Gansu

Gansu is a province in Northwestern China. Its capital and largest city is Lanzhou, in the southeastern part of the province. The seventh-largest administrative district by area at 453,700 square kilometres (175,200 sq mi), Gansu lies between the Tibetan and Loess plateaus and borders Mongolia's Govi-Altai Province, Inner Mongolia and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south and Shaanxi to the east. The Yellow River passes through the southern part of the province. Part of Gansu's territory is located in the Gobi Desert. The Qilian mountains are located in the south of the Province. Gansu has a population of 26 million, ranking 22nd in China. Its population is mostly Han, along with Hui, Dongxiang and Tibetan minorities. The most common language is Mandarin. Gansu is among the poorest administrative divisions in China, ranking last in GDP per capita as of 2019. The state of Qin originated in what is now southeastern Gansu, and later established the first imperial dynasty in Chinese history. The Northern Silk Road ran through the Hexi Corridor, which passes through Gansu, resulting in it being an important strategic outpost and communications link for the Chinese empire. The city of Jiayuguan, the second most populated city in Gansu, is known for its section of the Great Wall and the Jiayu Pass fortress complex.

One-Day Gansu Tour Itinerary Recommendations

Theme:

Silk Road Legends + Grotto Art + Desert Wonders

Suitable for:

Short trips to Lanzhou/Dunhuang/Zhangye, optimal with high-speed rail + scenic shuttle

Practical Tips

Seasonal Highlights:

Dunhuang best Apr-Oct | Danxia colors brightest after rain

Ticket Prices:

Mogao Caves ¥238 | Singing Sands ¥110 | Rainbow Mountains ¥75

Must-Try Flavors:

Lanzhou: Liangpi noodles, sweet fermented wheat

Dunhuang: Lamb stew pancake, fried honey cakes

Zhangye: Rolled chicken, beef grain soup

Optimization Tips:

Lanzhou alternative: Yellow River Tower night views (closed Mondays)

Short Dunhuang trip? Skip show for more cave/sand dune time

July-August add Shandan Horse Ranch riding experience

(Note: Lanzhou→Dunhuang high-speed rail 6hrs | Flight 1.5hrs recommended)

Option 1:

Lanzhou Yellow River Culture

Best for:

Urban explorers, food lovers

Transport:

Bus + walking

07:30-09:30 White Pagoda Mountain Park

Overlook First Bridge of Yellow River | Calligraphy forest

10:00-12:00 Gansu Provincial Museum

Must-see: Flying Horse of Gansu + Silk Road exhibits (free with booking)

12:30-14:00 Beef Noodle Lunch

Recommended: Mazilu (thin noodles + "meat & egg combo") with sweet bean soup

14:30-17:00 Yellow River Scenic Belt

Sheepskin raft ride + Waterwheel Park | "Mother Yellow River" statue

18:00 Zhengning Road Night Market

Milk-egg醪糟(Laozao) + lamb skewers | Buy Three Cannon Tea

Option 2:

Dunhuang Mogao Caves Adventure

Best for:

Art enthusiasts, history buffs

Transport:

Taxi/chartered car

08:00-11:00 Mogao Caves (Class A Ticket)

Digital movie + 8 cave visits (premium caves extra)

11:30-13:00 Dunhuang Special Lunch

Shunzhang donkey noodles + apricot juice

13:30-17:00 Singing Sand Dunes & Crescent Lake

Camel ride at sunset | Sandboarding (phone covers recommended)

18:00 "Encounter Dunhuang" Show

Immersive walking performance recreating Silk Road

Option 3:

Zhangye Danxia Geology Tour

Best for:

Photographers, nature lovers

Transport:

Tourist shuttle from Zhangye West Station

06:30-09:00 Rainbow Mountains

Sunrise at No.4 Viewpoint "Flaming Mountains" | Hot air balloon (weather permitting)

09:30-12:00 Binggou Danxia

Palace-style landforms (more dramatic than Rainbow Mountains)

12:30-14:00 Cuoyu Noodle Lunch

Sunji Stir-Fried Noodles (with braised meat + desert onions)

14:30-17:00 Pingshanhu Grand Canyon

"China's Colorado" | Hike through narrow cliffs

18:00 Ganzhou Market

Stir-fried belly + alkali noodles | Qilian Mountain yak yogurt