Gansu Sheng Hotels China

The Gansu Province is located in the northwest part of the country nestled between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus. The prominent Yellow River runs through the southern part of the province and borders the vast steppes of Mongolia it also incorporates part of the Gobi Desert. There are eleven cities, all of which are steeped in a colourful and rich history but Lanzhou; the capital of this province is the largest. There are three National Parks each with its own individual interest and of course, the spectacular Great Wall that is so prominent in this region and is not to be missed. Parts of this province are wild and remote but at its heart the Silk Road has left a rich and varied history.

The historic Silk Road, 1,600 km long, starts in Chang’an and goes all the way to Constantinople. By travelling along this Route, you can find the grottoes at Dunhuang, which houses a fine collection of art. At the Jiayu Pass on the Great Wall of China are the Grottoes of Tianshui, 194 cave shrines known as the Gallery of Oriental Sculpture.

There is also a Silk Route Museum in Jiuquan, which has some fantastic items on display. Whilst in Jinquan, you can visit the Satellite Launch Centre. Some of the most important Tibetan monasteries outside of Tibet are in the Gansu and you can reach them by local bus or for the more adventurous ride horses across the high plateaus to have lunch, which might include Yak milk, butter and yogurt, with Tibetan Monks in their yurts.

There are camel rides and 4x4 journeys aplenty, which will take you out to some of the most remote spots in the region. The Jiayuguan Pass of the Great Wall is the largest entrance still intact, it was built in the early Ming dynasty. It is built near an oasis and was the first pass on the western edge of China it earned the name ’The First and Greatest Pass under Heaven’.

The city of Jiayuguan is nearby, and has the largest steel company in the Gansu Province. AccommodationAcross the region, there are many hotels, hostels and self-catering accommodation to from which to choose. In Lanzhou, as with all the cities there is a good mix of hotels from the Grand Solxe Hotel (five star) to the budget Yingbin Hotel.

Some cheaper hotels do not take foreigners so you have to look around.