Gansu Travel Guide – Best Places, Attractions, Tips & More
Gansu Province is located in the northwest of China, which borders Shaanxi to the east, Xinjiang to the west, Sichuan and Qinghai to the south, and Ningxia and Inner Mongolia to the north. As a crucial province along the ancient Silk Road, this captivating land is listed as one of Asia’s “best travel destinations” by Lonely Planet for its blend of rich geographical wonders and historical epics.
As the intersection of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Mongolian Plateau, and the Loess Plateau, Gansu is home to a diverse array of landscapes, including Gobi deserts, Danxia landforms, Yardang landform, grasslands, snow-capped mountains, river valleys, etc.
Also, Gansu is where four distinct cultural imprints — Han, Tibetan, Hui, and Yugu — coexist. It has long been a witness to cultural exchange, the fusion of Buddhist art, nomadic civilizations, and Islamic influence. Buddhist murals at the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Maiji Mountain Grottoes in Tianshui, Tibetan-style Labrang Monastery in Gannan, and Jiayuguan Great Wall are all testaments to its profound history and culture.
In this Gansu Travel Guide, we will equip you with essential information for a smooth Gansu trip.
As the intersection of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Mongolian Plateau, and the Loess Plateau, Gansu is home to a diverse array of landscapes, including Gobi deserts, Danxia landforms, Yardang landform, grasslands, snow-capped mountains, river valleys, etc.
Also, Gansu is where four distinct cultural imprints — Han, Tibetan, Hui, and Yugu — coexist. It has long been a witness to cultural exchange, the fusion of Buddhist art, nomadic civilizations, and Islamic influence. Buddhist murals at the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Maiji Mountain Grottoes in Tianshui, Tibetan-style Labrang Monastery in Gannan, and Jiayuguan Great Wall are all testaments to its profound history and culture.
In this Gansu Travel Guide, we will equip you with essential information for a smooth Gansu trip.
Chinese Name: 甘肃 (Gānsù)
Capital City: Lanzhou
Where is Gansu: In northwest China, at the intersection of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Mongolian Plateau, and the Loess Plateau.
Population: 24.5834 million (in 2024)
Area: 425,800 square kilometers
Main Minority Ethnic Groups: Hui, Tibetan, Dongxiang, Bao’an, Yugur, and Mongolian
Capital City: Lanzhou
Where is Gansu: In northwest China, at the intersection of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Mongolian Plateau, and the Loess Plateau.
Population: 24.5834 million (in 2024)
Area: 425,800 square kilometers
Main Minority Ethnic Groups: Hui, Tibetan, Dongxiang, Bao’an, Yugur, and Mongolian
Why Visit Gansu?
- World-class natural wonders: You can expect to experience a variety of natural wonders during a Gansu tour, including Zhangye Danxia Landform, Echoing Sand Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring, Yardang landform, etc.
- Diverse geographic landscapes: Gansu encompasses almost all types of natural landscapes, including the Gobi Desert, oasis, Tibetan landscapes of Gannan, and the icy glaciers of the Qilian Mountains.
- Silk Road treasures: Gansu is endowed with many breathtaking heritages, including UNESCO-listed Dunhuang Mogao Caves, Majishan Grottoes, Jiayuguan Fort, and Yumen Pass Ruins.
- Unique ethnic culture: Gansu is home to a variety of ethnic groups. Here, you can experience rich cultural diversity and customs, such as Tibetan Buddhist culture and local folk traditions in Gannan, and beautiful mosques in Linxia Hui Muslim Area.
- Delicious food: Many local dishes are a true reflection of the bold flavors of the northwest, such as Lanzhou beef noodles, hand-pulled lamb, and sweet barley wine.
Best Places to Visit in Gansu
Gansu Province has 12 prefecture-level cities and 2 autonomous prefectures. Among them, Dunhuang and Zhangye is dominated by their fusion of Silk Road culture and natural wonders. Jiayuguan is steeped in frontier history, Gannan and Linxi showcase the province’s rich ethnic diversity and mystical landscapes, and Lanzhou sees the Yellow River running through it. Below are some of the top tourist destinations to include in your Gansu tour.
- Dunhuang: Home to the thousand-year-old Mogao Caves and the natural wonder of Crescent Lake nestled among the singing sands of Mingsha Mountain.
- Zhangye: The colorful Danxia landforms in Zhangye are as vibrant as rainbows. The Pingshanhu Grand Canyon rivals the Grand Canyon in Colorado.
- Jiayuguan: The westernmost end of the Great Wall surrounded by Gobi Desert.
- Gannan: A paradise to look into Tibetan culture, home to Labrang Monastery and the Tibetan village of Zhagana.
- Lanzhou: The provincial capital with the Yellow River running through it. Features many historical landmarks and vibrant street life along the river.
Top Gansu Tourist Attractions
Mogao CavesA UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mogao Caves is known as the “Eastern Louvre”. The thousand-year-old Buddhist murals and sculptures in 735 existing caves offer a look into Buddhist art and diverse cultures.
Mingsha Mountain & Crescent LakeThis natural wonder features the “coexistence of desert and spring”. Here visitors can rice camels across the dunes, listen to the singing sands, and experience many thrilling desert activities.
Zhangye Danxia National Geological ParkThe colorful hills are often referred to as Rainbow Mountains for resembling a palette overturned by God. The colorful sandstone layers are formed by sedimentation over billions of years.
Jiayuguan FortThe westernmost of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, Jiayuguan Pass is hailed as the “First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven”. The towering fortifications stand against the Gobi Desert, snow-capped mountains, and the Hanging Great Wall, creating a majestic frontier landscape.
Labrang MonasteryIt is the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is surrounded by a 3.5-kilometer-long prayer corridor which is the longest of its kind in the world. The sight of red-clad monks chanting and debating will heal your soul.
Matisi Temple GrottesWith over seventy grottoes in total, this cliffside temple houses many precious statues and murals from the Northern Wei, Sui, Tang, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. It is considered one of the three great artistic treasure grottoes of the Hexi Buddhis sanctuaries.
Maijishan GrottoesIt features 221 caves with over 7,800 clay sculptures carved into a solitary peak. A highlight here is the many smiling Buddha statues dating from the Northern Wei to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Giant Buddha TempleOnce a royal temple in during Western Xia Dynasty, the Giant Buddha Temple in Zhangye is known for its 34 meters long Buddha statue, which is the largest indoor wooden reclining Buddha statue in Asia.
Gansu Weather and Best Time to Visit
Gansu spans about 1,600 kilometers from east to west, with its elevations ranging from 1,000 meters in the Hexi Corridor to over 3,000 meters in the Gannan Plateau. This unique topography endowed it with diverse climates, ranging from subtropical monsoon, temperate monsoon, temperate continental (arid), to alpine frigid climates.
Generally, continental climate is the primary climate type. About 75% of its total areas belong to arid and semi-arid regions, and the annual average temperatures usually vary from 0℃ to 15℃. The general climate features of Gansu are dry conditions, low rainfall, abundant sunshine, and extremely large temperature differences between day and night.
Generally, continental climate is the primary climate type. About 75% of its total areas belong to arid and semi-arid regions, and the annual average temperatures usually vary from 0℃ to 15℃. The general climate features of Gansu are dry conditions, low rainfall, abundant sunshine, and extremely large temperature differences between day and night.
Climate & Weather of Main Areas
Hexi Corridor (Dunhuang, Zhengye, Jiayuguan, Wuwei): Has a typical temperate arid climate, featuring extremely hot summers (can reach over 40°C in daytime) and cold and dry winters (extremes can below -20°C). Annual precipitation ranges from 200-400 millimeters.
Central and Eastern Gansu (Lanzhou, Tianshui): Experiences semi-arid and semi-humid climates. Features relatively mild summer temperatures (25-30°C) and windy winters. May experience sand storms in spring.
Gannan (Xiaha, Zhagana): Has a cold, humid climate. Average annual temperatures hover around 4-6 °C. Features cool summers and harsh winters.
Central and Eastern Gansu (Lanzhou, Tianshui): Experiences semi-arid and semi-humid climates. Features relatively mild summer temperatures (25-30°C) and windy winters. May experience sand storms in spring.
Gannan (Xiaha, Zhagana): Has a cold, humid climate. Average annual temperatures hover around 4-6 °C. Features cool summers and harsh winters.
Best Time to Visit Gansu
The overall best time to visit Gansu is from May to October, but the time may vary according to the specific region to plan to visit.
Dunhuang, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, and Wuwei in the Hexi Corridor region are great to visit from April to May, and from September to October, when the comfortable temperature is ideal for outdoor exploration.
June to mid-October is the best time to visit Xiahe, and Langmusi in Gannan Plateau. The lush grasslands in summer and stunning foliage in autumn will leave you with “wow”.
Try to aovid the National Day Holiday in early Octover and the Labor’s Day in early May when popular attractions are crowded.
Dunhuang, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, and Wuwei in the Hexi Corridor region are great to visit from April to May, and from September to October, when the comfortable temperature is ideal for outdoor exploration.
June to mid-October is the best time to visit Xiahe, and Langmusi in Gannan Plateau. The lush grasslands in summer and stunning foliage in autumn will leave you with “wow”.
Try to aovid the National Day Holiday in early Octover and the Labor’s Day in early May when popular attractions are crowded.
Gansu Transportation: How to Get to and Travel around
People can get to Gansu easily by either flights or high-speed trains. Lanzhou is the main gateway for most visitors to Gansu.
By air
Flying is the fastest option to reach the core tourist cities in Gansu. Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport is the aviation hub of Northwest China, offering direct flights to most cities across the country. Additionally, you can also fly into Gansu at Dunhuang Mogao International Airport or other regional airports.
Flights from major domestic cities to Gansu:
Flights from major domestic cities to Gansu:
- Beijing – Lanzhou: about 2h15min
- Shanghai – Lanzhou: about 2h50min
- Xian – Lanzhou: about 1h15min (more recommended to take high-speed train)
- Chengdu – Lanzhou: about 1h40min
- Beijing – Dunhuang: about 3h30min (with direct flights in peak seasons)
- Xian – Dunhuang: about 2h30min (limited direct flights)
- Lanzhou – Dunhuang: about 2h
- Beijing – Zhangye: about 3h
- Xian – Zhangye: about 1h50m
By high-speed train
Taking a high-speed train is also a comfortable and efficient option to transfer between Gansu and other cities along the Silk Road. And you will be rewarded with the scenic beauty of Northwest China along the way. Below are cities recommended for high-speed train travel:
- Xian – Lanzhou: about 3 hours, with over 20 daily departures
- Xian – Tianshui (Maijishan Grottoes): about 1.5 hours
- Beijing – Lanzhou: about 7-9 hours
- Shanghai – Lanzhou: about 10.5-11hours
- Xian – Zhangye: about 6.5 hours
- Xining – Zhangye: about 1.5 hours
- Xining – Jiayuguan: about 3.5 hours
- Lanzhou – Xining: about 1 hour
High-speed trains also offer convenient connections between major cities in Gansu.
- Lanzhou – Tianshui: about 1h10min
- Lanzhou – Zhangye: about 3h
- Zhangye – Jiayuguan: about 1h30min
- Lanzhou – Jiayuguan: about 4h30min
- Zhangye – Dunhuang: about 4h30min
Gansu Food
Gansu cuisine is a vibrant fusion of diverse ethnic flavors and culinary traditions of Northwest China. Most dishes feature savory, sour, and spicy flavors. And the main staples include noodles, meat (especially beef and lamb), and grains. Below are some special food you should try during your Gansu travel:
- Lanzhou Beef Noodles (兰州牛肉面): A dish of clear broth beef hand-pulled noodles, features flavorful broth, and chewy noodles.
- Hand-pulled Lamb (手抓羊肉): Prepared by boiling tender bone-in lamb in clear water. Usually served with a sprinkle of pepper salt or garlic paste.
- Tianshui Jiangshui Noodles (浆水面): Have handmade noodles served in a soup made from fermented sauerkraut juice, the dish features a tangy, refreshing taste.
- Dunhuang Donkey Meat Yellow Noodles (敦煌驴肉黄面): A famous dish on the ancient Silk Road. It is a kind of alkaline yellow noodles served with chunks of donkey meat and shiitake mushrooms.
- Sweet Peizi (甜胚子): A kind of sweet wine made from barley or oats.
Recommended Silk Road Tours including Gansu
10 Days Gansu Tour of China Silk Road from XiningTa’er Monastery, Qinghai Lake, Labrang Monastery, Bingling Temple, Rainbow Mountains, Jiayuguan Pass, Mogao Caves, etc.
13 Days Qinghai, Gansu and Xinjiang TourTa’er Monastery, Bingling Temple, Sangke Prairie, Labrang Monastery, Danxia landform, Jiayuguan Pass, Mogao Caves, Jiaohe Ruins, Baizikeli Thousand Buddha Caves, etc.
8 Days Silk Road Tour to Qinghai and GansuTravel through the ancient Silk route along the Qinghai and Gansu provinces to explore the essence in Xining, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang.
