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| Reclining Buddha, Dafosi Temple Zhangye, Gansu |
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| Zhangye Museum, Gansu |
Day 23 Thursday Sept 18 2025 (Zhangye, Gansu) Part 1 - after a short high speed train ride from Jiayuguan > Zhangye (225km, 1.5hr) & upon arrival in Zhangye Xi Railway station, we took a metered taxi & checked into our hostel in downtown Zhangye (12.00). As the hostel was able to arrange a shared transport(Y$50 per pax) for us to visit the Zhangye Colourful Danxia Geopark (14.30 > 20.30) & without wasting much time & in the interim, we took the opportunity to visit Wooden Pagoda (under renovation), Dafosi Temple, Zhangye old street & Zhanye City Museum. A very productive day for our 1st day in Zhangye !
1) Breakfast in a eatery stall nearby our hotel in Jiayuguan, Gansu - each of us savoured a tub of steamed meat buns & a bowl of small millets (each pay Y$9) prior to taking a metered taxi to Jiayuguan Railway station for a HS train ride to Zhangye.
2) High speed train ride from Jiayuguan (ETD 09.15) > Zhangye - 225km, 1.5hrs, train ticket Y$65, 2nd Class.
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| Jiayuguan > Zhangye, Gansu (225km) |
3) Suburban & countryside scenery from Jiayuguan > Zhangye as viewed from the moving train.
4) Arriving (11.15) in Zhangye Xi Railway Station, Gansu.
5) Hotel Accommodation (2 nights): XingYuan Hostel, Zhangye, Gansu - room tariff Rm65, 2 single beds.
6) Zhangye, Gansu - formerly known as Kanchow is a prefecture level city in central Gansu Province, it borders Inner Mongolia on the north & Qinghai on the south. Zhangye is located in the center of the Hexi Corridor, surrounded by mountains at three sides & with a river running through the center. The gorgeous landscape, its fertile land & its diverse & magnificient culture made it known as the "Golden Zhangye" & an "Oasis along the Great Wall". In 111 BC, Emperor Wu founded Zhangye Prefecture as its country's "extending the arm into the West". After all, Zhangye is an ancient city with a rich culture & a meaningful history. About 5,000 years ago, the Majiayao Culture started settling here. During Han & Tang dynasties, the Silk Road met in Zhangye. It was indeed linking East & West, building a bridge for businesses, between North & South, and a starting point for spreading Chinese culture into the West & for meeting Western culture. Numerous historical sites & treasured relics indicate that Zhangye was the way Buddhism has passed to further expand into the east, and also a melting pot of different nationalities in China's Northwest.
Zhangye, Gansu - formerly known as Kanchow is a prefecture level city in central Gansu Province, it borders Inner Mongolia on the north & Qinghai on the south.
7) Pictures highlighting the major tourist attractions on display at our hostel's corridor, Zhangye, Gansu.
8) Walkabout in downtown Zhangye Old Street area - familiarisation & exploratory visit !
9) Publicity billboards & Tour Packages on major tourist attractions in Zhangye, Gansu. A useful guide for visitors !
10) Wooden Pagoda, Zhangye, Gansu - a rare large scale all wood tower in north-western China known for its soaring eaves & elegant architecture, founded during the Northern Zhou dynasty, it was restored in the 1980s & stand today as an enduring symbol of the city's long cultural legacy, the pagoda is a nine story structure featuring a distinctive octagonal shape in each tier & dragon head wood carvings. Unfortunately, at the time of our visit, the pagoda was closed for a major renovation,
11) Dafosi Temple, Zhangye, Gansu - a great Buddha Temple in Zhangye, Gansu, notable for its gigantic reclining Buddha statute made around 1100 during the Western Xia period, which is 35m long, after a restoration project in 2005-06, the temple now attracts thousands of visitor. Free admission for seniors aged above 70+, concession ticket Y$20 for senior above 60+.
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10) Ancient Tree, Dafosi Temple, Zhangye, Gansu
11) Ancient Steles, Dafosi Temple, Zhangye, Gansu
12) Buddhist Art Exhibition Hall, Dafosi Temple, Zhangye, Gansu
12) Zhangye Museum, Gansu - a national museum in Zhangye City, focussing on the history & culture of the Silk Road & the Hexi Corridor, with a collection of artifacts from prehistoric times to the Ming & Qing dynasties, including Buddhist artworks & historical pieces. The museum in known for its modern design with regional elements & useses multi-media to make its exhibits on the region's past as a key Silk Road transportation hub engaging for visitors. Free admission for all visitors.
13) No 2 Exhibition Hall, Zhangye Museum, Gansu
14) No 3 Exhibition Hall, Zangye Museum, Zhangye, Gansu
15) No 4 Exhibition Hall, Zhangye Museum, Gansu - focussing exhibits during the Ming & Qing dynasties.
16) Zhangye Old Street, Gansu - many eatery stalls & full of vibes at night !
17) Bought breads & pastries (each pay Y$8) from May Cake shop in downtown Zhangye as snacks for our day tours tomorrow.
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