Zhangye Attractions, Must-see Attractions in Zhangye, Things to do in Zhangye
  • Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park

    It covers an area of 529 square kilometers, of which the color hilly area is about 50 square kilometers, and is a national AAAA tourist scenic zone. Zhangye Danxia landform is China’s only Danxia landform in high recombination with color hilly landscape. It is odd and special for hierarchical scattered levels, steep cliffs, rich forms, amazing colors, with a high ornamental value and important scientific value. It enjoys the honors of “China’s top seven most beautiful Danxia landforms”,“China’s top seven most beautiful exotic landforms” and the “the world’s

    top ten magical geographical wonders”, and is a best place for tourism, painting, photography and science education read more >>
  • The Giant Buddha Temple in Zhangye

    As a national key cultural relic under protection of the state and national AAAA-tourist scenic zone, it’s firstly built in the first year (1098) of Emperor Chongzong period of Western Xia Dynasty and occupies area of 30,000 square meters. With more than 20 ancient buildings, architecture area of 10,456 square meters, 530 square meters of murals and 46 clay sculptures, it collects 10,043 pieces of ancient calligraphy and paintings, ancient coins, Buddhist sutra, bronze, jade and wood wares and other precious cultural relics, among which 40 pieces are

    first-class, 33 pieces are second-class and 65 pieces are third-class. The only remaining religious hall of Western Xia minority Giant Buddha Hall,clay sculptured big lying Buddha with length of 34.5 meters in the hall and 5,985 volumes of first-carved and first-printed edition of Tripitaka are known as Three Treasures of the Giant Buddha Temple.Giant Buddha Hall It is the only remaining hall of Western Xia minority with two floors, double eaves, height of 19 meters, length of 52.5 meters, width of 52.5 meters and total area of 1,470 square meters. Lying Buddha The Nirvana figure of Sakyamuni Buddha was firstly made in the year of Emperor Chongzong period of Western Xia Dynasty with body length of 34.5 meters, shoulder width of 7.5 meters, ear of 4 meters and feet length of 5.2 meters, which is the biggest indoor wood stuffed and clay sculptured lying Buddha of Asia. Golden Sutra Great Prajna Paramita Sutra written by gold and silver in Ming Dynasty has been remained 558 volumes (287 books) now. Divided into 30 cases, five books for each case, two volumes for each book, and then combined as ten volumes, it has 28 Mandala paintings on title page painted by golden lines in five folded papers. The picture takes Sakyamuni Buddha’s Mandala as the center, surrounded by 108 figures including Buddha, Bodhisattva, deva, arhat and immortal. The cover of sutra is bound by damask silk with pattern of dragon, which is very luxurious. read more >>
  • Mati Temple

    Mati Temple is located in the foot of Linsong Mountain and riverside of Mati River, the grottos were dug in the Sixteen States Northern Liang Period, with a history of about 1600 years. It is well-known because of the deity horse footprints. The “thirty-three days” was dug in the cliffs in the form of pagoda like 7 layers and 21 caves, with magnificent momentum. The color sculpture flying Apsaras in Jinta Temple is a rare treasure of China’s cave art. Mati Temple scenic area is a national AAAA tourist scenic zone, national cultural relics protection unit, candidate of the

    Silk Road for the declaration of World Cultural Heritage, and is a tourist destination integrating grotto art, Buddhist culture, national scenery, Yugurs and Tibetan style. read more >>
  • Pingshanhu Grand Canyon

    It is only 56km form the city, is one of the most beautiful geomorphologic landscapes in Zhangye’s grand view garden. In the canyon, the mountains wind leaning the walls, peaks tower along the terrain, stone forest interlock with each other, as if a mirage and fairy mountain. Standing in the labyrinth like canyon, exposing to the criss–cross gullies, forest of peaks, like the work with wonderful workmanship excelling nature by world-renowned architectures, tourists has too many things to see. Standing buildings, magnificent palaces, human, birds, animals,

    towers are remarkably true to life, which cover a large area, are highly ornamental and rare. The scenic area includes the grand canyon, stone wonders, desert and snow mountain, primitive forest, auto-drive cross-country, sport climbing, ethnic customers, integrating scientific and aesthetic value, and has become a new highlight of science popularization, ecology, adventure and tourism. read more >>
  • Shandan Horse Farm

    Located in Damaying Grassland at north of Lenglongling Peak of Qilian Mountain, it has been called as Damaying Marsh. With total area of 2,192 square kilometers, plain and vast land, fertile soil, lush grass and plenteous animals, it’s sixty kilometers far away from Shandan County in south. Since B.C.121 OF Western Han Dynasty, it has become an important place to raise horses and station troops and largest horse farm of the world. From July to August in every year, pines in green mountains are elegant, horses gallop in vast grassland, golden waves of boundless

    rape flowers give off intoxicating aroma. Kulongxia, Dahuanggou, Pingqiangkou, and other national landscapes are surrounded by mountains and rivers. Ancient castle and beacon tower stand lonely to send persons back to nature and dream. More than 30 movies and teleplays were shot here, such as Meng Genhua, Herdsman, Princess Wencheng, Wang Zhaojun and Misty Maiji Mountain. read more >>
  • Zhangye National Wetland Park

    It occupies area of 61,622 acres including 25,995 acres of wetland. Located in northern suburb of Zhangye City, it’s a composite of marsh wetland, river wetland and manmade wetland. As a natural ecological park, as well as “humidifier” and “oxygen device” for Zhangye City, there are 195 kinds of plants for 124 genera of 45 families and 116 common animals. On December 3rd, 2009, Zhangye Wetland Park was names as National Wetland Park by Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

  • Yugur Custom

    In Yugu Style corridor there is special Danxia landscape. With towering and majestic snowy Qilian Mountain, beautiful prairie and various minority’s cultures and customs, it’s a national cultural park that retains real mountains and water, distinctive features of scenery in northwest region, as well as a district with rich tourism resources combining sky, land, mountain, river, human and primitive eco-look, which is rare in China.

  • Biandukou Eco-leisure Tourism Area

    Biandukou is a hub of Gansu and Qinghai as well as an important channel of the Silk Road. The scenic area integrates natural scenery, historical monuments and ethnic customs. The golden pastoral scenery with “One hundred thousand acres of rape flowers”, Dadouba Valley, Highland Pasture, Heifeng Cave, Stone Buddha, Zhuge Monument and Biyuntian, etc, are prestigious and fascinating. Biandukou Eco-Leisure Tourism Area is a national AAA tourist scenic zone, Gansu hiking outdoor sports base, Gansu Car and Motorcycle Sports Camp, the province’s top

    ten tourist attractions, and is an ideal place for holidays and summer resort. read more >>
  • Yanzhi Mountain

    40 kilometers far away from Shandan County, it’s a national AAAA tourist scenic zone and provincial-level forest park. At the 5th Year (609) of Emperor Daye Period of Su Dynasty, when Emperor Daye summoned to interview 27 envoys of western regions in this mountain, Ganzhou and Liangzhou’s officials sent maidservants singing and dancing at intersection to welcome, which was recorded as “Expo of Thousands of Countries” in historical books. The whole scenic zone is coved by lush and dense original forests; sea of woods is boundless on mountains;

    ravines cross and steams flow under mountains; roes, deer, badges, sheep and other wild animals run in mountains; straight mountains and peculiar stones stand beside valleys; and Zhongshan Temple and Yuhuang Hall scatter among peaks. When the sun rises in dawn, rosy clouds and mist keep changing, which are spectacular and beautiful. As a rare natural tourism resort to enjoy summer and spend holiday, it’s also called as “Little Huangshan Mountain” read more >>
  • Jinta Temple

    20 kilometers far away from Mati Temple, east and west grottoes of Jinta Temple were carved in steep red stone cliffs 60 meters higher than surface of the earth. Lots of Buddha, Bodhisattva and fairies are various, changeful, orderly and lively, which are the only in China.

  • Zhangye Desert Sports Park

    15 kilometers far away from south of Zhangye, it’s adjacent to Lvzhou Modern Agricultural Experiment and Demonstration Zone. The main body of desert extends to north and south with prominent features, which is rare in China. The desert ridge is formed by wind, serpentine ups and downs. The main beam is unequal in width and difference of height reaches is nearly 100 meters, so it looks like a winding dragon. With miraculous and unique geographical environment, plentiful historical and cultural resources and overall layout in type of bead string, “two ordinates and

    one round” (touring route of walking through desert, touring route of driving off-road vehicle through Gobi and touring route of taking battery car round sand roads) connect eight scenic areas and 27 scenic spots. Zhangye Desert Sports Park is a fine eco-tourism in desert, including sightseeing, scientific investigation and education, entertainment, folk culture and athletic exercises. read more >>
  • The Great Buddha Temple in Shandan

    The Temple was started to be built in Northern Wei Dynasty, is a national AAAA tourist scenic zone. The Hall of Mahavira inside the Temple has seven floors, wooden pavilion of 39 meters high, upturned eave and warped angles, looking grand and splendid. The sitting statue of Sakyamui in the Hall is 35 meters high with gold foil on the face, shining with golden light. The senior people in the field of Buddhism in China and foreign countries praise the Buddha as the “No.1 Buddha in the world.”

  • Manjushree Temple

    As a national key cultural relic under protection of the state and national AAAA tourist scenic zone, it’s located at Manjushree Mountain in the territory of Qifeng Town of Su’nan County. Grottoes of Manjushree Temple were firstly carved in Wei and Jin dynasties, while the temple was built in flouring period of Tang Dynasty 1,500 years ago. Baizi Tower, Kwan-yin Tower, Yuhuang Pavilion, Lying Buddha Hall, Manjushree Bodhisattva Hall, Five Hundred Arhat Hall and other ancient buildings are magnificent; Thousand Buddha Cavity, Manjushree Cavity, Hongjun

    Cavity, White Clothes Cavity, Shanfo Cavity and other grottoes are unique; pavilions, temples, stairs and grottoes are grand; Buddha, arhat, vajra and guardian are specialized. read more >>