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 Xi'an
Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province,
is located in the heart of the Guanzhong
Basin, with the Weihe River running along
the northern border of the city. It is the
largest metropolis in northwestern China.
Known as Chang'an in ancient China, Xi'an
is a world-renowned ancient capital.
For 1,062 years beginning in the 11th century
B.C., Xi'an was the capital of 13 dynasties
including the Western Zhou, Qin, Western
Han, Eastern Han, Sui, and Tang. The continuous
dynastic occupation kept the city beautiful
and magnificent. More than two hundred and
seventy palaces and temples were built during
its heyday, such as the "Three Han
Palaces" in the Han dynasty, namely
Changle, Weiyang, Jianzhang Palaces, and
numerous other palaces and watch towers.
The most well known among these is the Tomb
of Emperor Qin Shihuang, with the Terra-cotta
Warriors and Horses. Xi'an is also the starting
point of the ancient Silk Road.
 Gansu
Gansu Province is located in the northwestern
China. Gansu covers an area of 175,289 square
mile with a population of 24 million. The
capital is Lanzhou. The province lies between
Qinghai-Tibet and Inner Mongolia and rises
4,921 feet above sea level.
To the west of Lanzhou and west of the Yellow
River is the famous "Hexi Corridor,"
an important strategic passage on the ancient
Silk Road stretching to the west. This area
abounds in rich historical and cultural
heritage, including grottoes, ancient buildings
and other cultural relics.
Many ethnic groups congregate in Gansu,
which makes it a unique tourist destination
with a variety of folk customs. The scenes
of grassland, the Gobi desert, and snow-covered
mountains add beauty to this mysterious
land.
 Lanzhou
Lanzhou was called Jincheng in the past
and is now the capital of Gansu Province.
The Yellow River flows through Lanzhou,
which is the center of transportation in
northwest. It has an ideal environment for
melons and honeydew melons and peach. Tourists
can view the Yellow River from the green
corridor. Binghe Road, Gansu Provincial
Museum and Five-Spring Mountain are also
attractive.
 Bingling
Lamasery
It is situated in southwestern Yongjing
County, on the steep cliffs along the north
bank of the Yellow River. It can be only
reached after traveling 46 miles by car
and then by boat. The word "Bingling"
means "thousand Buddhas," or "10
thousand Buddhas" in Tibetan language.
The Bingling Lamasery has a history of over
1,500 years. The grottoes are 1.2 miles
long and were built in four layers into
the mountain. The temple houses 183 grottoes,
nearly 800 statues and about a quarter acre
of frescoes.
Jiayuguan Pass
Jiayuguan Pass is famous because it is the
western ending point of the Great Wall.
Jiayuguan City is located at the central
part of the Hexi Corridor. Jiayuguan Pass
was an important strategic spot in ancient
times. It has been a magnificent pass for
over 160 years. Although it is a booming
industrial city now, there are many rich
tourist resources, for example the Jiayuguan
Pass, the Suspended Great Wall, and the
Great Wall Museum. Other attractions include
the Mural Tomb of the Kingdom of Wei and
Jin Dynasties, Qiyi Glacier and Jiayuguan
Glide Range.
Dunhuang
Dunhuang used to be called Shazhou and is
at the western end of the Hexi Corridor.
Dunhuang adjoins Anxi to the east, and borders
Aksay all the way to the neighboring Xinjiang
Uygur Autonomous Region in the northwest.
There are many tourist attractions in Dunhuang,
which is listed as a state historic and
cultural city.
 Mogao
Grottoes
The Mogao Grottoes, also known as "1000
Buddha Cave", are located 15.5 miles
southeast of Dunhuang City. With a total
length of 1 mile, the Grottoes wind their
way through the broken cliff at the eastern
foot of Mingsba Hill. There are five layers
of caves built into the mountain. According
to historical records, the Mogao Grottoes
were constructed in 366 BC. Today there
are 492 caves in which murals and sculptures
representing different dynasties have been
well preserved. The Mogao Grottoes are listed
in the World Cultural Heritage and are rated
as key relics under state protection.
Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
Ningxia, situated in the northwest of China,
is one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization.
The ancient Silk Road passes through this
region; a place filled with beautiful mountains
and rivers. There are many places of interest
such as the Western Xia Tombs, the scenic
Liupan Mountain, Shapotou Sand Control Project
Tourist Area (which has been chosen as one
of "the Five Hundred Best Projects
of the Global Ecology" by United Nations),
and a variety of other sites. Today, Ningxia
has rich varieties of culture including
Islamic cultures and relics of the Western
Xia culture.
Yinchuan
Yinchuan, also called Phoenix City, is the
capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
An ancient and well-known city in the west,
it was once the capital of the Western Xia
Dynasty. Today, Yinchuan is listed by the
state as one of the 100 famous historical
and cultural cities.
There are many historical and cultural sites
in Yinchuan. It is the center of the Hui
culture. The city also features a variety
of unique Islamic architecture. Yinchuan's
beautiful deserts, historical sites and
local customs are the instrumental in making
Yinchuan one of the most attractive places
in China.
 The
Western Xia Tombs
The Western Xia Tombs are located at the
eastern foot of the Helan Mountain, 18.6
miles west of Yinchuan. The tombs extend
6.2 miles from north to south and 2.4 miles
from east to west. There are nine tombs
of kings and over 20 funerary tombs, which
were built to fit in with the topography.
Before the Ming Dynasty, the kings' tombs
were robbed, but many cultural vestiges
remain.
 Xinjiang
Uygur Autonomous Region
Xinjiang is located in northwest China and
covers 617 thousand square miles. Its population
is 16.62 million. It contains one sixth
of the total area of China, and is inhabited
with different minorities and nationalities
including Uygur, Han, Kazak, Hui, Mongolian,
Kirgiz, Xihe, Tajik, Uzbek, Manchu, Daur,
Tatar, and Russian.
Xinjiang is far from the sea and is surrounded
by snow-capped mountains, boundless deserts
and vast grasslands. There are many basins
and oases scattered over the region. The
dry climate has created the peculiar natural
scenery such as the Gobi Desert and salt
deserts. The clear water from melted snow
and ample sunshine make it an invigorating
place.
After entering the border of Xinjiang, the
Silk Road splits into three routes: the
north, middle and south. Many ruins of ancient
cities, watchtowers and numerous historical
sites of the Han and Tang dynasties that
have been swallowed by the sand remain along
the routes. There are also important cities
and towns such as Urumqi, Turpan, Kashai,
Kuqa, Hotan, and Taxkorgan along the ancient
Silk Road.
 Urumqi
Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous
Region, is located on the banks of the Urumqi
River at the northern foot of Tianshan Mountain.
Urumqi means "the beautiful pastureland"
in the Mongolian language. Urumqi is surrounded
by mountains on three sides. For over two
thousand years, many different minorities
who herded sheep and cattle pastured the
area around Urumqi. It was an important
city along the ancient Silk Road, and is
now an important city along China's northwestern
border. The moderate temperatures in the
spring and autumn results in pleasant seasons
for traveling and skiing is the best choice
in wintertime. It has rich tourist resources.
Urumqi abounds in rich tourist resources,
including mysterious historical and cultural
remains, beautiful landscapes and unique
folkways. Among the many famous spots is
Tianchi Lake, Red Hill.There is the Pavilion
of the Jade Emperor, as well as a 26-foot
high Suppressing Dragon Pagoda with 9 layers,
that rest on the top of the hill. After
1949, people drew water up to the hill,
planted more trees, and built roads at the
foot of the hill. Now visitors can climb
to the top and have a panoramic view of
Urumqi.
Turpan
Turpan has the lowest elevation of any place
in China. It is a basin in the mountains
of east Xinjiang. Aydingkol Lake is 505
feet below sea level and is the second lowest
area of the world, behind the Dead Sea in
Jordan. The temperature in the summer is
over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, which is why
it is also known as "The Fire Prefecture".
Famous historical sites include the ruins
of Jiaohe and Gaochang cities, and the Bizaklik
Thousand-Buddha Grottoes. It is 113 miles
from Urumqi with expressways linking the
two cities.
Kashi
Kashi is situated southwest of Xinjiang.
Its downtown sits on the Kashgar delta.
It is the political, economic, and cultural
center of the Kashi region. It covers 37
square miles and has a population of 250,000.
Kashi was a fundamental town along the Silk
Road because it rests at the junction of
the southern and northern routes. The northern
route of the ancient Silk Road ran west
from Kashi across the Pamirs into ancient
India in the south or west to Yuezhi, Persia
and other countries.
The people of Kashi are good at handicrafts,
in addition to being famous for their folk
songs and dances. Main scenic spots include
the Tomb of Apak Roja and the big bazaar.
 The
Tomb of Apak Hoja
The Tomb of Apak Hoja is located at Ezret
Village, 3.1 miles northeast of the city.
It was built in 1640 and is the tomb of
Apak Hoja and his family members, the largest
Islamic mausoleum in China. Apak Hoja was
the king of the Hoja State of Kashgar. The
tomb is composed of gate towers, large and
small mosques, scripture halls, and main
tomb chambers. High trees also surround
the tomb, providing it with a quiet and
beautiful environment.
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