Guazhou county in Jiuquan, Gansu province [Photo provided to jiuquan.gogansu.com]

Guazhou county in Jiuquan, Gansu province, is known as the "capital of wind power" and the "hometown of honeydew melons" in China. But for ancient culture enthusiasts, few things are more therapeutic than a mindful walk around the local cultural sites filled with wonder and adventure.

Suoyang City Ruins

The Suoyang City Ruins in Guazhou county, Jiuquan, Gansu province [Photo provided to jiuquan.gogansu.com]

Founded more than 2,000 years ago, Suoyang City was an important landmark along the ancient Silk Road, and one which held a key role in the politics and the economy of the area during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24).

As an inland county in Northwest China, Guazhou’s climate is arid with little rainfall, where precipitation is far lower than evaporation. It is precisely this natural environment that preserves the most primitive and authentic past. The Suoyang City Ruins stand strong, embodying its resilience.

Yulin Caves

The Yulin Caves in Guazhou county, Jiuquan, Gansu province [Photo provided to jiuquan.gogansu.com]

Along with the Mogao Caves in neighboring Dunhuang city, the Yulin Caves are also renowned for their exquisite murals and painted sculptures.

On the way to the Yulin Caves, visitors will encounter deserts, streams, solitary walls, and poplar forests. The desolate desert stretches nearby, while in the distance, people can see the snow-capped mountains of the Qilian Mountains.

Qiaowan Ancient Town

Qiaowan Ancient Town in Guazhou county, Jiuquan, Gansu province [Photo provided to jiuquan.gogansu.com]

It is said that Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) dreamed of Qiaowan Ancient Town. Its real construction date is in 1733, right after Kangxi pacified the rebellion of Galdan. The walls and buildings were set to stabilize China's western regions.