Wuwei

Ancient Liangzhou, the eastern gateway to the Hexi Corridor: the Bronze Galloping Horse of the Leitai Han Tomb, the Tiantishan Grottoes and Baita Temple, in a city immortalized by the “Liangzhou Ci” poems.

Wuwei, known in ancient times as Liangzhou, lies in central Gansu Province at the eastern end of the Hexi Corridor, with the Qilian Mountains to the south and the Tengger Desert to the north. It is a National Historical and Cultural City. Emperor Wu of Han established Wuwei Commandery here, and during the Sixteen Kingdoms period the Former Liang, Later Liang, Southern Liang, Northern Liang and Da Liang all made it their capital, earning it the name “Ancient Capital of the Five Liangs.” The Tang poem “Liangzhou Ci” made the city famous throughout China, and the Liangzhou Assembly of 1247 also took place here.

The city’s sights are close together: the Leitai Han Tomb is where the Bronze Galloping Horse (“Horse Stepping on a Flying Swallow”) was unearthed; the Confucian Temple and Western Xia Museum display the Western Xia Stele; and Kumarajiva Temple, the Dayun Temple Bell Tower, Haizang Temple and the South Gate Tower can all be linked by taxi in a day. The Wuwei Museum offers a thorough introduction to Liangzhou’s history. About 50 km south of town are the Tiantishan Grottoes, carved during the Northern Liang, and about 20 km southeast is Baita Temple, site of the Liangzhou Assembly. Northeast of the city are a desert park and the Shenzhou Desert Wildlife Park, where you can ride camels and sand-slide; about 90 km south lie Wushaoling Pass and the Zhaxi Xiulong Grasslands in Tianzhu County.

May–Oct is the best time to travel, with cool summers and plenty of fruit in autumn; winters are dry and cold. The Lanzhou–Xinjiang High-Speed Railway stops at Wuwei Station, about 1 hour from Lanzhou, and the city is the first stop on a Hexi Corridor road trip. Allow 2 days: one for the city and one for the Tiantishan Grottoes plus Baita Temple, or add a day for the Wushaoling grasslands. The signature local meal is the “Liangzhou Three-Horse Cart” of xingmian noodles, cured pork and fu brick tea; also try Liangzhou liangpi (cold wheat noodles) and shamifen (sand-rice noodles). Check each site’s official announcements for tickets and opening hours.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries