Stretching like a narrow ribbon between deserts and snow-capped mountains, Gansu is a living museum of China’s ancient Silk Road. For over 2,000 years, camel caravans carried silk, spices, and ideas through its Hexi Corridor–a natural "highway" linking Central China to Central Asia. Today, you’ll find Buddhist caves filled with timeless art, rainbow-colored mountains, and desert oases where sand dunes sing.
Zhangye Danxia Landform
Imagine mountains painted in stripes of red, yellow, and green - these are the Danxia landforms. Created by wind and rain over 24 million years, the layered sandstone looks like giant waves frozen in time. Visit at sunset when the hills glow like burning embers.
Mogao Caves
Dubbed the "Art Gallery in the Desert," this UNESCO site near Dunhuang has 492 caves filled with 1,600 years of Buddhist art. See wall paintings showing ancient trade caravans, dancing angels from India, and even 1,000-year-old makeup styles.
Mingsha Shan & Crescent Lake
Just outside Dunhuang, climb the Mingsha Shan dunes that "sing" (a low hum when sand slides). At the bottom lies Crescent Lake, a moon-shaped pond that never dries up, surrounded by poplar trees. Locals believe the lake is a tear from a heartbroken goddess.
Jiayuguan Pass
This fortress guarded China’s western border for 600 years. Walk its 10-meter-high walls where soldiers once watched for invaders. The "Gate of Sorrows" below the tower has grooves left by Silk Road traders’ carts.
Mati Temple
Nestled in Gansu’s Qilian Mountains along the Silk Road, Mati Temple is a 1,600-year-old Buddhist cave complex renowned for its blend of spiritual heritage and artistry. Its three-tiered cliffs house over 70 caves adorned with intricate Northern Liang to Qing Dynasty sculptures and murals.
Gansu