Gansu, China

Why go


• The historic Silk Road
• Buddhist gems at Mogao grottoes across Gansu
• Vibrant market towns
• The Jiayuguan Fort at the western end of the Great Wall, nicknamed “Last Fort Under Heaven”
• The singing sand of the Gobi Desert


What you need to know


Climate: Temperate monsoonal
Capital: Lanzhou
Area: 454,000 sq km
Population: 26,190,000
Density: 58/sq km
Major ethnic groups: Han (91%), Hui (5%), Dongxiang (2%), Tibetan (2%)


Did you know that…the Center of the Country Monument in Gansu marks the geographical center of China?


Where to stay


To find the best hotels in Gansu see the Visiting China special feature on Gansu Hotels.