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Gansu

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Gansu is a large province located in Northwestern China.

Lanzhou-037
Lanzhou-037

It serves as a vital geographic link between the Tibetan Plateau and the Loess Plateau. The province is the seventh-largest administrative district in China by total area. It borders several different regions and countries. To the west, it meets Xinjiang and Qinghai. To the south lies Sichuan. Shaanxi borders the province to the east. To the north, Gansu touches Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, and Mongolia's Govi-Altai Province.

Gansu Government
Gansu Government

The geography of Gansu is defined by extreme variations in terrain and climate. The southern region is very mountainous due to the Qilian Mountains. In the far west, the Altyn-Tagh mountains reach the province's highest point at 5,808 meters. The northern part of the province is mostly flat. A critical feature is the Hexi Corridor. This natural land passage stretches from Lanzhou to the Jade Gate. It is bounded by the Gobi Desert to the north and the Qilian Mountains to the south.

甘肃 荒山与沃土 - panoramio
甘肃 荒山与沃土 - panoramio

Climate patterns in Gansu are generally semi-arid to arid. This is known as a continental climate. Summers are typically warm or hot. However, winters are very cold. In high-altitude areas, the climate can become subarctic. In these regions, winter temperatures may drop to -20°C. Most precipitation occurs during the summer months. The winters are so dry that snow only covers very high altitudes.

Koppen-Geiger Map v2 CHN Gansu 1991–2020
Koppen-Geiger Map v2 CHN Gansu 1991–2020

The history of Gansu is deeply connected to the rise of Chinese civilization. In prehistoric times, Neolithic cultures flourished here. The Dadiwan culture existed in eastern Gansu from 6000 BC to 3000 BC.

Chinese jar, Neolithic period, painted earthenware, HAA
Chinese jar, Neolithic period, painted earthenware, HAA

Later, the Majiayao and Qijia cultures took root in the region. The State of Qin also originated in southeastern Gansu, specifically the Tianshui area. This state eventually established the first imperial dynasty in Chinese history. Archaeologists have found a 2,200-year-old map from the Qin era near Tianshui.

Cernuschi Museum 20060812 156
Cernuschi Museum 20060812 156

During the imperial era, Gansu became a strategic outpost. The Northern Silk Road ran through the Hexi Corridor. This made the province a vital communication link for the Chinese empire. The Han dynasty extended the Great Wall across this corridor. They built important fort towns like Yumenguan, also known as the Jade Gate Pass.

Yumenguan
Yumenguan

You can still see the ruins of Han dynasty watchtowers in Dunhuang.

Summer Vacation 2007, 263, Watchtower In The Morning Light, Dunhuang, Gansu Province
Summer Vacation 2007, 263, Watchtower In The Morning Light, Dunhuang, Gansu Province

Later, the Ming dynasty built the Jiayuguan outpost.

JiayuguanFort
JiayuguanFort

This city is now the second most populated city in the province.

Gansu is also a significant center for religious and artistic history. The province contains famous Buddhist grottoes. These include the Mogao Caves and the Maijishan Caves. The murals found in these caves reveal much about ancient history.

Maijishan grottoes
Maijishan grottoes

In 2006, researchers discovered early forms of paper near the Yumen pass. This paper was inscribed with Chinese characters and dated to about 8 BC. These sites show how culture and ideas moved along the Silk Road.

Today, the province has a population of approximately 26 million people. This ranks Gansu 22nd in China. The population is mostly Han. However, there are also Hui, Dongxiang, and Tibetan minorities.

Mandarin is the most common language. While Gansu has been one of the poorest provinces in terms of GDP per capita, it has many minerals. These abundant resources are helping the province develop into a vital industrial center. The capital and largest city is Lanzhou. The Yellow River flows through the southern part of the province and straight through Lanzhou.

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🖼️ Images & Media (14)
File:Summer Vacation 2007, 263, Watchtower In The Morning Light, Dunhuang, Gansu Province.jpg
Summer Vacation 2007, 263, Watchtower In...
File:Chinese jar, Neolithic period, painted earthenware, HAA.JPG
Chinese jar, Neolithic period, painted...
File:Yumenguan.jpg
Yumenguan.jpg
File:JiayuguanFort.jpg
JiayuguanFort.jpg
File:Koppen-Geiger Map v2 CHN Gansu 1991–2020.svg
Koppen-Geiger Map v2 CHN Gansu 1991–2020.svg
File:Gansu Government.jpg
Gansu Government.jpg
File:5920-Dongxiang-County-Daxiahe-valley-fields-seen-from-Linxia-County.jpg
5920-Dongxiang-County-Daxiahe-valley-field...
File:兰州中心七里河区.jpg
兰州中心七里河区.jpg
File:Lanzhou-037.JPG
Lanzhou-037.JPG
File:Yulin Cave 3 w wall Manjusri (Western Xia).jpg
Yulin Cave 3 w wall Manjusri (Western Xia).jpg
File:Han Dynasty Granary west of Dunhuang.jpg
Han Dynasty Granary west of Dunhuang.jpg
File:Cernuschi Museum 20060812 156.jpg
Cernuschi Museum 20060812 156.jpg

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