[2025 Zhangye Attraction] Travel Guide for Zhangye City Museum (Updated Mar)

Zhangye, this city, no one will ask you whether you love it or not, only people will ask you why you love it. The colorful colors, brilliant ethnic groups, inclusive religions, ancient history, galloping horses, young heroes, there are many reasons to fall in love with Zhangye, and it seems that no reason is needed. Zhangye is located in the transition zone from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to the Inner Mongolia Plateau, and has gathered all the natural landscapes that people can imagine, such as glaciers, snow mountains, forests, grasslands, rivers, lakes, Danxia, wetlands, deserts, Gobi, mountains, and canyons. It can be called a world geomorphological landscape garden. Zhangye was originally a place where ethnic minorities lived. In history, it was a necessary place for the Western Regions to enter the Central Plains. It was also a strategic point for a strong dynasty to achieve unification and strength. Various ethnic groups blend here, and the ethnic culture is brilliant and colorful. As a 4,000-year-old civilization ancient city, Zhangye's history is old enough. The ancient history adds a bit of heaviness to this city. Rich historical relics have also become our carrier to look back at the past. 🚙Transportation The scenic spots in Zhangye are far apart, public transportation is not convenient, it is recommended to drive or charter. 📜Itinerary details D1️⃣: Zhangye Museum➡️Xilai Temple➡️Dafo Temple➡️Muta Temple ✅Zhangye Museum (2h) The first stop is at the Zhangye Museum, overlooking the 4,000-year-old civilization ancient city and entering the important town of the ancient Silk Road. Follow the footsteps of the commentator, step by step into the museum, in the exquisite cultural relics such as bronzes, pottery, coins, porcelain, etc., look back at the 4,000-year-old civilization ancient city, the important town of the ancient Silk Road. ✅Xilai Temple (1h) Feel the incense after the reconstruction in the Xilai Temple, which was built in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. ✅Dafo Temple (2h) Check in the only religious hall of the Western Xia minority in China, the largest indoor reclining Buddha Nirvana statue in China, and the murals of Journey to the West, which are 200 years earlier than the book. ✅Muta Temple (1h) Take a walk outside the Muta Temple in the evening and see the life of the locals outside the ancient building. D2️⃣: Biandukou➡️Binhe Jiuliang ✅Biandukou (3h) Many people rush to Qinghai to see a field of rapeseed flowers, but in Zhangye Biandukou, under the Qilian Mountains, the rapeseed flowers bloom, also blooming the colors of Zhangye. Biandukou has travel photography, hot air balloons and other projects to check in. ✅Binhe Jiuliang (3h) Come to the birthplace of Binhe Jiuliang, in the strong aroma of wine, from the Shen Zhou Qu Workshop to the brewing workshop, from the 10,000-ton wine cellar to the 10,000-acre sorghum raw material base, step by step to trace the roots, go into the past and present of Binhe Jiuliang, and explore this time-brewed Long legend. D3️⃣: Colorful Danxia ✅Colorful Danxia (sunrise and sunset, rest at noon) The colorful Danxia has long become the business card of Zhangye and the dreamland of many good “color” followers at home and abroad. When the colorful Danxia meets the hot air balloon, it is even more romantic in the summer of Zhangye. D4️⃣: Gaotai Site➡️Zhengyi Gorge➡️Camel City Site ✅Gaotai Site (1h) Not far from the Camel City site, history lovers check in, if time is tight, you can ignore it. ✅Zhengyi Gorge (3h) You can see the wild gorge of the Great Wall, desolate and wild. ✅Camel City Site (2h) Must check in, once the ancient capital of Beiliang, the military city of the Tang Dynasty, now only the broken walls remain, stubbornly standing in the desert alkali, desolate and solemn, telling the prosperity of the past with the wind and sand. The ruins are silent and persistent, this stubbornness that spans 1,800 years, makes people tearful. D5⃣️: Sunan Matisi➡️Kangle Grassland➡️Wenshu Temple➡️Sunan County ✅Matisi (3h) Mainly visit Matisi North Temple, Thousand Buddha Cave. Matisi North Temple is the most peculiar, most strictly arranged, and largest grotto in the Matisi Grottoes. Must check in Thirty-three days, Tibetan Buddha Hall. ✅Kangle Grassland (3h) The grassland in summer is close to the sky and not far from the snow mountain, which is very similar to the appearance of the dream far away. Here you can take a large travel photo of the Yugur style. ✅Wenshu Temple (2h) The ancient grotto group under the main peak of Qilian Mountain, for thousands of years, Tibetan Buddhism, Han Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese religious sects have intersected and integrated here. D6️⃣: Yanzhi Mountain➡️Shandan Horse Farm ✅Yanzhi Mountain (3h) Shandan Yanzhi Mountain, the waist of the Hexi Corridor, the throat of the Ganliang Ancient Road, has always been a must for the military. Huo Qubing defeated the Huns here, laying the foundation for Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty to "expand the Western Regions and open up the Silk Road". Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty held a "World Expo" here, which became the prototype of the modern World Expo. ✅Shandan Horse Farm (3h) Must check in, although the distance is relatively far, but it is currently the largest and oldest horse farm in the world.

Don't miss the museum when you visit Zhangye! This cultural treasure trove hidden in the city not only allows you to understand the past and present of Zhangye, but also takes you to experience the glory of the ancient Silk Road. 📍Address: No. 63, County Government Street, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, Gansu Province 🕙Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday 8:30 - 17:30, closed on Mondays. 🎫Tickets: Free🆓, just bring your ID card. 🌟Themed exhibitions: 1. General History Exhibition: From the "weak water" prehistoric civilization to the "government city" of the Ming and Qing dynasties, 6 units and 21 sections clearly present the historical context of Zhangye. Here, you can see ancient pottery, exquisite bronzeware, and artifacts reflecting the lifestyle of different periods, each telling a story of the past. 2. Special Exhibition: "Zhangye on the Silk Road" showcases the important position of Zhangye as a Silk Road hub. Looking at the artifacts from different regions, you can almost see the bustling scene of camel bells and merchants traveling in the past. ✨Featured exhibits: 1. Bronze Horse: The horse's face is long and the eyes are wide open. The back is round and the hips are full. The shape is beautiful and the craftsmanship is exquisite. It is one of the "treasures" of the museum and can be compared with the "Flying Horse" of Gansu. 2. Replica of the East Pagoda Pillar of the Golden Pagoda Temple: A one-to-one replica, exquisite high-relief colored sculptures, and the posture of the flying Apsaras is lifelike. You can experience the charm of Buddhist art of the Northern Liang period at close range. 3. Bronze Bell of the Tang Dynasty: Once hung on the Zhenyuan Building, the bell body is decorated with patterns, and it is cast in three layers and nine pictures. The images are separated by cross-shaped patterns, carrying the weight of the years. 📌Tips for visiting: 1. It is recommended to visit for 2-3 hours, slowly stroll around, and carefully appreciate the charm of the museum. 2. You can rent a guide at the entrance (20r/time), or listen to the audio guide on the applet to learn about the stories behind the artifacts and enhance your experience. 3. The light in the museum is relatively dim. When taking photos, please do not turn on the flash to protect the artifacts.

Zhangye, Zhang Guo Bi Ye, West to the Western Regions. Cut off the arm of the Xiongnu, and expand the armpit of China. Huo Qubing crossed the Yanzhi Mountain, defeated the Xiongnu, and won the Hexi Corridor. Emperor Yang of Sui was the first emperor to set foot in the Hexi Corridor. At the foot of Yanzhi Mountain, the World Expo originated from the gathering of the leaders of 27 countries in the Western Regions. This is Ganzhou—Zhangye. Recommended attractions 🏄‍♂️: As always, learn some history first, then visit. Otherwise, there are no crowds, no mountains and rivers, but it is still worth it. 1⃣️ Zhangye Museum 2⃣️ Dafo Temple (Western Xia Temple) 3⃣️ Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park 4⃣️ Shandan Army Horse Farm 5⃣️ Mati Temple 6⃣️ Jinta Temple Transportation 🚆: The museum and Dafo Temple are in the city, just across the street from each other. You can walk or take a taxi. For other attractions, you can join a day tour or drive yourself. Food and accommodation 🏠: We recommend staying near Xinhui International Times Square, because there are many delicious foods on the B1 floor. Walk 5 minutes to Ganzhou Market for more delicious food, and another 5 minutes to Wanshou Commercial Street for all the food, drinks, and entertainment you want.

This dazzling pearl in the Hexi Corridor has a treasure trove of thousands of years of stories - Zhangye Museum, which invites you to a unique regional style, invites you to a time and space exploration journey! Stepping on this ancient and mysterious land, it seems to be in the prosperity of the Silk Road. In the museum, more than 11,000 precious cultural relics are like fragments of history, piecing together vivid pictures. The Warring States Flower Horn Bronze Deer, with its unique shape, tells the legend of Zhangye as an ancient hunting ground; the Han Dynasty Bronze Horse, with its mighty posture, shows the glorious history of Zhangye as a military fortress. The Ming Longquan Kiln Bean Green Glaze Carved Flower Pattern Bowl is like a rare gift from the Silk Road, allowing you to taste the blend and collision of ancient cultures. Here, calligraphy and painting are no longer distant arts, but cultural symbols closely related to Zhangye. Every stroke of the inscription contains the wisdom and tenacity of the people of Zhangye. The mystery of the Warring States Yunlei Bronze, the wisdom of the Han Dynasty bamboo slips, and the melodiousness of the Ming Dynasty guqin will take you into the thousand-year history of Zhangye and feel the profound heritage of this land. Zhangye Museum, it is not just a museum, but a time tunnel connecting Zhangye's past and future. Here, you will experience the unique charm of Zhangye as a heavy town on the Silk Road, and feel the historical changes and cultural integration on this land. Zhangye Museum

Zhangye Museum, located on Xianfu Street, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, Gansu Province, has a construction area of 11,000 square meters and is a national second-level museum. The museum has a collection of more than 11,000 historical relics, gathering a large number of cultural treasures from ancient times to modern times. The main functional areas are divided into general history exhibition area and special exhibition area. The general history exhibition includes Ruoshui Suoyuan, Zhangguo Biye, Beiliang Xiongfeng, Wanguo Xianbin, Ethnic Regime, Fucheng Yiyun, 6 units and 21 sections, displaying 444 historical relics from Zhangye's prehistoric to Qing Dynasty. The special exhibition includes "Zhangye on the Silk Road" and "Ganzhou Good Man Museum". It is recommended that those who like history must come to Zhangye. The overall is not big, 4 exhibition halls, the exhibition is very attentive, telling the history from the pre-Qin to the Qing Dynasty. The cultural relics are very rich, the Han Dynasty bronzes, the Buddha statues since the Wei and Jin Dynasties, really reflect the historical heritage of Zhangye. The most intimate is! Some uncommon characters are annotated, and many museums can't do this! It is recommended that other museums learn and promote. Recommendation: Free visit, scan code to enter, closed on Monday, don't run in vain.

Xiaojin Plateau Scenic Area From Lanzhou Airport to the city center, you can choose the intercity high-speed train or a hotel near Lanzhou West Station. Gansu Museum — Statue of Mother Yellow River — White Pagoda Mountain — Zhengning Night Market Arrive in Lanzhou at noon, rest at the hotel, then head to the Gansu Museum (advance reservation required, closed on Mondays, seriously visit for 3-4 hours), afterwards take a taxi to the Statue Park, stroll along the Yellow River, reach the park via Baita Bridge, climb up to overlook the Lanzhou night view (after 12:00 midnight), there is a dessert shop downstairs, you can try it. (The night market food is so-so) Day 1 Morning: From Lanzhou to Zhangye West/Overnight train Evening: Take the train from Zhangye Railway Station to Dunhuang, sleep on the train Day 2 Morning: Arrive in Dunhuang, admire the Danxia landform Noon: Reach Zhangye Museum (advance reservation required, closed on Mondays, food may not be cheap, it is recommended to bring some snacks) Afternoon: Visit Mogao Caves (it is recommended to stay near the train station for convenience) Evening: Shazhou Night Market — Watch the 'Impression Dunhuang' performance Day 3 Morning: Arrive in Dunhuang/Overnight in Dunhuang It is recommended to stay near the train station for convenience.

🎈Day Eight: Zhangye Mati Temple 🎈Mati Temple is definitely the highlight of this Hexi Corridor trip! The name 'Little Switzerland of the East' is well-deserved! 🎈While watching a documentary about the Hexi Corridor, I knew there was a place called Linsong Xie Valley, a meeting point of Han and Tibetan Buddhism. When we drove to the entrance of the Mati Temple scenic area, we were stunned by the continuous peaks and snow-capped mountains. Upon entering the scenic area, a landscape of autumnal mountains and waters unfolded before us, a perfect fusion of natural and cultural landscapes, as if we were in a paradise. 🎈We drove to the visitor center, bought tickets, and drove straight into the scenic area. Due to time constraints, we only stayed at Mati Temple and didn't visit Jinta Temple, but at the Zhangye Museum, we saw a replica of the Jinta Temple grottoes, so we had no regrets. 🎈Although the Thirty-Three Heavens Grottoes and the Thousand Buddha Caves have been severely damaged, their architectural forms are still worth exploring. The grotto plank road is built inside the mountain, winding and twisting, and some sections can be quite thrilling. Sometimes, we even felt like we were climbing up to a hanging temple. 🎈Standing at the top of the Thirty-Three Heavens Grottoes, overlooking the Ximalian Beach, the view is magnificent. After descending the mountain, we continued to explore, following the road ahead, greeted by the splendid autumn scenery. Moreover, there are few visitors here, and the roadside is planted with a sea buckthorn trees, which are in the season of ripe fruits. Picking a few sea buckthorns to try, the taste was simply delicious. 🎈The preservation of the grottoes at Mati Temple is not complete, and visitors can only see four of them. However, the explanations in the scenic area are very detailed, leaving a deep impression. After leaving Mati Temple, we moved on to Wuwei. On the Lianhuo Expressway, we also saw the ruins of the Ming Great Wall, and even encountered a group of camels by the road, such unexpected beautiful scenery always brings a pleasant surprise.

I got to wear Hanfu while immersing myself with the history of the Silk Road in the Northeast of China 🇨🇳. It was a great experience and this was my first time to wear Hanfu 😄💕. How to get there? If you are already in Zhangye city, you can go to there by bike 🚴 or by taxi. There’s also a famous temple just across the museum which is called Dafu Temple. You can just cross the street and buy a ticket 🎟 before entering the temple. I hope you can visit the museum if ever you visit Zhangye.