Guazhou

Guazhou (瓜州, Guāzhōu) is a county in the western part of Gansu Province. It is on one of the main routes of the historic Silk Road.

Understand
Guazhou is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Jiuquan. The county seat and largest town is the town of Yuanquan (渊泉)

One of Guazhou's historical sites, namely the Suoyang City Ruins, has been inscribed on the World Heritage List as part of "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor". The Yulin Caves, another major Silk Road site in Guazhou, is on UNESCO's tentative list.

Get in
Since the Suoyang City Ruins and the Yulin Caves are both situated in remote areas, many travellers choose to visit the county as part of an organized tour from Dunhuang.

By plane
The nearest airport is Dunhuang Airport in Dunhuang.

By train


Guazhou Railway Station in Guazhou's county seat is the main railway station in Guazhou, but if you're taking a train from Xinjiang, you'll need to get off at either Liuyuan Railway Station or Liuyuan South Railway Station.

Get around
A public bus service operates in Yuanquan. There are also buses running between Yuanquan and other towns in Guazhou.

In 2020, a special tourist bus began conveying passengers to some of Guazhou's popular attractions. The bus departs daily at 09:30 from Guazhou Bus Station. The fare is ¥100. Stops include the Son of the Earth sculpture, the Yulin River Reservoir, the Yulin Grottoes, the Suoyang City Ruins and the Ta'er Temple.

Go next

 * Dunhuang