[2025 Tianzhu Attraction] Travel Guide for Wushao Mountain Range (Updated May)

|Tianzhu ~ Offbeat Travel. Lanzhou University Chengguan Campus Lanzhou Surroundings|Tianzhu ~ Offbeat Travel Destination Hero Tribe--Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, about 2 hours' drive from downtown Lanzhou Wuqiaoling Located at the junction of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Loess Plateau, and Inner Mongolia, it is the gateway and throat of the Hexi Corridor, a natural barrier and military stronghold of the ancient Silk Road. The highest sections of the Han and Ming Great Wall meet at Wuqiaoling, where historical figures like Zhang Qian, Huo Qubing, Tang Xuanzong, and Zuo Zongtang have left their footprints. Zhuaxi Xiulong Here you can see herds of goats, farmed white yaks, special Tibetan homestays, and a resort under construction~Climb up towards the wind horse flags from the grassland of the farmer's house, and you can glimpse the majestic Mayashan Mountain when you look back. Highly recommend having lunch at the Tibetan homestay, we were at Gesang Lingka, which has its own pasture, yurts, and you can dance to Tibetan music. You can order Tsampa for lunch, make it yourself, it's very experiential, personally think it tastes good, it's the taste of coarse grains. Tankilgou Village It is said that you can see the snow-capped mountains more directly here, but when we went, the road could not reach the place on the internet, so we asked the driver to stop by the roadside with nice scenery. A really offbeat place, but it's my favorite place in the whole trip(P2). The snowmelt from the mountains flows past the village, horses bask in the sun by the river, we follow the stream up, playing with water and admiring the autumn. Tianzhu Museum As mentioned in the previous note, I originally thought it was rare for a small city with a population of only over 200,000 to have a relatively complete museum, but I actually saw a national treasure (Bronze Yak) here. This small museum, not only the exhibition layout is very detailed and reasonable, the theme arrangement is also very interesting, also encountered the Silk Road currency exhibition, really grew up so big, the first time in the museum to see so many ancient countries' currency, very surprised, very exquisite. Finally, I have to praise the staff, patient, professional, confident! This is the pride of their own land! Huazang Temple 500 meters from the train station (White Yak Square), the main area of the temple is not large, but the sincerity is in the heart, the incense is still very strong. We took the train, so we stayed in the county for one night (Shangkeyou Hotel, newly opened, very clean), the time is relatively not so rushed, if you choose to drive, start early, one day round trip is also possible. My friend went last Saturday, it snowed under Mayashan Mountain! Meet a good weather, really beautiful! Pay attention to sun protection and wind protection, after all, you can see the snow-capped mountains, the temperature is still low. Two days and one night public transportation Tianzhu tour route reference: D1: Lanzhou--Tianzhu (Train 2 hours) - Huazang Temple - Tianzhu Museum D2: Charter departure prairie (County--Wuqiaoling--Tankilgou Village--Zhuaxi Xiulong (Lunch--Tibetan Homestay)--County Train Station) - Tianzhu--Lanzhou (Train 2 hours)

Preliminary Preparation - Valid ID: Bring your valid ID, such as your passport or ID card. - Clothing: The local temperature is relatively low, so even in summer, you need to bring warm clothing such as a light down jacket or a windbreaker. You'll also need sun-protective clothing, a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. - Medicine: Prepare medicines for altitude sickness, such as Rhodiola, as well as cold medicine, stomach medicine, and motion sickness medicine. - Other items: Prepare enough drinking water, dry food, a power bank, and a camera. Transportation Guide - Self-driving: Depart from Wuwei city center and drive along G312/Shanghai–Khorgas Highway. If you take the expressway, you can get off at the Anmen exit and then head towards Wushaoling. - Public transportation: First, take a bus to Tianzhu County, and then transfer to a local vehicle to reach Wushaoling directly. Attractions - Wushaoling Viewing Platform: Overlooking the entire Wushaoling Mountain Pass, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the rolling mountains and vast grasslands. The wind turbines in the distance are scattered in an orderly manner, making it a great place to take photos. - Ruins of the Han and Ming Great Walls: Wushaoling is the meeting point of the highest sections of the Han and Ming Great Walls. Here, you can see the broken walls and earthen mounds, and feel the vicissitudes of history. - Wushaoling International Ski Resort: Integrating skiing, expansion activities, grass skiing, internet-famous photo spots, and unique dining and accommodation, you can enjoy the snow while admiring the surrounding wonders, such as the Maya Snow Mountain. Accommodation - Geshang International Hotel (Wuwei Tianzhu Railway Station Branch): Rated 4.7, all rooms offer mountain views. Located at No. 5, Sanxia Road. - Shangke You Hotel (Wuwei Tianzhu Huazang Square Branch): Rated 4.7, with good breakfast and accommodation environment. Located on the 3rd-5th floors of Huarui Guangsha, Huaxiu Road South, Huazangsi Town. - Tianzhu Jinrongyuan Hotel (Wuwei Tianzhu Huazang Square Branch): Rated 4.8, with a rich breakfast and a superior location. Located at No. 170, Zhugong Road, Huazangsi Town. Precautions - Respect local culture: Respect local religious beliefs and customs. Do not touch Buddha statues or ritual objects in temples without permission. When participating in folk activities, observe local etiquette. - Protect the environment: Do not litter and help protect the fragile natural environment. - Pay attention to traffic safety: When driving, pay attention to road conditions and weather changes, and drive carefully. In case of severe weather, seek shelter in a safe place immediately.

Wushaoling Mountain, located in the central part of Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Wuwei City, Gansu Province, marks the eastern starting point of the Hexi Corridor. From here, we began our grand tour of Qinghai and Gansu in the summer of 2024. Wushaoling Mountain stands as a majestic barrier between the earth and sky. I yearned to ascend its towering peak, to overlook the magnificent scenery, and to experience the immense power of nature firsthand. ▪Everything here exudes resilience and profound stability. As far as the eye can see, the landscape stretches endlessly. In this moment, all my narrow-mindedness and worries vanished like smoke. Wushaoling Mountain is situated in the central part of Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Wuwei City, Gansu Province. It belongs to the southeastern end of the Lenglong Ridge, the northern branch of the Qilian Mountains. It stretches approximately 17 km from east to west and about 10 km from north to south, serving as a natural boundary between the Longzhong Plateau and the Hexi Corridor.

I have been to Maya Snow Mountain 888 times, and I have compiled a guide for you to avoid pitfalls❗️ ✅｜Travel route: Maya Snow Mountain➡️Wushaoling➡️Kushui Danxia 🚗｜Self-drive/chartered car, high-speed rail cannot reach❗️ 🛍️｜Clothing guide: The temperature in winter is around 5℃--15℃, with a large temperature difference between morning and evening. The temperature drops sharply when it snows. It is recommended to wear down jackets, fleece leggings, jeans, cotton boots or warm sports shoes. It is not recommended to wear slippers, high heels, etc. Remember to bring a hat, scarf 🧣, and gloves 🧤. The temperature outside is cold and the phone consumes power quickly. It is recommended to bring a power bank for easy charging! 📷｜Photo Tips: Poses: running, scattering snowflakes, lying down, love snow pit Props: balloons, flowers, champagne cola, red umbrella, fireworks ❄️｜Snow Playing Tips: Outfit: Clothes colors 🔴🟡🔵⚪️⚫️ are very photogenic, and shoes are best snow boots or waterproof shoes Warm 5-piece set: hat + gloves + earmuffs + mask + sunglasses are essential Travel guide (one-day tour❗️) 📍1st️⃣Stop: Maya Snow Mountain (about 1.5 hours of play) It is called "Ani Gazhuo" in Tibetan, located at the western foot of Wushaoling Mountain, and the main peak is Baigada, which is called "Lunbushize" in Tibetan, meaning the highest Mount Xumi, with an altitude of 4447 meters. You can drive to the foot of the snow-capped mountains, where you can experience the majestic mountains up close, and your kids can play in the snow and take great photos. 📍Stop 2: Wushaoling, the starting point of the Hexi Corridor (about 1 hour of sightseeing) As the starting point and key point of the ancient Silk Road, it is the only way for Zhang Qian, Huo Qubing, Xuanzang and others to travel west. Here you can check in and take photos at the Hexi Gateway landmark, and see the ruins of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall and the beacon tower from afar. In winter, Wushaoling is covered with snow, with winding mountains, cattle and sheep everywhere, and the scenery is endless. 📍Stop 3️⃣: Kushui Danxia (2 hours of sightseeing) Also known as Shuiying Danxia, ​​it has a history of 150 million years after many crustal movements, wind erosion and water erosion. It is colorful: red, orange, yellow and other colors are intertwined. Kushui Danxia has an ice skating rink, ice sled 💰30/person (ice skating is optional), great for taking photos, no less than Ink Danxia❗️ These three places are not far away, it is recommended to take a day trip, a very fulfilling day and return trip, about 100 per person [Purse]

📍Address of scenic spots: Lanzhou-Wuwei 🚗Transportation to scenic spots: Chartered car 👍️Must-visit attractions: Lanzhou Old Street, Yellow River Tower, Wushaoling, Binggou River, Wuwei City Wall 💗Other tips: Lanzhou Old Street is a newly built commercial street, the mutton skewers there are good, my son rarely takes the initiative to buy [Tiptop] We originally wanted to watch the light show at the Yellow River Tower, but it was rescheduled due to the Dragon Boat Festival. It will be available on normal weekends, and tickets can be purchased one day in advance. Wushaoling: The junction of three major plateaus. We didn’t climb any higher because we were afraid of altitude sickness as it was our first time climbing to 3,000 meters. But it was a pleasant surprise to see the Qilian Mountains for the first time. And I was overthinking it because my son was so full of energy. Binggou River Scenic Area: The scenic area is very large, there is a Tianchi Lake on the mountain, and some roads have no plank roads. We mainly visited the Malanhua Grassland. June is the flowering season. If you need to visit the whole area, you need to stay overnight. There is a hotel in the scenic area, but I feel that the supporting facilities are not yet mature. However, it is definitely a good place worth visiting. Wuwei: Formerly known as Liangzhou, we walked around the city wall. There was a fountain in front of the city wall. The Leitai Han Tomb - the famous Horse Stepping on Flying Swallow was unearthed there, but it is now in the Gansu Museum, so we just passed by. We went there in June, and in July you can choose Menyuan's Baili rapeseed flowers, which are in full bloom. If you are interested in religious culture, you can choose Tianti Mountain Grottoes (the earliest Buddhist grotto art in China).

From Wuwei to Lanzhou, drive along the 312 Lianhuo Expressway, pass through the Wushaoling No. 1 Tunnel, exit the expressway at Anyuan Town, and after a section of winding mountain road, you will reach Wushaoling, known as the "intersection of the three major plateaus". Wushaoling is the natural boundary between the Longzhong Plateau and the Hexi Corridor, as well as the transition line from the semi-arid zone to the arid zone, and the westernmost point reached by the East Asian monsoon. Historical records describe Wushaoling as "snow in midsummer, bone-chilling cold," making it an important pass on the ancient Silk Road from the Hexi Corridor to Chang'an. The Wushaoling Viewing Platform is at an altitude of 3052 meters. It takes about 50 minutes of climbing from the parking area to the viewing platform. The altitude is quite high, so you can only climb and rest intermittently. At the top of the ridge, there is a conical tower, which is the intersection point of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Loess Plateau, and the Inner Mongolia Plateau. 🌈 It is said that you can see the Mayashan Snow Mountain from Wushaoling, but due to distant fog, it was not visible. The wind at the top of the mountain is very strong and extremely cool. Looking down at the sheep on the mountainside, they seem to be motionless, as if frozen in place. At the foot of the mountain, locals grill lamb skewers on the spot. After eating a few skewers to replenish energy, continue heading to Lanzhou. 🚗 Precautions: 1. The altitude of Wushaoling is relatively high. Be sure to pay attention to your physical strength when climbing. If you experience discomfort or other altitude sickness, stop climbing and descend slowly. 2. The wind around the Wushaoling Viewing Platform is very strong, so make sure to secure your hat. 3. There are small vendors selling food and drinks in the Wushaoling parking lot. You can make some supplements at the foot of the mountain before climbing. 4. It takes about 40 minutes to an hour to climb from the parking lot to the intersection of the three major plateaus.

This is the first autonomous county for ethnic minorities in the country named by Premier Zhou Enlai, and the first region to implement ethnic regional autonomy after the founding of the People's Republic of China. It takes only 39 minutes to reach Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport by taking the intercity train starting with 'C' from Tianzhu West Station, which is a few minutes faster than taking the train from Lanzhou West Station. There are not many tourists here, so there are no luxury chain hotels. The county is not large, but within the county area, there are Huazang Temple, Tiantang Temple, Shimen Temple, and Dongda Temple; within the territory, there are historical sites such as the Wushaoling Great Wall, Songshan Ancient City, Lijiazhuang Han Tombs, and Chakouyi Ancient Fort.

Wushaoling is a natural watershed in various dry and wet conditions in China. As the last barrier to the northwest from the monsoon in the southeast, Wushaoling interprets China's southeast and northwest. With its own unique climatic conditions, Wushaoling is also a dangerous glory. Mr. Jin Yongs "Swords and Enemies", in the book "Wu Shou Lingkou Fighting Ghosts, Red Sets of the Duankou Officials" once exaggeratedly described Wushaoling "one mountain, one side is a cliff, the valley The bottom of the situation is not dangerous. Behind the Great Wall stood a sturdy Ma Ma Xueshan, silently guarding the Ming Great City for hundreds of years like a good friend.