibetan Buddhism.
Yellow River Stone Forest#
Yellow River Stone Forest is a wonder by the Yellow River, with stone pillars standing in various shapes.
Take a sheepskin raft drifting on the Yellow River, take a donkey cart through the stone forest, experience the ruggedness of the Northwest.
Gansu Cuisine#
Gansu cuisine is mainly noodles and lamb. Lanzhou Beef Noodles is Gansu’s calling card, “One clear, two white, three red, four green, five yellow”—clear soup, chewy noodles. Hand-Grabbed Lamb is tender and delicious, eaten dipped in salt and pepper. Niangpi is a type of liangpi, chewy and smooth.
Travel Tips#
- Transportation: Lanzhou is Gansu’s transportation hub, with airport and high-speed rail. Dunhuang and Zhangye both have airports and high-speed rail stations. Hexi Corridor attractions are scattered—recommend chartering a car or self-driving.
- Accommodation: In Dunhuang, stay near Mingsha Mountain; in Zhangye, stay near Danxia scenic area; in Lanzhou, stay in the city.
- Note: Mogao Grottoes require advance reservation—tickets are hard to get during peak season. The Northwest is dry—drink plenty of water, watch for sun protection.
Gansu’s magnificence is hidden in those Silk Road relics.
The art treasury of Mogao Grottoes, the desert wonder of Mingsha Mountain, the colorful wonder of Zhangye Danxia, the majestic pass of Jiayuguan… each place is nature’s masterpiece.
Come to Gansu and retrace the Silk Road.
Tomorrow, we head to Qinghai to see the blue waves of Qinghai Lake and the sky mirror of Chaka Salt Lake.