Best Places to Visit in Zhangye: Ganzhou, Linze, Shandan

Zhangye, historically known as Ganzhou, is recognized as a national historical and cultural city and an ecological city of Gobi wetlands, serves as a tourism hub in the Hexi Corridor. Zhangye is often referred to as the "Golden Zhangye", with a rich cultural heritage and a wealth of humanistic attractions. It features the Qilian Mountain grasslands, Zhangye Danxia, Heihe wetlands, Heihe Gorge, and Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon. Zhangye is also home to the largest Shandan Horse Farm in the country, the best-preserved section of the Han Great Wall, the historically significant Yanzhi Mountain and the site of Camel City, along with unique customs from the Yugu, Mongolian, and Tibetan ethnic groups.

Top 1: Ganzhou District

Ganzhou District, located in the heart of the Hexi Corridor and at the intersection of the ancient Silk Road routes and the ancient Juyan Road, nested the Qilian Mountains to the south lies and Heli and Longshou Mountains to the north. The district is traversed by the Heihe River, the second largest inland river in China, creating the renowned Zhangye Oasis, earning the title of "The Jiangnan of the Frontier".

Ganzhou is part of Zhangye and is the only district in the city, the origin of the first character “Gan” of "Gansu". The area features picturesque scenery and ecological beauty. The unique location at the foot of the Qilian Mountains and by the shores of the weak waters has nurtured bright, clear lakes and wetlands, moistened vast, breathtaking forests and grasslands, moulded expansive, peculiar deserts and Gobi regions, compiling every terrain except the ocean. Ganzhou boasts the Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon, which rivals Zhangjiajie and the Grand Canyon of Colorado, the Zhangye Dafo Temple with the largest indoor clay reclining Buddha in Asia, and the Zhangye National Wetland Park, known as the closest wetland park to a city in China, blending frontier charm, northern landscapes, and the water beauty of Jiangnan.

Top 2: Linze County

The Gobi Desert and barren landscapes embrace the foothills, while a fertile oasis, like a green gemstone, is nestled within. The terrain is flat, the land is fertile, and the water and grass are abundant—this is Linze.

Linze, under the jurisdiction of Zhangye, was formerly known as "Zhaowu", located in the central part of the Hexi Corridor, an important node on the ancient Silk Road. The Danxia Scenic Area in Linze is the essence of the Zhangye Danxia Geological Park, known for its stunning geological features, with colorful landforms, layered terrain, and majestic views that create an awe-inspiring scene, renowned as "No. 1 Colorful Hills in China".

In addition to the famous Colorful Danxia, Linze itself is extraordinarily beautiful. Over the centuries, the region has witnessed the joys and sorrows of many generations, the exhilaration of harvests, the sounds of battle and warhorses, the clear flowing waters, and the rolling yellow sands, gradually transforming Linze into the China's Jujube Homeland in "Jiangnan of the Frontier".

Top 3: Shandan County

Shandan County is strategically located in the central part of the Hexi Corridor and serves as the eastern gateway to Zhangye. Known as the "Waist of the Corridor" and the "Throat of Gan and Liang", it has always been a critical passage for the ancient Silk Road leading to the Western Regions. Despite being situated in the remote northwest, far from bustling cities, Shandan is blessed with picturesque landscapes, earning the title of "Jewel of the Frontier".

On this ancient land stands the world's longest-established and Asia's foremost horse farm—the Shandan Horse Farm. Founded by the famed Western Han general Huo Qubing, it has endured the ravages of time over millennia, still shining brightly with a legendary aura. The Yanzhi Mountain, also known as the "Little Yellow Mountain", lies to the south of the Qilian Mountains and north of the grasslands, a famous tourist summer resort in Hexi Corridor. The ancient Shandan Dafo Temple, with its seven-tiered pagoda, stands grand and solemn, with the sound of prayers and the toll of bells and drums intertwining, expressing a deep longing for peace and happiness.

Top 4: Jiayuguan City

The "First and Greatest Pass under Heaven", Jiayu Pass, is a vital fortress on the ancient Silk Road and one of the three wonders of the Great Wall of China. With the sound of camel bells echoing, it stands as a gateway to the ancient Silk Road. Jiayuguan City is named after the pass, a city polished by time, also served as the westernmost point of the Ming Great Wall.

Jiayuguan City, also known as the "Key to the Frontier" and the "Steel City of the Gobi", is a prefecture-level city in Gansu, bordering Zhangye to the south. Its core, Jiayu Pass, is located at the midpoint of the ancient Silk Road, nestled between the Qilian Mountains to the south and the Mazong Mountains to the north, making Jiayu Pass a routes throat lying in the northwest.

Today, after restoration, Jiayu Pass still retains the imposing presence of a frontier fortress. From the top of the fort's tower, the Great Wall stretches out like a winding dragon, floating across the vast desert, sometimes continuous, sometimes broken, and sometimes disappearing in the distance.

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