甘肃概况
A Survey of Gansu
Gansu Province, lying in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, is in the heart of China.Tell you its neighbors.Neighboring Shaanxi to the east and Sichuan on the south, Gansu is adjacent to Qinghai and Xinjiang by the west and linked up with Ningxia and Inner Mongolia in the north.The outline of Gansu is shapped like and dumbbell, which means it’s very long from east to west, but at the narrowest place, the north-south distance is only 25kilometers.In ancient China, Gansu’s important geographical position made Gansu a key junction in ancient Silk Road.Now tell you some numbers.Gansu covers an area of 390,000 square kilometers, taking up about 4.72% of the total land territories of China.And the province has a population of around 25.18 million consisting of 44ethnic minorities and most of them are Hui, Tibetan, and Dongxiang ethnic people.Under the administration of the province are 14 cities, prefectures and autonomous prefectures consisting of 86 countries with Lanzhou as the capital city of the province.
Climate： Climate in Gansu province has specific features.Belonging to north temperate monsoon climate, featuring a distinctive transitional tendency to continental climate.Dry and short of rain it sees great differences in temperature.The distinctive features of the four seasons are as follows: Lack of rain and snow in winter with longer time cold but the spring witnees a fast rise of temperature and a drastic change of warm and cold days.It is hot in summer with a concentration of rainfalls and the autumn features a quick falling of temperature and an early frost fall.However, compared with other cities in China, cities of Gansu are cool in summer, so summer is appropriate for your travel.
Resources and Mountains：The geomorphology in Gansu is quite complicated featuring mountains, plateaus, plains, river-valleys and deserts and Gobi as well.Moreover, Gansu’s great plateaus and mountains have plentiful mineral resources.These treasures are widely spread over the province in large quantities of high grade and good quality.The mining conditions are also favorable.Rivers： “The water of the Yellow River comes from the heavens”, wrote by Li Bai, a famous poet of the Tang Dynasty of ancient China.The Yellow river, known as the mother river of China, together with other rivers provide Gansu with abundant waterpower resources.Large hydropower stations are dotted here and there like bright stars.They produce electrical power day and night for the development of Gansu’s economy.You know there are many favorable advantages for waterpower development such as le inundation, convenient transportation, comparatively low investment costs, and shorter time for return on the investment.Culture and ethnic minority：Gansu has a long history.In ancient times, especially in the Han and Tang Dynasties, Gansu, as an important paageway, made great contributions to the culture exchange and commercial trade between China and western countries.Along the Silk Road can still be seen many ancient grottoes, structures and other historic or cultural relics.Up to now, more than one thousand such relics have been found belonging to different historic periods.Gansu is a multinational province.Living in the province are Hui, Tibet, Mongol, Yugur, Dongxiang, Manchu, a total of over 44 minorities with a population of around 1.5 million.In addition, the ethnic Dongxiang, Yugur and Bonan are the three unique ethnic minorities in Gansu Province.
Tourist Resources：Gansu lies at the eastern section of the Silk Road, which extends some 1,600 kilometers in the precinct of the province.So it has left over many footprints of historical figures and colorful tourist resources, such as Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Maiji Mountain Grottoes in Tianshui, Bingling Temple in Yongji Country, as well as Jiayu Pa known as “Magnificent Pa under heaven”, which is the western end of the Great Wall and some other attractions all along the way.Besides there are still some local special products, refreshments and ethnic folk customs that are all here waiting for you to make an appreciation of them.Finally, the satellite-launching center at Jiuquan is a spot of great importance catching
the world attention.It is the glory and pride of the Chinese nation.
炳灵寺
Bingling Temple Bingling Temple Grotto is located on the Small Jishi Hill, about 35 kilometers (about 22 miles) west of Yongjing County in Lanzhou City.Being one of the very noted four caves in China, it is the second to Mogao Caves in respect of artistic value.
The Bingling Temple Grotto is located at a transportation hub on a feeder line of the ancient Silk Road leading from China to the western countries.Buddhists started to cave grottoes and sculpture as early as the western Jin Dynasty.During the period of the Sixteen states, the nobles of the Xianbei enthnic trible established the Western Qin Regime here.They were for the Buddhist cult and so many eminent monks from inland and western regions swarmed to the place, preaching and sermonizing.The Dasi Valley in the Minor Jishi Hills within the territory of the Western Qin ,namely the area where Bingling Temple located came to be the Buddhist venue of the time.According to historical records, the Bingling Lower Temple used to be called the Lingyan Temple during the Tang (618-917) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties.Bingling is a Tibtan expreion, which means “ten thousand Buddha” and equivalent to “Thousand Buddha Hill” or “Ten thousand Buddha cave” of literary translation in Chinese.The formal construction of the Bingling Temple took place in the 420, the first year under the reign of the Western Qin dynasty.And it was carried on during the ensuing dynasties of Northern Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui and Tang, and murals and decorations were made even in the Yuan and a Ming dynasties.So it has a history of 1,600 years.There are now 183 niches, 694 stone statues, 82 clay sculptures and some 900 square meters\' (about 1,076 square yards\') of murals, which are all well preserved.Famous for its stone sculptures, Bingling Temple Grotto stretches about 200 meters (about 600 feet) on the west cliff in Dasi Gully.Among the caves, the main characters are Sakyamuni, Kwan-yin, Amitayus Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, and other Buddhas.With elegant postures, flying robes and ribbons, the statues are life-like.Among the caves, Cave No.169 is worthy of a particular mention.Made in the Northern Dynasties (386-581), it is the most imposing and delicate one which holds the clay sculptures of Kwan-yin, Dali Buddha (Dali means powerful strength in Chinese), etc.Dali Buddha has a round face, sitting with legs croed.When we see this sculpture we will feel its expreion as being very solemn.On its two sides stands Bodhisattvas with their hair bound, waving bare arms.The colors present us vivid Bodhisattvas and Buddhas.Cave No.125, which holds the stone sculpture of Sakyamuni, is also one not to be mied.The stone sculptures in Bingling Temple Grotto represent the social situations and customs during ancient times.In the vicinity of the caves are green hills, crystal water, grotesque stones and precipitous cliffs, which adds more beauty to this artistic site.After the founding of People\'s Republic of China, the State Council designated the site as a key cultural relic, and placed it under state protection.
武都万象洞
This paper presents the stable isotopic compositions from the cave dripwater and actively forming soda straw stalactites collected from Wanxiang Cave, Wudu,Gansu, located on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Loe Plateau transition zone, China.The δ18Odw and δDdw of dripwater samples in the cave plot directly on the local MWL,constructed by using GNIP data from 3 sites surrounding the cave regions (Lanzhou, Xi\'an, and Chengdu), the nearest site to the cave, suggesting that there is a close relationship between the δ18Odw of the cave water and the δ18O of the pre cipitations.Using the measured δ18Odw and δ18Omc values from the mid-farthest parts from the cave entrance and the carbonate paleotemperature equation, the calculated temperatures range from 8.9 to 12.4℃, with the mean value of 10.7℃ and the temperature calculated at 8 locations in the farthest part of the cave is in the range of 10.1-12.4℃, with the mean value of 11.5℃, being consistent with the survey value(10.99℃)in the cave, slightly lower than the mean annual temperature (14.4℃) in Wudu.This suggests that modern speleothems are forming under isotopic equilibrium and their isotopic composition accurately reflects the mean annual temperature at the surface, indicating that the isotopic composition of the modern speleothems records local temperature change with credibility. 崆峒山
Kongtong Mountain Scenic Area Situated some 15 kilometers to the west of the Pingliang City, Kongtong Mountain is celebrated as \"the first Taoist Mountain under Heaven\".It is said that it was here that Guang Chengzi, an immortal, cultivated himself to attain immortality, and the Emperor Huang the first civilized Chinese ancestor, came here to consult him, about how to administer a country and cultivate himself.Since than the Kongtong Mountain became one of the famous Taoist mountains of the country.After Emperor Huang, Emperors Qinshihuang and Wu of the Han Dynasty had as said ever been here doing the worshipping.Kongtong Mountain has been also highly praised by many historical notables So it has been called \"the first mountain on the western tour \",\"a wonder among western towns\" since ancient times.The Kongtong Mountain, part of the Liupan Mountain Ranges,has Guan Mountain by the north and Taitong to the south with Cock’s Head at its Cock’s Head at its back and the Jing River in front.With an elevation of 2,123 meters the Kongtong Mountain covers an area of over 30 square kilometers.Kongtong Mountain, 90% of which is covered by forest, is a natural kingdom for its 1,300 species of animals and plants.Ridges and peaks are high, steep and imposing cliffs towering to the skies seem to be made by superlative craftsmanship.Why the mountain named Kongtong? There are several versions.One version is Kongtong means caves, since there’re a lot of caves in this mountain, the mountain was given the name Kongtong.Another was said the name of the mountain was derived from a Taoist expreion, real emptine and vacancy, a natural seclusion in quietne.As early as in the Qin and Han periods, here used to be a religious venue.Taoist and Buddhist temples were found put up here one after another during the Tang and Song periods and all the way down to the Ming and Qing dynasties.It formed an architectural community featuring \" eight terraces, nine palaces and twelve temple compounds”, and 42 Taoist and Buddhist temples and buildings, which present a picture of boundle variety.Tell you more information to the scenic spots of the mountain.Leisheng Feng(Thunder Peak), to the south of Horse\'s Mane, has dangerously sheer cliffs.The wind roars loudly down in the gorge, while the clouds and mist move swiftly up the peak.During midsummer, when it rains, the gorge vibrates with roaring wind and crashing thunder, giving rise to the name Thunder Peak.Huang Cheng(Imperial City) is on Horse\'s Mane, the summit of Kongtong Mountain.A \"sky ladder,\" comprising 378 stone steps, leads to it.Huang Cheng is the most magnificent of the temples on Kongtong Mountain.Most of its buildings are in good repair.
雷台旅游区
Wuwei City in central Gansu once occupied a strategic position on the famous Silk Road.In 1969 a farmer discovered a tomb dating from the Han Dynasty and which has become a main tourist attraction in the city.The tomb is situated in Leitai Park so called, as there was a Temple built to honor the Chinese god Leishen on the ten-meter high earth platform that was erected during the middle Ming Dynasty.The inscription on the tomb shows that it was constructed circa 186-219BC for an officer from Zhangye, another major town on the Silk Road.The tomb comprises three main chambers of brick construction placed one behind the other.Each room has a smaller annex on each of its sides.This has proved to be a very important find as the tomb contained some two hundred and thirty outstanding relics of gold, silver, copper and jade as well as pottery.The funerary artifacts included ninety-nine copper chariots complete with horses and soldiers.The most important find was the Bronze Galloping Horse.Known in Chinese as \'Ma Chao Long Que\', the horse is depicted in a full gallop supported on just one foot upon the back of a bird in flight.The statuette is roughly 35 centimeters high and 45 centimeters long, weighing 7 kilograms.The artist is unknown but the vitality and exquisite modeling of the piece has meant that it has been adopted as a symbol for Chinese tourism.The horse may be seen in the Gansu Provincial History Museum.
伏羲庙
Fuxi Temple Fuxi Temple, also called Taihao gong，is the biggest of its kind in China in memory of a legendary figure named Fuxi who is known as the ancestor and a great emperor in many Chinese legends.Fuxi was said half human and half snake.The snake was a popular totem of the time and is the origin of the dragon.In addition, Fuxi was born here in Tianshui and that\'s why we have a temple for him here.The temple is a Ming dynasty construction that, despite renovations in the Qing dynasty, still retains its basic Ming format.The temple was completed in 1490 during the reign of the emperor Hongzhi of the Ming dynasty, and covers a total area of 6,000 square meters.
Facing the street, the temple consists of three rows of buildings with two temple gates.Ranging from south to north include the Archway, Moon Terrace, Tablet Tower, Main Hall and other buildings.The buildings are symmetrically laid out in regular order.
The Main Hall is named the Xiantian Hall.In the middle of it sits the statue of Fuxi.On his right is a queerly shaped dragon-horse with wings, which is about to fly while on the left is a 8 Trigram carried by the dragon-horse to come out from the river.Legend has it that his acute observation of nature inspired him to come up with 8 Trigrams that were believed to explain all the laws of the world.But apart from being a philosopher, Fuxi was also a great inventor.It\'s said Fuxi developed the net, allowing people to catch fish and wild animals.It\'s also about this time that the domestication of animals takes place.Fuxi was obviously a busy man.The list of his achievements goes on and on and his reign marked the dawn of civilization for the people of the time.But his most incredible claim to fame is his legendary status as the ancestor of the Chinese people.He apparently married his own sister Nvwa and started populating the planet.What Nvwa couldn\'t produce herself, she made from clay.
It\'s really difficult for people today to understand the legend of a brother-sister marriage.Actually a lot of folklore has a strong cultural background.Fuxi and Nvwa were not real people.We believe they are the names of two ancient Chinese tribes.Fuxi-Nvwa account reflects the earliest form of marriage in human society-marriage between brothers and sisters.At that time, there were actually such unions.It\'s a roundabout reflection and a mysterious interpretation of history.Sixty-four cypre trees used to grow in the temple\'s courtyard.Now there are just 37 left.They were planted according to points dictated by the 8 diagrams.Many local people still believe these old trees have the power to cure and heal.Actually the idea of old trees having supernatural powers is a common theme in Chinese superstition so it\'s easy to understand that these trees have earned this reputation.
Every 16th of the first month in the lunar calendar is said to be the birthday of Fuxi, and on that day, people in Tianshui come here one after another to pay homage to him, the ancestor of the Chinese nation.
魏晋壁画墓 Wei-Jin Art Gallery Located about 15 kilometers northeast of Jiayuguan, Wei-Jin Mural Brick Tomb is a big tomb group with over 1,400 tombs built between the 3rd Century and 5th Century during the Wei and Jin dynasties.
Renowned as the largest subterranean art gallery in the world, housing a great deal of colorful murals, the gallery has attracted tourists from both home and abroad since 1972 when it was excavated.Most tombs are of families, housing bodies of three or four generations, and now only Grave 6 and Grave 7 are open for tourism.Entering the cold stone tomb, you will marvel at the vivid murals and special layout inside.Each Wei-Jin tomb generally has two or three chambers which are connected by corridors paved with tiles in various flower patterns.The gate was decorated with delicate patterns and easy lines symbolizing clouds, water, fire, gods and weird animals.The exquisite murals on the inner chamber walls tell the master and mistre\'s contemporary carefree life, and servant\'s hard working one.Most reflect the political, cultural, military, and scientific developments of the Wei and Jin Dynasty age...an insight into this ancient Chinese feudal society.Mainly painted realistically and earlier than Mogao Grottoes, Wei-Jin Art Gallery provides an example of unmixed Chinese realism art1644), and was used to pull the float bridge over the Yellow River.As the First Bridge over the Yellow River, Zhongshan Bridge is valued highly.Walking along the south bank, visitors can enjoy the beautiful city statues, which are dotted in the zonal green park named as the “Green Corridor” taking “the Mother Yellow River” as their representative.This is the best sculpture of its kind in China.A baby lies on the bosom of his mother with a naive smile while the mother (unlike most of the mothers in Chinese arts who are old, weather-beaten, kindly but with a touch of sorrow) looks happy and affectionate. Along the Yellow River, there are two scenes you should not mi.The first is the sculpture of the Mother Yellow River.The second one is the Water Wheel Park, where you can get an idea of the old irrigation tool.The waterwheel was introduced from southern Yunnan Province to Lanzhou by a local who had been an official in Yunnan.The first waterwheel was made succefully in 1556 on the north bank of the Yellow River.Up to 1952 there were altogether 252 waterwheels lining both banks of the River.Today this replica has become an attraction with a park founded around it.In the evening, with the neon lamps glimmering and the fountains spraying, standing on the top of Lanshan Mountain, you can have a magnificent view of the Yellow River surrounding the city, the 100-mile travel route along Yellow River is just like the Milkway in the world and looks more attractive.
鸣沙山、月牙泉风景名胜区
Mingha Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring in DunHuang Mingha Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring in DunHuang is one of the 40 Top National Natural Scenery Zones of China, also known as the National AAAA Tourist Scenic Zone.Mingsha Sand Dunes, situated 6 km southwest away from Dunhuang Town, is stretching for more than 40 km\'s long and more than 20 km\'s wide.According to the historical recording such as“the Book of Later Han dynasty”, the reputation of Mingha Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring in DunHuang could be traced back to about 2 thousand years ago, when it had been regarded as a spectacular sight in Tenggeli Desert.
The hill is composed of five-color sands in red, yellow, green, black and white.The northern peak is cragged, steep and wonderful-looking like the sharp edge of a knife.Sometimes you can hear the sound from the sands when you slide down from its top.Sometimes the sands give out the droning and rumbling sound from beating a gong and a drum, or reed pipe and bamboo flute.It is“the sound of earth and the sound of nature”.It is said that the sands also give out the sound of music instrument in sunny days even when the wind stops and the sand is still.So the hill gets its name and“the sands chirping in sunny days”becomes the most magnetic scene.
Crescent Moon Spring lies in the arm of the dunes at the foot of Mingsha Hills, extending for 118m from west to the east but only 25m from south to the north.As it looks very much like a new moon hence it is named Crescent Spring.Despite being surrounded by the sand hills, the Spring has never been covered by quick sands and kept clear perennially.Featuring the quite pretty scenes, it neither overflows after rain nor drys up after drought.It is really a wonder that the sands and spring lake coexist together for thousands of years.
