Guazhou Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)

Surrounded by the vast expanse of the desert Gobi, overlooking the large sculpture of "The Son of the Earth", it becomes a spectacular Gobi cultural landscape. The "Child of the Earth" sculpture is 15 meters long, 4.3 meters high and 9 meters wide. It crouched on the ground and fell asleep on the Gobi Desert in Hongshanpo, Guazhou County, Gansu Province. The rough texture of the sandstone, the calm and heavy brown-red tone of the stone itself, and the cultural connotation of the work itself are all blended with the vast Gobi situation. In terms of creative concept, the baby itself should be a tender, authentic, delicate life. When the baby sculpture image no longer appears with normal mass and common smooth materials, instead of replacing the coarse gravel stone with red sandstone, the work There is a shocking expression of vitality and respect for life itself, and at the same time it has a strong visual effect. The plain nature of the situational integration is always the main face, which is where the traditional Chinese art spirit lies.

In the desert, the loneliest child

Visiting Guazhou was definitely a whim of ours, as the self-driving process was much smoother than expected, and we ended up with half a day to spare. So we resolutely decided to head to Guazhou, which is only about an hour away from Dunhuang. The Son of the Earth in Guazhou is an artwork I am very fond of. The huge baby sculpture lying on the ground makes one's heart ache the more one looks at it. Love and peace are the eternal pursuits of mankind.

Son of the Earth||Explore the beauty of Gansu's culture and nature

||Explore the beauty of Gansu's culture and nature.🌟Just stepping into the east line of Dunhuang, Guazhou, Gansu, I was shocked beyond words! The beauty of the sculpture art there almost left me speechless. Each sculpture is like a book, telling endless stories. 🏞️Especially the 'Son of the Earth', a bronze sculpture over 30 meters high, its majesty and greatness almost made me forget my existence. Standing under this sculpture, I felt the vastness and infinity of nature, as if I had become a speck of dust in the universe. 🐎'Han Wu Xiong Feng' is equally breathtaking, every detail embodies the craftsman's hard work and wisdom, as if the scroll of history is slowly unfolding before my eyes. 🌊And the mirage in the desert is dreamlike, the seemingly real ocean and city scenes, make me feel like I am in a myth, feeling the endless mystery and charm. 👍On this trip, I gained a lot, and my soul was greatly baptized and sublimated. If you also crave a dual journey of culture and nature, then the east line of Dunhuang, Guazhou, Gansu is definitely worth exploring! 🗿Explore the footprints of the 'Son of the Earth' and feel its unique charm —— 📍Scenic guide: 'Son of the Earth' sculpture in Guazhou County, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province 🕰️Recommended play time: half a day 💰Budget reference: free visit 📷Photography recommendation: panoramic view of the 'Son of the Earth' sculpture 🍽️Food recommendation: taste Guazhou special beef noodles and local snacks 🚗Traffic suggestion: self-driving or choose local chartered service 🛏️Accommodation recommendation: a variety of homestays are available in Guazhou County The 'Son of the Earth' sculpture, which is up to 30 meters high, is not only the pride of Guazhou, but also a treasure of Chinese sculpture art. Its huge body, each finger is spacious enough to accommodate a car, standing next to it, can't help but feel a sense of solemnity and solemnity. This work of art, which has been carefully crafted for several years, combines the essence of traditional Chinese culture with the innovation of modern art, and its surface texture and patterns fully demonstrate the unique style of the northwest region and the colorful life of the people. While appreciating the 'Son of the Earth', you can also choose some souvenirs in the surrounding shops to leave this unforgettable travel memory. The food in Guazhou County is also not to be missed, whether it is the rich Guazhou beef noodles or the local snacks, it will bring a new experience to your taste buds. If you have enough time, why not stay in Guazhou County for a longer time and deeply feel the local customs of this land. 💕💕💕Before departure, remember to bring sunscreen, sunglasses and camera and other necessary items, record every moment in front of the 'Son of the Earth' sculpture, let this journey become an eternal memory in your heart.

Guazhou | A thousand-year dream in the endless desert of the Great Northwest

Hexi Corridor, a thousand-year dream. The ancient Silk Road with the sound of camel bells, the wind of the Han and Tang Dynasties still heard from the horses of the nomads. Guazhou, soaked for four thousand years, every grass, every tree, every flower, every stone, is conveying the spirit of the Silk Road and the continuation of civilization to the world. On the way from Dunhuang to Jiayuguan, passing through the small town of Guazhou, you will pass this group of architectural sculptures, which is the large-scale art creation activity of the "Program of Art in Wilderness". Son of the Earth: The work of Professor Dong Shubing, Sculpture Department of Tsinghua University Academy of Fine Arts, is the largest digital sculpture stone sculpture work at home and abroad to date. An old Dunhuang and a sleeping baby lying on the vast Gobi, this is the inheritance and hope of human civilization. Boundless: Also known as "Mirage", created by Professor Dong Shubing, Sculpture Department of Tsinghua University Academy of Fine Arts, with the Silk Road as the background. The inspiration for the sculpture comes from the "Paradise Pavilion" of the Tang Dynasty in the "Observation of the Sutra of Immeasurable Life" in Cave 25 of the Yulin Grottoes. Han Wuxiong Wind: The work of young sculptor Zhang Wanxing. The ambitious Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty opened the Silk Road, for the first time casting the eyes of the Chinese people to the world. Gobi Ark: One of the "Ark" themed series of works by Professor Zhao Meng, Tsinghua University Academy of Fine Arts. The overall shape is in the shape of an "Ark", floating on the vast Gobi beach, entrusting the hope of human civilization with a leaf ark, "hanging the sail straight in the desert to cross the sea". 📍 Less than 20 kilometers out of Guazhou County, the sculptures are not far apart, just navigate to "Gobi Ark", "Son of the Earth" and other names, the positioning is accurate and there are clear signs, each sculpture has a parking belt on the side of the road, easy to park, and very suitable for flying drones. 😲 There are many tour buses that will stop at "Son of the Earth", so there are the most people there. The other sculptures are not crowded, and it is easy to take pictures without people. 📷 If you want to wait for a picture of the Son of the Earth with no one, unless it's very early. I waited from the afternoon until more than 7 o'clock in the evening on the first day, and there were still tour buses coming. I simply stayed nearby for one night, and the first tour bus came at 7:10 in the morning (😱😱😱 Are the tour groups too dedicated now) Fortunately, after they left, there was about half an hour of gap, and I finally took a picture of no one. 🌈 Fortunately, I took a beautiful building under the sunset at "Boundless", I can't take it from the front, I need to go around to the back of the sculpture, the sunset is just behind. When I left, I took a picture of the sunset at "Han Wuxiong Wind", which was reflected with the emperor of all ages. See the world on the road, see all beings, see yourself. This is the meaning of travel, right? I am Xiao Xue, 39 years old, resigned naked to restart life, and started the life experiment of wandering on the road.

There were many cities on the Silk Road. Because of the age, coupled with the desert sand erosion and the threat of war, many ancient cities have disappeared. The ancient city with good luck still has a ruin, and the city of Lockyang is one. Lockyangcheng, formerly known as Bitter City, is located on the Gobi Desert, about 70 kilometers southeast of Guazhou County, Gansu Province. It is also one of the well-preserved Hantang ancient cities in China. It was first built in the Han Dynasty and about 1 in the east of the city of Lockyang. There is a piece of Tutalin at the kilometer, which is called the Ta'er Temple by the locals. This is the site of the Great White Pagoda in the Ta'er Monastery. In the Tang Dynasty, the gelatin Kaiyuan Temple was recorded. According to the "Da Tang Western Regions", Tang Xuanzang once said that it is more than half a month. According to historical records, the Ta'er Temple is a place where the local officials of the Guazhou and the Song and Yuan Dynasties and the people performed religious sacrifices during the Tang and Five Dynasties. It can be seen that during the Han and Tang Dynasties, it was very lively. From the aerial view of the ancient city, you can see that the main city is rectangular, 470 meters long from north to south and 430 meters wide from east to west. In addition to the main city, there are 4 Yucheng. There is no existing house, only one tower with a height of more than 1 meter, lining the adobe and five small towers. Historically, the city of Lockyang is a large ancient city on the throat of the Silk Road. It plays an important role in politics, economy, culture and military, and preserves the best ancient military defense system and ancient farmland irrigation system. At the same time, it is also a typical specimen of the vicissitudes of the ancient desertification evolution process. It is the most perfect tourist attraction combining the ancient cultural relics and unique natural landscapes in western China. If you want to experience this history, you can come here and take a turn.

Dream back to the Millennium Lock Yangcheng there is always a city, harboring a glorious past, there is always a place, waiting for you to listen to its story. On the golden section of the ancient Silk Road, there is such a county with a profound history and culture. It is named after the melon, and it is named after the "history". Because of the "road", it is the melon. Among the merchants and towns that are eastward and westward, there is another ancient city ruins, Lockyang City, which has experienced more than 1700 years of wind and frost. The ancients said, "Why do you want to blame the willows, and the spring breeze is not the jade gate." The Gobi Desert in the early spring did not have a little greenery, and the little bit of the shuttle was growing stubbornly. Because the season of going is not right, I can't see the lock-yang that is known as desert ginseng, because the lock-yang is generally exposed to the ground in May and June every year, and matures in July and August.

I have heard about the world cultural heritage - the ruins of the city of Guazhou, and its amazing today! This is a huge and rare world! The Lockyang City Site is an archaeological site that integrates ancient sites, ancient Buddhist temple sites, ancient canal systems, ancient Shu area, and tombs. It has important research, protection and utilization value. The remnants of the Lockyang City Wall are still clearly visible. The outer city is irregularly rectangular and relatively broken. It surrounds the inner city from the north, west and east sides. There is a large temple site, commonly known as the Ta'er Monastery. There are 9 small towers arranged in the east-west line of the big tower. The shape is similar to the big tower, and most of them collapse. There are two temples in the south of the temple, which may be the remains of the bell tower and the drum tower. According to the record, the temple was originally known as Ashoka Temple.

Lockyangcheng, the civilized specimen of the Silk Road Changyang City, the civilized specimen of the Silk Road Yangyang City, was once an important city in the Tang Dynasty, and Xuanzang was going to set foot on the west. road. Nowadays, most of the buildings in the city have been inundated by the infiltrating quicksand. Basically, there is no such thing. Only the northwest corner of the city has a round tall building with arched door openings and east-west connections. It is said that Kaiyuan was also found in the city. Tongbao coins, Tang Dynasty brick and tile artifacts. Winter in the western Gobi is cold and chilly. Entering the area of the Lockyang City Site, you can stand on the side of a well-preserved turret, and look at the ruins of large and small ruins. Think of Wang Changling's sentence: "Qinghai Changyun dark snow mountain, lonely city looking at Yumenguan." When we must have the same experience with us at this time. Walk to the ruins of the city wall, the hustle and the ancient shacks that are far away from the hustle and bustle, scattered in the wilderness of the vast sky, added a few more Shen Hongxiong. Near the red willow piles, a clump of valerian grass, a cluster of camel thorns, dotted between the yellow sand dunes, looks so rich and lush. The construction scale of Lockyangcheng is twice that of the old city of Jiaohe in Xinjiang. In the existing ancient city ruins in China, the city of Lockyang can be compared with Jiaohe Ancient City and Gaochang Ancient City. The old city standing in the Gobi, how many memories of the winds of the millennium? Standing on the site of the wind-eroded city wall, looking far away, except for the lonely city that is about to fall into the mud, only the Gobi desert. In the sun shining in the east, the sighs of Canghai Sangtian will not come out.

The sister cave of Mogao Grottoes - about 10 meters to the east of the Yulin Grottoes Dunhuang City, a river called Yulin flows quietly, accompanied by a cave that overlooks thousands of sails - Yulin Grottoes. Yulin Grottoes, also known as Wanfo Cave, were built in the Northern Wei Dynasty. They are all carved on both sides of the Yulin River Gorge. Their content, artistic expression, and painting skills are the same as the Mogao Grottoes. Although the Yulin Grottoes are not as magnificent and spectacular as the Mogao Grottoes, the preservation of murals far exceeds the Mogao Grottoes, and the artistic value of the murals in Xixia is much higher than that of the Mogao Grottoes. There are 43 caves in Yulin Grottoes. The caves are divided into three types: the central tower and the cave, the central Buddhist altar, and the big cave. According to the style and content, there are five periods of Tang Dynasty, Five Dynasties, Song Dynasty, Xixia and Yuan Dynasty. The mural paintings of various dynasties are rich in presentation, the composition of murals is clearly visible, the characters are vivid and vivid, all kinds of objects are vivid and beautiful, and the strokes are meticulous and exquisite.

Recently, there are some things to be aware of when self-driving to Yulin Grottoes and Xuanquanzhi

· Recently, Yulin Grottoes are undergoing major road repairs‼️ Cars can drive in, but it's quite challenging for small cars to drive in. There are several kilometers of unpaved road from Suoyang Town to Yulin Grottoes, fortunately, it seems that the speed of the road construction is decent, and I guess it will be finished by summer if you plan to go then～ · Also, Xuanquanzhi is still undergoing major renovations, and it's not advisable to visit now‼️ According to the introduction, it is said that it could be transformed into a scenic spot by this July, but looking at the current state of the construction site, it's hard to say whether it will be completed on time, If you go to Xuanquanzhi now, it would be inconvenient to detour after getting off the highway, as both the highway exit and the service area are closed❗ If you're not taking the highway, although you might be able to see something, it's better to wait until the museum is renovated and visit then. Because, currently (including before), there is nothing much to see at the flat site of the ruins · ps The photos are unedited and posted directly

While everyone went to the northeast, I headed to the northwest and

It's really wonderful! I must take the kids to Dunhuang during the winter vacation! Say goodbye to the noisy crowds and the endless queuing. You'll find that there are very few tourists at each attraction, and the prices for hotel accommodations are particularly stable!!! ✨ In 5 days, travel through ancient and modern times across ten countries, and embrace the great Northwest. Visit 12 caves that are only open to the public during the off-season. Observe the millennium-old grottoes: Dunhuang caves, Yulin caves, and the Western Thousand Buddha Caves. Immerse yourself in the history of Dunhuang, planting a seed of culture for the children🌱 ✨ Watch the sunset in the endless desert, set off fireworks... Whether it's cultural experiences or scenic beauty, it's all top-notch. The photos shared on social media have blown up with questions! Why is it worth going to Dunhuang in winter (December-March)? 1️⃣ Great value for money, discounts on attraction tickets, and much cheaper flights compared to the peak season. 2️⃣ Fewer tourists, double the experience, and often the joy of having the place to yourself. 3️⃣ The number of caves open to visitors has increased to 12, which is really worth it! 4️⃣ There's a chance to see the desert set against the snow, a sight with a profound sense of history. ✈️ How to get there Dunhuang is located at the western end of the great Northwest, with most flights transferring through Lanzhou or Xi'an. You can choose to arrive in a nearby city the night before for a visit, then head to Dunhuang. 🌟 Dunhuang 5-Day In-Depth Winter Tour Itinerary DAY1-DAY2 Dunhuang - Western Thousand Buddha Caves - Yumen Pass - Devil City - Dunhuang DAY3-DAY5 Yulin Caves - Mogao Caves - Clay Painting - Dunhuang 🌈 Attractions worth visiting 📍 'World Cultural Heritage' Mogao Caves ✔️ Watch films at the digital center 'Millennium Mogao' and 'Fantasy Buddha Palace' ✔️ Accompanied by a guide for an in-depth visit, explore the murals and colored sculptures' secret history ✔️ Listen to historical stories, converse with the glory of the Tang Dynasty 📍 'Sister Caves of Mogao' Yulin Caves Besides visiting the caves, take a leisurely walk along the Yulin River Feel the vitality of the oasis on the desert Gobi 📍 'Eye of the Gobi' Western Thousand Buddha Caves Listen to the Jataka tales not found in the Northern Wei caves of Mogao, filling the gap with unique value 📍 Devil City China's stunningly beautiful No.2 Yardang, we take an off-road vehicle deep into the area, for a more in-depth exploration and to take various blockbuster shots 📍 Yumen Pass An important pass on the 'Silk Road', driving on the Gobi highway, the scattered oases bring life to the sandy world. When the ruins of Yumen Pass come into view, 'The spring breeze never passes Yumen Pass' will no longer be just imagination ⛪ Accommodation Stay for 4 nights in a carefully selected hotel in Dunhuang, avoiding long-distance driving and frequent changes of lodging Travel Tips❗ ❶ Dunhuang is quite cold in winter, so wear thick winter clothes + hat, scarf, gloves, and remember to bring a power bank and warm stickers as phones run out of battery quickly. ❷ The climate in Dunhuang is quite dry, remember to bring moisturizing skincare, lip balm, and a thermos, etc., to stay hydrated at all times

The sister cave of Mogao Caves--Yulin Caves

【Opening】: Yulin Caves, also known as Wanfo Gorge, Yulin Temple, Shangdongzi, is located 70 kilometers south of Guazhou County (formerly Anxi County), Jiuquan City, Gansu Province, and is under the jurisdiction of the Dunhuang Research Institute. The caves are carved on the east-west cliffs on both sides of the Yulin River valley, and are named after the forest of elm trees on the river bank. 🕘【Opening hours】: Peak season: May 1st to October 31st: 9:00 —17:30 (stop selling tickets at 16:30) Off-season: November 1st to April 30th: 10:00—17:00 (stop selling tickets at 16:00) 💴【Ticket price】: The price of the caves varies, for detailed consultation with the scenic area ⛺【Tourist projects】: Sculpture, murals 🚌【Transportation strategy】: Self-driving or chartered car 👉【Itinerary】: There are attractions such as Son of the Earth, Suoyang City, etc. to visit, and you can stay in Guazhou County or Dunhuang City at night

The Ta'er Temple, the starting point of Xuanzang's classics 1 mentioned in the Ta'er Monastery, people immediately think of the Ta'er Temple in the suburb of Xining, Qinghai, which is famous in China and Southeast Asia. Little known is that in Guazhou in the Hexi Corridor, there is also a Ta'er Monastery. The name of the temple of the Ta'er Monastery is passed down from the local shepherd population. In fact, the original name is Ashoka Temple. Although it is now a broken wall, yellow sand. Today's Ta'er Monastery site, surrounded by red willow, camel thorn, valerian and other sand plants swaying in the wind, the remains of the walls, courtyards, soil platforms, towers, rubble and other buildings, silently telling the once prosperous history. The area where the Ta'er Monastery is located is relatively well preserved and consists of two parts: the outer wall and the inner main courtyard. In the main monastery, there are mountain gates, main halls, large round towers and small round towers along the central axis from south to north. From the scale of the site, the Ta'er Monastery was a magnificent and magnificent large Buddhist temple and a relatively large Buddhist center along the Silk Road. Now you can see the bases of several large Buddhist temples. Although these ancient plaques have long since quit silently on the stage of history, the years are long, but they are like the monuments of the history of the seat, still standing on the Silk Road, silently telling people the distant land of the original In the past, it shows the historical glory of the Silk Road. Deliberately came here to photograph the sunrise. Against the backdrop of the spectacular morning sun, the snow covered by the years on the Qilian Mountain in the distance can no longer be seen. Only the site in front of it stands in the wind, which is solemn and desolate.

In Tibetan, it is called 'Gunben Xianbalin', which means 'Maitreya Temple of the Hundred Thousand Roaring Lions'

1. Kumbum Monastery is the center of Tibetan Buddhism activities in the northwest of China, and it is well-known in China and Southeast Asia. 2. Tickets for Kumbum Monastery can be purchased online or at the temple gate, and the price will fluctuate according to the season. 3. At the temple gate, you can rent costumes and photography services. The cost of costumes is about 30-200. It is recommended to take photos with your own phone. 4. Remember to put on makeup before you go, the more beautiful the better. There are also braiding services at the entrance, you can get one for a stronger atmosphere. 5. There is a route in Kumbum Monastery that circles around the temple. You can first visit the inside of the temple. If you want to understand the related culture, you can hire a tour guide. If you still have energy and strength after the visit, you can walk around the temple to appreciate the local customs. 6. It is recommended to change more small change before going, one or two, three or five, because there are many places to put money in the temple, you can put a few dollars in each place, not much. 7. Kumbum Monastery is particularly spiritual because it has the relics of Shakyamuni. But if you make a wish, you must fulfill it. So friends who want to go should pay attention to this point. You can also not make a wish and just sightsee. 8. There is no food or supermarket in the temple, you can carry it with you. If you have children, you can buy some snacks, because there is nothing for sale inside.

【Tibetan Buddhist Holy Land - Ta'er Monastery】

🎥When traveling to Qinghai, 【Ta'er Monastery】 is a must-visit place. Ta'er Monastery, also known as Kumbum Monastery, was established in the tenth year of Ming Hongwu (1377). It is located 25 kilometers southwest of Xining City, Qinghai Province. 🏛Ta'er Monastery is the activity center of Tibetan Buddhism in the northwest of China. It is one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug sect (Yellow Sect) of Tibetan Buddhism in China. It is listed with Ganden, Drepung, Sera, Tashilhunpo Monastery in Tibet, and Labrang Monastery in Gannan as the six major monasteries of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism in China. It is also a leading historical site and a national key cultural relics protection unit in Qinghai Province, and a national 5A-level tourist attraction. 🧑‍🎄Ta'er Monastery was established to commemorate Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Yellow Sect. Ta'er Monastery is also the birthplace of Master Tsongkhapa. Master Tsongkhapa studied sutras in Xiaqiong Temple in his early years, went to Tibet for further study at the age of 16, reformed Tibetan Buddhism, and founded the Gelug sect (Yellow Sect), becoming a master of a generation. 🎩Standing on the hillside and looking down, you can see the mountains surrounding it like petals. The Ta'er Monastery located on these petals is like a blooming lotus. Under the setting sun, it is red, yellow, and white, with various colors. 👬Entering the monastery, the temple buildings are built according to the mountain. There are many halls, pagodas, sutra halls, and monks' houses, with a dense layout. Walking among them, the smoke is curling, the sutras are loud, there are many people but it is not noisy, the tranquility does not cover the inner ups and downs, wandering inside, you can feel the atmosphere of the Buddha country and worship the great virtues. 💎The "three unparalleled arts" that must not be missed when visiting Ta'er Monastery - butter flowers, pile embroidery, and murals, are not only treasures of human civilization and art, but also a model of civilization passed down from generation to generation after the washing of time. 🎀Come to Ta'er Monastery once, walk between the red walls and golden tiles, you will understand what faith is, use a hundred thousand prostrations to fulfill a wish, repay a promise, wash your soul, there will be unexpected spiritual sublimation......

Silk Road Art worth checking out on a self-drive to Dunhuang: Han Wu Xiong Feng

On the way to Dunhuang, set the navigation to "Han Wu Xiong Feng". After exiting the highway, you can check in at the "Han Wu Xiong Feng" sculpture in Guazhou. "Han Wu Xiong Feng", standing at 34.5 meters high, is a large outdoor sculpture created by young sculptor Zhang Wanxing against the backdrop of Silk Road civilization. It is also one of the series of works in the "Wilderness Art Project". It sits in the vast desert, with a solemn and majestic expression. Emperor Wu of Han opened up the Silk Road. Since the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, the country has been strong, defeating the Xiong Nu, subduing the Western Regions, recovering Nan Yue, annexing Korea, and sending Zhang Qian to open up the Silk Road connecting the Eurasian continent, reaching as far as Egypt. Han Wu Xiong Feng