Let’s travel to Gansu and walk from “horses treading on flying swallows” to “the end of the Great Wall”

Although I often study travel, I have been very unfamiliar with Gansu for a long time. It seems that I have never known what Gansu has to offer. Looking back, I rarely have friends from Gansu.

I went to Ruoergai Grassland a few years ago, and I learned that Gansu is adjacent to Sichuan. Apart from taking the opportunity to go to Gannan Langmusi and briefly set foot on the border of Gansu, I know very little about this province.

I knew that there were Lanzhou Ramen, Jiuquan Satellite, Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, and Yumen Oilfield in the northwest, but I didn’t know that they were all in Gansu.

I forgot what day it was, but I suddenly wanted to see the end of the Great Wall - Jiayuguan. After seeing too many snow-capped mountains on the plateau and mountains and rivers in the south, it’s time to see the vastness and desolation of the Great Gobi.

Only then did I notice Gansu. It turns out that Jiayuguan is in Gansu. In addition to Jiayuguan, Gansu also has Lanzhou Ramen, Colorful Danxia Mountain, Horses Treading on Flying Swallows, and the Yellow River Bridge. Gansu has become a place I really want to visit.

Lanzhou

Looking down at Lanzhou from the plane, I already felt the desolation of the Northwest. Lanzhou is not a very prosperous city, but the sunny day when I arrived in Lanzhou suddenly made me more curious about this city.

It seems that most people traveling to Gansu choose to pass through Lanzhou in a hurry. Even though it is the National Day holiday, Lanzhou is not crowded.

When you arrive in Lanzhou, the first thing you do is eat Lanzhou Ramen?

No, when you arrive in Lanzhou, you should first look for the handed down masterpiece - Horse Treading Feiyan.

Because it was written into the screen-level primary school text "Horse Treading on Swallows", the bronze galloping horse has become the most well-known cultural relic.

But few people seem to know that the authentic horse-stepping swallow is collected in the Gansu Museum in Lanzhou.

I have seen replicas of the bronze galloping horse on countless occasions. To my surprise, I thought the bronze galloping horse was as big as a real horse, but found that the real thing was only about a foot tall.

Horses trampling on flying swallows has probably become my most profound impression of Lanzhou, because it is so famous.

In addition to the bronze galloping horse, it is said that the Gansu Museum also has some other treasures, but I can’t understand them very well, so I can only take a few random photos as a souvenir.

Yellow River! I also learned that the Yellow River flows through Lanzhou.

The Zhongshan Iron Bridge in Lanzhou is a gathering place for foreign tourists to watch the Yellow River.

Probably because Lanzhou is still located in the upper reaches of the Yellow River. The Yellow River in Lanzhou is not wide, the water is not fast, and the color is not that yellow.

Baitashan Park, next to Zhongshan Bridge, is a good place overlooking the Yellow River. The scenery here is most beautiful at sunset.

Far up the Yellow River among the white clouds, there is an isolated city called Wanren Mountain. Lanzhou is built along the Yellow River and is located in a valley. There are endless mountains on both sides of the city, which should fit this poem very well.

The most annoying thing when traveling is competing with profiteers. I read on Zhihu that people in the Northwest are very tough. Fortunately, I was lucky. Most of the people I met along the way were very warm Northwest people. The only other thing was that while watching the sunset at Zhongshan Bridge, a drunk uncle came to grab some bread.

I remember when I was taking a bus in Lanzhou, a little girl saw that I was carrying an extra-large travel bag and insisted on giving up her seat to me. She also warned me to be careful of thieves and scammers on the road. It is a blessing for travelers to encounter such kindness.

The only regret in Lanzhou is that when you want to eat a bowl of Lanzhou ramen, what comes into view are Shanxi sliced ​​noodles, Chongqing noodles, and even Beijing fried noodles. But no matter what, at this moment, it’s time to set off for Danxia Mountain, an important destination in Gansu.

Zhangye Danxia Mountain

Zhang Ye Danxia can’t remember the first time she heard about this place. But it must be because of Danxia Mountain that I know about Zhangye.

In my impression, the pictures about Zhang Ye Danxia on the Internet are all colorfully photoshopped.

I don’t know if it’s true or not, but as a color lover, I always prefer bright red and purple objects.

Danxia Mountain, I really want to go and find out more about it. Are those colorful stones real or fake?

I heard that the sunrise and sunset in Danxia Mountain are beautiful. I slept on the train all night and took Didi at four o'clock in the morning to go to Danxia Mountain. But God was not kind to us, and we saw neither sunrise nor sunset that day.

Recalling the last time I encountered the same unfortunate situation at Kanas Colorful Beach, I can’t help but think, am I not close enough to the Danxia landform?

Fortunately, the situation was not too bad. Except for the cloudy weather at sunrise and sunset, the sky was blue and white clouds during the day. I heard from a friend that the last time I came to Danxia Mountain, it was cloudy and rainy, and it felt like I had come all the way to see a ball of red mud.

I stayed in Danxia Mountain for a whole day, walked around twice, checked out spots, grabbed camera seats, and chased the light. I was able to more carefully appreciate the color changes of these mountains under different lights.

There are three landforms inside, which feel quite classic: Pork Belly Mountain, Big Wave Mountain, and Colorful Hills.

I once had a dream to become proficient in geology. Because during the travel process, when others are sighing that the mountains are so beautiful, I can sigh: Look, that piece of sedimentary rock is so beautiful!

I have not seen many Danxia landforms, and I feel that the landforms of Zhangye Danxia Mountain are quite special. After seeing the whiteness of the snow-capped mountains and the green pines of Huangshan Mountain, I also felt that I could be attracted by this red land.

The landscape of Danxia Mountain is somewhat atmospheric. It is broad enough, and the rolling mountains are enough to make people feel the desolation, loneliness, and magic of the Northwest.

Danxia Mountain has enough landform changes to provide rich aesthetic space for travelers who love natural style.

As a scenic spot, Danxia Mountain tickets are not too expensive and the management is relatively complete. It is one of the few scenic spots in China that is not too tricky. I hope I will not fall into the crowd of tourists in the future.

The Pork Belly Mountain in Danxia Mountain is considered an iconic attraction. I have always wondered whether the pictures on the Internet have been photoshopped or whether they really have so many colors.

After seeing the actual scene, I found that it was indeed very layered, and it was especially gorgeous under the afternoon light. Although I didn’t see the best effect at sunset, it was worth the trip.

As usual, I would like to use this picture to prove that I have been to the Northwest and Danxia Mountain. Continuing westward, we will reach the ultimate destination of Gansu trip - Jiayuguan.

Jiayuguan

Jiayuguan, the end point of the Ming Great Wall. The desolation in the desert is actually the ultimate goal of this trip.

The Great Wall should be considered a required course for travel. There are many opportunities to climb the Badaling or Mutianyu Great Wall, or walk through the ruins of the Jiankou Great Wall.

But it is rarely possible to experience something as interesting as seeing the end of the Great Wall.

That autumn, I passed by Shanhaiguan and went to the starting point of the Great Wall to look at the sea.

From then on, I had a dream to one day go to the end of the Great Wall and see the desert.

The old dragon head of Shanhaiguan and the starting point of the Great Wall.

As usual, I would like to take this picture to prove that I have been to Shanhaiguan.

At the same time, I look forward to leaving a trace on the last pass of the Great Wall.

Looking forward to echoing Shanhaiguan in Jiayuguan.

Finally, one autumn a few years later, the dream about Jiayuguan came true.

This small mound outside Jiayuguan City is the end point of the Ming Great Wall.

Look closer and take a closer look at this little mound.

Compared with the turbid air in Shanhaiguan, the sky in Jiayuguan is clear and dry.

The small mound is leaning against a cliff on one side. This is a canyon carved by the snow and water of the Qilian Mountains. Both sides of the canyon are suitable for leisurely people to stroll, take photos, and bask in the warm desert sun.

Jiayuguan is one of the few cities where you can see snow-capped mountains. The Great Wall guarding the foot of the snow-capped mountains can probably only be seen in Jiayuguan.

Overlooking the Qilian Mountains.

The most important pass in the world is Jiayuguan.

I like the simple lines and light and shadow of Jiayuguan Tower the most.

The city wall covered with loess exudes the flavor of the northwest land.

The sunset at Guancheng in Jiayuguan is the favorite of those who enjoy spears and cannons.

When the sun sets over the city, the Jiayuguan Tower is at its most majestic, and the entire tower turns bright orange.

There is solitary smoke in the desert to the east, and the sun sets over the long river in the west.

The me in Jiayuguan finally echoes the you in Shanhaiguan.

In addition to the perfect sunset in Jiayuguan, the regret of not having ramen in Lanzhou was made up for by the beef noodles in Jiayuguan. It turns out that Lanzhou Ramen is beef noodles.

What is more memorable than beef noodles is this apple from Jiayuguan.

Red, sweet, and crisp, it looks like the apple that the old lady gave to Snow White.

But it was a gift from the innkeeper.

Leaving Jiayuguan, we stopped in Jiuquan, the last stop of Gansu’s small parade.

Where there is oil, there are old friends. In Jiuquan, I met my fellow disciples who had been away for 5 years, and enjoyed the Northwest roast mutton and lamb trotters.

And what we must not forget is the very delicious ginger beer.

Come to Gansu to find the desolation of the Northwest. On the way from Jiuquan to Ejina, I finally saw the endless Gobi Desert. Even after driving for several hours, the car could not see the vast Gobi Desert. The true desolation and loneliness of the Northwest.

(over)