Zhangye Travel Guide

  Basic information Area code: 0936 Emergency phone: 110, 120, 119 Gansu Province Tourism Complaints Telephone: 0931-8826860 Zhangye Tourism complaints phone: 0936-8229595 Taxi report complaint phone: 0936-8214085 Travel information Zhangye sunshine is quite strong and the temperature difference between day […]

 

Basic information

Area code: 0936
Emergency phone: 110, 120, 119
Gansu Province Tourism Complaints Telephone: 0931-8826860
Zhangye Tourism complaints phone: 0936-8229595
Taxi report complaint phone: 0936-8214085

Travel information

Zhangye sunshine is quite strong and the temperature difference between day and night is large, even you come Zhangye in summer also need prepare two more cold and windproof clothing, with good sunscreen skin care equipment, to avoid exposure to the sun.

The average altitude of the Danxia landscape area is 1,100 to 3,100 meters. Tourists suffering from hypertension, heart disease, tracheitis, and asthma may experience adverse reactions such as dizziness, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and asthma. It is recommended that some emergency medicine be prepared in advance. Before adapting to altitude, try to keep light movements.

When traveling in Zhangye, it is best to prepare several headscarves or dust masks. In the spring, there will be sandstorms some times.

Traveling in the northwest part of China must respect the customs and habits of the local ethnic minorities. Do not make comments on their religious beliefs or talk loudly about the customs of taboos.

Medical treatment

Zhangye City People’s Hospital
Address: 8 Huancheng West Road, Zhangye City
Arrival method: Take Bus Nos. 3, 5, 9 and 23 to the City Hospital Station
Tel: 0936-8213206
Www.zy120.com

Zhangye City Hospital
Address: No. 110, Dongpanxuan Road, Zhangye City
Arrival method: Take No. 12 Road to Hexi Pharmaceutical Factory Station
Tel: 0936-8221469
Www.gszytcm.com

Destination Overview

 

Destination sketch

Zhangye was used as the name of the area’s commandery and then for the city itself. The name Zhangye (“Extending Arm”) is excerpted from the phrase”To extend the arm of the country through to the Western Realm”. It borders Inner Mongolia on the north and Qinghai on the south. Its central district is Ganzhou, formerly a city of the Western Xia and one of the most important outposts of western China. It is one important part of Hexi Corridor, which refers to the historical route in Gansu province of China. As part of the Northern Silk Road running northwest from the bank of the Yellow River.

Local life

Hexi Corridor has a vast territory and many ethnic groups
The ethnic group living in the Hexi Corridor today is dominated by the Han nationality, with the Yugur, Tibetan, Kazak, Hui, and Manchu minorities.

Beliefs and taboos

Yugur clothing
The Yugur people’s clothing is dominated by loose robes and waistbands. The colors contrast strongly. Men must wear a white gold-rimmed felt hat and a fan-shaped hat.

Yugur shave customs
The Yugur children have a grand shave ceremony when they are 3 years old. This is the first time shaving since they were born. Shaving is performed by family members and gifts are given. At the ceremony, children’s uncle were cut first, and parents and grandparents were ranked behind. When the girl shaves her hair, she needs to keep a small amount of hair in the back of the head and she can’t cut it off before she is married.

Yugur Marriage Custom
The Yugur people’s wedding will go through three days, the first day at groom family’s home and the bride family’s home for the second and third days. At the wedding, the man has to shoot three arrows at the woman, and then he breaks the arrow and discards it. The old man throws it into the fire and burns it. This means that they will loves each other forever.

Local festival

 

Shandan Horse Racing Festival

The Shandan Army Racecourse is the largest horse farm in Asia. Every year in July and August, a horse racing festival will be held here. Summer holidays, the organizers also provide visitors with a wealth of horse riding activities.

Matisi Grottoes Tourism Festival Mid-August

During the festival, there are abundant equestrianism, cabaret and song and dance performances. Experience the ethnic customs in the tents of Yugur people at close quarters, taste the local cuisines such as hand-meat, butter tea, and barley wine, and watch exciting sports competitions.

Culture

 

Silk Road

The Silk Road was an ancient network of trade routes that connected the East and West. It was central to cultural interaction between them for centuries. The Silk Road derives its name from the lucrative trade in silk carried out along its length, beginning in the Han dynasty (207 BCE–220 CE). The Han dynasty expanded the Central Asian section of the trade routes around 114 BCE through the missions and explorations of the Chinese imperial envoy Zhang Qian.The Chinese took great interest in the safety of their trade products and extended the Great Wall of China to ensure the protection of the trade route.

Xiliang Music and Dance

The Tang Dynasty’s famous “Glamorous Quilt Song”evolved from Xiliang Music and Dance. It was an important entertainment activity for the royal kings and nobles during their banquets

Black Mountain Rock Painting

The rock paintings began in the primitive colored pottery. The Black Mountain Rock Paintings in the Jiayuguan are an early rock painting with more than 150 pieces. The contents cover animals, hunting activities, dances, architecture, ancient characters, etc. It is representative of rock paintings in the western China region.

Nine Bends Yellow River Lantern array

It evolved from an ancient sacrificial ceremony and originated from the Shang Dynasty. 360 lights are hung under 360 pine trees. The light array has an entrance and an exit. The entire array of lights twists and turns, like the Yellow River’s nine bends, so it is called the Nine Bends Yellow River Lantern array. Every year from the 13th of the lunar month to the 16th of the lunar month, the local people have made lights, written wishes, and hung on the tree.

Language

Most of local residents can not speak English.

Best Travel season

Zhangye Climatic Features: continental climate with average sunlight of over 3,000 hours annually; coldest in January and hottest in July, and the comfortable time for travel is from June to September.

Currency and Consumption

 

Consumption level

The main expenses for Zhangye travel are tickets and transportation. Tickets for famous attractions are all around RMB 50 or RMB 100. If you choose to use a chartered vehicle, the fare for one day will also be RMB 100. Fortunately, accommodation and catering in the urban area are very cheap, generally 150 yuan will be able to find a good hotel, the average daily spending of about 300 yuan in Zhangye.

UnionPay ATM

Zhangye’s outlets in the five largest banks in the city are everywhere. Visitors do not need to worry about no 24-hour ATM cash machine.

Practical information

Zhangye Tourism Bureau
Address: No. 679 Nanhuan Road, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City
Tel: 0936-8229595

Intercity traffic

Aircraft

Zhangye Ganzhou Airport,YZY
Address: Airport Road, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City
Tel: 0936-8859066

Airport Bus Line
Airport – Airport Junction – Pujiazhuang Junction – Shangzhai Junction – Junlibao Junction – South Guancai Market – Yinmaqiao – Nanguan Shizi – Xiangyong Hotel – Nancheng Xiangkou – Business World – Ganzhou Hotel – Business Bank – West Street Police Station – Xiguan Circle Road – West Bus Station

Zhangye airport civil aviation ticket office
Address: Near No. 191 South Street
Arrival method: Take No. 5 to Dafo Temple Station
Tel: 0936-8889777

Train

Zhangye Railway Station
Address: No. 772, Dongyuan Avenue, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City
How to get there: Take 1 Road and get off at the train station
Tel: 0936-5972103

Zhangye West Railway Station (High Speed Rail Station)
Address: Near West County Road 202 West 2nd Ring Road, Zhangye City
Arrival method: You can take the 6th road to Nanzha Village Station and taxi for about 6 to 10 Yuan

Long distance Bus

Zhangye Bus Station (Xiguan Station)
Address: 128 Huancheng West Road, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City
Arrival method: You can take Bus No. 4 and 13 to West Bus Station, or you can take the Airport Line to www.zyqcxz.com

Zhangye South Bus Station
Only the shuttle bus to the Matisi Grottoes scenic area, the first bus 6:45, the fare 11.5 yuan, to the junction after a taxi to the scenic area, about 40 yuan.
Address: No. 478 Nanhuan Road, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City
Arrival method: Take Bus 1, 3, 9 and 12 to South Bus Station
Tel: 0936-8240019

Zhangye East Bus Station
There are shuttles to the Shandan army horse farm, Wuwei and Jinchang, and there are 5 bus routes to Xining every day.
Address: 50 meters east of East Youth Street and East Ring Road, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City
Arrival method: Take Bus No. 1, 3, 9 and 12 to Bus East Station
Tel: 0936-8271704

Bus

There are more than 20 bus lines in Zhangye City and it is convenient to reach various places in the city.

Taxi

The starting price of taxis in the urban area is 4 yuan, and the unit price is 1.2 yuan per kilometer.

Attractions

 

Giant Buddha Temple

Midway in the Hexi Corridor along the Silk Road lies the historic city of Zhangye, the centerpiece of which is the mysterious Giant Buddha Temple. It is said that the Bieji Queen (a famous queen of the Yuan Dynasty) once lived in the Giant Buddha Temple, giving birth to Kublai Khan there. The Italian traveler Marco Polo, impressed by the magnificent architecture of the Giant Buddha Temple and by the prosperity of Zhangye city, lived here for more than a year.
Address: Dafosi Lane, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City
Arrival method: Take Bus 5 to Dafo Temple Station or take the 4, 6, 8 and 12 Road to Nancheng Xiangkou Station
Tickets: 41 yuan
Tel: 0936-6933666
Www.zydfs.com

Wooden Pagoda Temple

The pagoda is actually a nine-storey building with a height of 32.8 meters (107.6 feet). It has a unique octagon shaped structure in each tier with eight dragonhead woodcarvings in each angle, a bead in the mouth, and a wind-bell below the neck. The main body is made of wood with eaves formed into pavilion style structure. Within the pagoda, each floor has doors, cloisters, engraved windows and lintels, which were embedded with brick carved steles. It has a distinction unique from other pagodas because neither a nail nor a rivet can be found in the entire structure. Ascending to the top, you can get a panoramic view of the surrounding city.
Address: Zhangye Middle School
How to get there: 300 meters walk from Big Buddha Temple
Tickets: 26 yuan

Xilai Temple

A few steps away from the wooden pagoda Temple tower, you can find a small temple. According to the records of Ganzhou Prefecture, the temple was built in Tang and rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty. The Qing Dynasty took 12 years to expand. The Temple of Goddess of Mercy is a Ming Dynasty building, and the rest are all buildings is built in Qing Dynasty. It is a boutique in Zhangye ancient architecture and is a provincial cultural relics protection unit.
The temple is divided into front and back yards, and there is also an ancient tree with a leisurely posture. In the streets outside the temple, you will be amazed to find a residential house with a very eye-catching threshold.
Address: Xilai Temple Lane, Zhangye City (Southwest of Wanshou Temple)
How to get there: Walk from Big Buddha Temple
Tickets: Free

Ming granary

Founded in the Ming Dynasty Hongwu twenty-five years, known as “the world granary.” The granary has been in existence for more than 600 years and can still be used. It is the longest and most complete ancient granary in the country. The tructure of granary is reasonable, durable, ventilated, mildew proof and insect proof, demonstrating the ancient people’s intelligence and originality.
Address: Dongcang Lane, Ma Temple, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City
Tickets: Free

Bell & Drum Tower

The bell and drum tower in Zhangye, the biggest drum tower in the Hexi Corridor of the silk road district, was built in 1507 during the Ming Dynasty. In 1648 during the Qing Dynasty, it was destroyed by war. In 1668, Zhang Yong, the superintendent of Gansu, rebuilt the bell and drum tower. The tower consists of the foundation and a three-storey pavilion. The hathpace is 32 meters (105 feet) wide and 9 meters (30 feet) high, and it is 21 meters (69 feet) from the bottom of the hathpace to the top of the pavilion. Some say that the tower is so high that it stretches into the clouds.
Address: Zhangzhou City Ganzhou District East-West North Street junction
Opening hours: Usually not open, it will open to the public during the national festival

Zhangye National Wetland Park

The Zhangye National Wetland Park is the only one wetland park in Gansu province and the first national wetland park in inland river basin.Zhangye National Wetland Park has perfect ecosystem structure and function and profound historical and cultural background.
Address: North of Chengjiao, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City
Arrival method: Take bus No. 19 to Xinheqiao Wetland Station, or take Bus No. 4 to get off at the Harvester Factory Station and walk north for about 1 km. Take a taxi from the city center for about 10 yuan.
Opening hours: The park is open throughout the day; Sightseeing cars and entertainment are available from April to October 8:30-17:30, November to March 8:30-17:00
Tickets: Free, In-Park Entertainment Charges Separately
www.zyxqsd.com

Blackwater National site

In the 12.5 km northwest of the Zhangye. 15 km long from north to south and 10 kilometers long from east to west, ancient cultural sites of the Neolithic period, a national key cultural relics protection units. Sites within the Han Dynasty tombs, about four square kilometers. Most of the tombs have been buried in sand, who have not traveled was buried by the desert, most of the liberation excavation.
Address: Zhangye City, Ganzhou District, near the 312 National Road
Arrival method: Rent a car for about 40 yuan, 35 km
Tickets: Free

Attractions nearby

 

Matisi Grottoes

The Mati Si were described by Marco Polo in his Book “Travels to the Orient” (or Ill Millione).According to the Book: …. abbeys, built after the manner of the country, and in these a multitude of idols, some of which are of wood, and some of clay, covered with gilding. Theyare carved in masterly style. Among these are some of very large size, and some small. Besides the temple you can do a 2h horse tour passing a fantastic landscape.
Address: Linsong Mountain, 62 kilometers south of Zhangye City in Sunan Yugu Autonomous County
Arrival method: Take a direct bus to Mati Temple at the South Bus Station, one-half-hour class, fare 17 yuan, taxi to about 130 to 150 yuan
Tickets: Pass: 73 yuan (including Qianfodong, Qilian Zoo, Yugu Song and Dance Performance), Beisi Grottoes, 36 yuan, Gesar Palace, 3 yuan
Www.mtsly.cn

Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park (Qicai Danxia)

Also known in English as the Rainbow Mountains this is a small park about 40 km from Zhangye where you can see a unique geological landscape. The layers of multi-coloured rock in the mountains amid a green oasis basin is truly spectacular. When you visit you will be driven to four viewing platform areas by bus, where you can get off and take your time to view and photograph the scenery. It is one of the highlights of Gansu province. Extending along the northern slope of Qilian Mountain in west China, Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park in Gansu is the best representative of China’s colorful Danxia landform and the largest Danxia landscape in an arid area, with a wide variety of landforms.
Address: Nanshe Village, Nijiaying Township, Linze County, Zhangye City
Arrival method: Take a shuttle bus to Sunan at Zhangye Bus Station. Get off at Linze Danxia and get a fare of 7.5 yuan; Taxi is about 100 yuan, and between shuttle and scenic spot is around 70 yuan.
Tickets: 40 yuan, 20 yuan scenic tourist car
Tel: 0936-5529800

Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park (Binggou Danxia)

Less colourful than the more famous Qicai Danxia, this one features columns of red rock (with some white bands), in two valleys. There’s a network of trails accessing viewpoints in and around two different valleys.
Address: Xuenan Danxia Tourism Scenic Spot, Sunan Yugu Autonomous County
Arrival method: Take a shuttle bus to Sunan at Zhangye Bus Station and get off at Danxia Danxiagou. The fare is RMB 9
Opening hours: 24 hours a day
Tickets: 40 yuan
Tel: 0936-6280098

Golden Tower Temple

Golden Tower Temple In the valley 15 kilometers northwest of the Matisi Grottes, there are two caves in the temple located at the top of the stone stairs 60 meters above the ground. It is the best-preserved cavern in the grottoes of the Mati Monastery.
Here has entered the hinterland of Qilian Mountains. In the distance is a tall snow-capped mountains. In front of it is a dense, primitive pine forest, with infinite scenery. It is possible to ride horseback over several roads, valleys, and from the small village to the Guanyin Cave. The journey takes one day.
Address: Zhangye City, Sunan Yugu Autonomous County
Arrival method: Take a direct bus to Mati Temple at South Bus Station and walk off to get there

Kangle Grassland

The high mountains and grasslands of the Kangle are linked and the nine rows of pine trees on the hill are arranged. It is one of the most famous spots. In the Kangle grassland, you can also experience the unique style of herdsmen. When you enter the tent, you will first be served with white Hada and a glass of barley, followed by a sumptuous meal of beef and mutton. July is the best season on the grassland every year. The annual grassland event will be held here. Herdsmen will be dressed around and the traditional pastoral activities such as horse racing, wrestling, and shooting will be hold here.
Address: Zhangmu Zhuang Village, Kangle Township, Sunan County, Zhangye City (opposite the door of Bingou Danxia Scenic Area)
Tickets: 60 yuan

Chinese Yugur ethnic culture corridor

The scenic spot is a landscape garden with glacier snow mountains, primate forests, natural grasslands, wetland lakes, waterfall rivers, deep gorges, and Danxia landforms. The scenic area takes the Kangle Grassland tourist town as its starting point, and it has a total length of nearly 84 kilometers along the Yukang Highway through Wanfoxia, Machangtan, Niu Xindun, Boyang River, Konggang, and Hague Ditch.

The Cultural Corridor uses nature as a stage, history as a clue, and culture as a perspective. It closely integrates the original natural ecology of the Qilian Mountains with the original culture of the Yugur people.
Address: Zhangle City, Sunan County, Yugu Autonomous County, Kangle Township
Arrival method: The scenic area mainly accepts self-driving tourists. From Zhangye, it takes 213 provincial roads. It takes about 1 hour to reach Kangle Village in Sunan County; Jiuquan, Jiayuguan and other western tourists can take G30 Lianhuo Expressway—Indus High-speed Highway—312 National Road. (Yuanshanzi Village)—220 Provincial Highway (Dahe Township) — Sunan County
Opening hours: May to October 6:00-19:00, Closed every year from November to April next year Tickets: 60 yuan, parking fee 5 yuan
Tel: 0936-6280039
Www.ygfqzl.com

Camel City site

Camel City is the old city of Han and Tang Dynasties. The outer city is 500 meters long from north to south, 400 meters wide from east to west, inner city is 200 meters long from north to south, east and west are more than 400 meters wide, and residual height is 7 meters. In 1958, local people gathered copper arrows in the city and the ancient coins reached more than 1 ton. Between the three castles is the same period of Minghai City site.
Address: 22 km southwest of Gaotai County in the Gobi Desert
Arrival method: Take a shuttle bus to Gaotai County at Zhangye Bus Station, take a taxi in the county, about RMB 20
Tickets: Free

Shandan Giant Buddha Temple

Located 5 kilometers west of Shandan County, it is an ancient temple built along the mountain. Big Buddha Temple high tens meters, there are more than 30 meters tall Buddha statues inside. The Great Buddha Temple, formerly known as the Tufo Temple, has a long history and has been famous for its long history. However, due to cross-border wars and chaos, the Big Buddha Temple has been built several times, and has risen and declined several times. Nowadays, this place has become a tourist attraction for Chinese and foreign travelers. It is a must-see attraction on the Silk Road tourism line.
Address: About 5 kilometers west of Shandan County, Zhangye City (below the high mountain)
Arrival method: From Sandan County rent three-wheels vehicle, round trip 8 RMB
Tickets: 40 yuan

Xinheyi and Hanming Great Wall

Located at the foot of the Great Wall of Hanming, Xinheyi was the ancient post house of Ming and Qing Dynasties. The site of the Great Wall of Hanming is well-preserved. With physical permission, it is possible to hike the Great Wall for 2.5 kilometers and experience the ancient civilization. You can also ride horses, ride camels, and ride wooden carriages to experience the feel of ancient people walking the old Silk Road. There are a lot of hawkers selling specialty products in Xinheyi, such as Shandan mutton, Mushroom Branch Wild Mushroom, and Great Wall King Drought Watermelon.
Address: 20 kilometers southeast of Shandan County, at the junction of 312 National Highway and Great Wall.
Arrival method: Take the car from Yongchang to Shandan and get off at the Great Wall
Tickets: Free

Yanzhishan and Xiakou Ming Great Wall

Qizhishan is also known as Rouge Mountain. The mountain ranges stretch for more than 70 kilometers, cross the Hexi Corridor, connect Qilian Mountain in the south, and Longshou Mountain in the north.
Address: 90 kilometers east of Shandan County
Arrival method: Take a shuttle to Shandan County at Zhangye Bus Station. Tickets cost 12.5 yuan:
Tickets: 45 yuan

Shandan Army Racecourse

Shandan Racecourse is the first largest in Asia, the second largest in the world, and the oldest horse race in the world. The horse farm is located on the Ma Yingtan grassland north of the Qilian Mountain. The terrain is flat and the grass is abundant. It is an ideal place for horse breeding and growth. As early as 3,000 years ago, people began to raise horses here and have continued to this day. The horse breed here was originally a Mongolian horse. After crossing with the good horses introduced in the Western Regions, Shandan horse population gradually formed. The Shandan horse is well-shaped, strong and durable, and has good adaptability.
Address: Zhangye City Shandan Racecourse
Arrival method: Take a shuttle bus to Yongchang at Zhangye Bus Station. There are 4 trains a day between the racecourse and Yongchang. You can also take a shuttle to the racecourse at the East Bus Station.
Tickets: The gate is free, 50 yuan for the tickets for Lixia and Wuyuan Lake, and 50 yuan per hour for riding.
www.shandanjmc.com

Itinerary

 

Silk Road

Route: Lanzhou – Shandan Army Racecourse – Zhangye Great Buddhist Temple – Zhangye National Wetland Park – Zhangye Danxia National Geopark – Chinese Yugur Culture Culture Corridor – Jiayuguan Great Wall – 11 Glacier – Dunhuang

Two-day tour

DAY 1: Shandan Army Racecourse – Zhangye City – Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park

DAY 2: Zhangye Danxia National Geopark – Big Buddha Temple – wooden pagoda Temple – Other urban attractions

Food

In bell tower District, Ganzhou District, there is an antique snack street on xixiang North Road. There is also a night market at the crossroads near Drum Tower. There are paid toilets in the middle of the food street, and Ganquan Park is the northern end of the food street. It is a small park. “Zhangye’s flour spreads across the Hexi Corridor,” so the pasta here has become a signature flavor in the Hexi corridor.

Accommodation

Zhangye’s hotels are mainly concentrated near the downtown Drum Tower in the city, and house prices are not particularly expensive due to traffic restrictions. Ordinary 3 star Hotel, the price of 100 to 200 yuan.

Shopping

Wujiang Rice, Zhang Wine made of local grapes, Xiaohe Chinese Dates, Mingle Garlic, Rapeseed, Huangsheng, Gaotai Capsicum, Paper Cuttings, local embroideries, cashmere

Share this tour