Southeastern Gansu

Tianshui and Longnan form a region with the Maijishan Grottoes and Fuxi culture, along with gorges and tea country known as the "Jiangnan of Gansu".

This region covers Tianshui and Longnan, in the western Qinling Mountains of southeastern Gansu. Its mild, humid climate contrasts sharply with the arid landscapes elsewhere in Gansu. Tianshui is the homeland of Fuxi, and the Fuxi Temple is an important site for honoring the legendary ancestor of Chinese civilization. The Maijishan Grottoes are known for their exquisite clay sculptures and are listed as part of the Silk Roads World Heritage site. Nanguo Temple, Yuquan Daoist Temple and the Dadiwan site in Qin'an reveal a long history of civilization, and Tianshui's malatang has also helped boost the city's tourism in recent years. Longnan is called the "Jiangnan of Gansu": Guan'egou in Tanchang has alpine gorges, lakes and forest with brilliant autumn colors, Yangba in Kang County is known for its tea plantations, streams and old villages and suits slow travel, the Xixia Song cliff inscription in Chengxian is a famous example of Han-dynasty calligraphy, Wen County has Baima villages, and Wudu has Wanxiang Cave. The classic route is two days in Tianshui for Maijishan and the Fuxi Temple, then south to Longnan for 1–2 days each at Guan'egou and Yangba, for 5–6 days in all; it can link up with Jiuzhaigou or Hanzhong itineraries. For transport, Tianshui South Station is on the Xuzhou–Lanzhou high-speed line, the Lanzhou–Chongqing railway runs the length of Longnan, Longnan Chengzhou Airport has flights, and driving is the main way between mountain sights. Summers bring heavy rain and landslides are common on mountain roads, so check the weather and road conditions before setting out.

Destinations

Itineraries