Gansu: Grottoes, Monasteries and Landscapes

Gansu combines impressive cultural sites with very varied landscapes: grottoes and monasteries, a historic pass, colorful rock formations, spring water and meadow steppe. When planning your trip, it helps to choose your main focus first. Would you like to concentrate primarily on art and history, or are landscapes and nature your priority? The location details for each destination also help you choose a suitable base for your hotel.

Grottoes, Monasteries and History

The Mogao Grottoes lie southeast of the Dunhuang oasis in Gansu Province. Some 45,000 square meters of murals and more than 2,000 painted sculptures have been preserved in 492 caves. The cave spaces, murals and sculptures give the grottoes several dimensions: they are a destination for travelers interested in art and cultural heritage.

Jiayuguan Pass offers a different historical perspective. It lies in the central and western part of the Hexi Corridor in Gansu and was an important route on the Silk Road in ancient times. Built in 1372 as the starting point of the western section of the Ming Great Wall, it has stood in the Gobi Desert for more than 600 years. The Silk Road and the Great Wall thus mark two distinct historical connections of this place.

Labrang Monastery is located in Xiahe and is an important Tibetan religious and cultural center for the regions of Gansu, Qinghai and Sichuan. It is one of the six most important Gelug monasteries and preserves more than 60,000 volumes in twelve categories. Travelers looking to explore culture not only through buildings but also through religious institutions and collections will find a distinctive focus here.

The Maijishan Grottoes also tell a story of a long history of construction: they were first created during the Later Qin period and developed continuously over twelve dynasties. The Maijishan scenic area complements this cultural heritage with forests, flowers, streams and waterfalls. It encompasses more than 180 scenic spots, allowing visitors to explore nature and culture side by side.

Landscapes of Danxia, Springs and Meadow Steppe

The Zhangye National Geopark, known for its colorful Danxia landforms, is located in Zhangye City and the counties of Linze and Sunan in Gansu, and covers 50 square kilometers. It is classified as both a national 5A-rated tourist attraction and a UNESCO Global Geopark. The Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring scenic area in Dunhuang also carries both designations. If official classifications matter to your travel plans, check their current status before your trip.

At Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring, the interplay of sand and spring water shapes the landscape. Crescent Spring lies within the area enclosed by the Mingsha Mountains. This combination of sand and water is distinctly different from the meadows in Xiahe.

Sangke Grassland is located in Xiahe, in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu. The 70-square-kilometer area is meadow steppe and lies 18 kilometers southwest of Labrang, or the county seat of Xiahe. It is directly accessible by road; as road conditions can change, it is advisable to check them shortly before setting out.

Mount Kongtong offers another natural attraction: more than 95 percent of its area is forested. It is also a national geopark and a national nature reserve. Its architectural complex comprises 42 groups of buildings, with eight terraces, nine palaces and twelve courtyards. Gansu’s open meadow steppe and a mountain with extensive forest cover thus sit alongside very different forms of historic architecture.

Choose a Location to Suit Your Travel Focus

When looking for a hotel, it can help to start with the sights and landscapes you most want to visit. Dunhuang is the location given for both the Mogao Grottoes and the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring scenic area. Labrang is in Xiahe, with Sangke Grassland to the southwest. This comparison helps distinguish between the locations mentioned: grottoes and a sand-and-spring landscape on one side, a monastery and meadow steppe on the other. Also check road conditions to Sangke Grassland when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Wuwei, Jiuquan, Lanzhou, Jiayuguan, Baiyin, Dingxi, Gannan, Zhangye, Jinchang, Pingliang, Linxia, Longnan, Qingyang and Tianshui.

For the broader travel overview: China.