Tianshui

Maijishan Grottoes, the “Museum of Oriental Sculpture,” and Fuxi Temple; a small cultural and culinary city in southeastern Gansu that went viral in 2024 for its malatang.

Tianshui is in southeastern Gansu, among the western Qinling Mountains in the upper Wei River valley, at about 1,100 m. It has Gansu's mildest, most southern-feeling climate and is nicknamed the “Jiangnan of Longshang.” It is also the legendary birthplace of Fuxi, ancestor of Chinese civilization, and was known anciently as Qinzhou, where the forebears of the Qin people rose to power. The city has two parts. To the west, Qinzhou District is the old city, home to Fuxi Temple, Yuquan Taoist Temple, Nanguo Temple, Tianshui Ancient Town (Xiguan) and the Hu Family Residence, all linked easily on foot or by short bus rides, and also the heart of snacks such as malatang, guagua and mianpi. To the east, Maiji District has Tianshui South Station (high-speed rail) and the Maijishan Grottoes, about 35 km from downtown, with other sights nearby in the Xiaolong Mountains such as Xianren Cliff, Jingtu Temple and Shimen Mountain. The best seasons are April–May and September–October: spring brings peach and cherry blossoms, and in autumn Maijishan is ablaze with color under crisp, dry weather; summer averages around 22°C, cooler than Lanzhou, making it a summer retreat; winter is dry and cold but quiet. Getting there: Tianshui South Station has high-speed trains to Xi'an (about 1.5 hours) and Lanzhou (about 1.5 hours), making it the most convenient stopover between Xi'an and Lanzhou; Tianshui Maijishan Airport has few flights; from downtown to Maijishan take Bus 34 or the scenic-area shuttle (about 1 hour). Suggested time: 1–2 days, with Maijishan and Xianren Cliff on the first day, and Fuxi Temple, the ancient town, Nanguo Temple and snacks on the second. Notes: the Maijishan plank walkways are suspended and visitor numbers are capped in peak season, so reserve online and arrive early; since malatang went viral in 2024, popular shops have long lines, so consider neighborhood shops in the old city; a state memorial ceremony is held at Fuxi Temple around June 22 each year (Gregorian calendar); Tianshui's Huaniu apples go on sale in September–October and can be bought by the roadside; the old city in Qinzhou District is mostly one-way streets, so parking is difficult if you drive.

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