My 29 days to Southern Xinjiang, Gansu & Shaanxi, China (Aug 27 > Sept 24 2025) Day 25 & 26 - Wuwei, Gansu (Part 1)

Leitai Park, Wuwei
Gansu, China

Leitai Park Han Tomb
Wuwei, Gansu

Confucius Temple, Wuwei, Gansu

Xixia Museum, Wuwei, Gansu

Lousi Pagoda / Temple
Wuwei, Gansu 

 

Day 25 Saturday Sept 20 2025  (Wuwei, Gansu) - my Day 1 in Wuwei focussed mainly on tourist attractions within the Wuwei City ie Leitai Park, Leitai Park Han Tomb, Lousi Pagoda / Temple, Confucius Temple, Xixia Museum, Culture Square & Pedestrian Street. Due to time constraints, we were not able to visit Tiantishan Grottoes located 60km south of Wuwei  !  

1) Wuwei, Gansu, China - a famous historical city in Gansu, China, once known as Liangzhou & has appeared in hundreds of ancient poems that praised its natural beauty, it is located on the eastern side of Hexi Corridor, an important  stop on the ancient Silk Road, now a popular destinations on Silk Road tours for its rich culture & history.  

2) Train Ride (Zhangye > Wuwei): ETD 01.47 > ETA04.15 (244km, approx 2.5hr), ticket price Y94.50 (hard sleeper, lower)

Zhangye >  Wuwei, Gansu (244km) 

3) Hotel Accommodation (2 nights): Wuwei Jinju Business Hotel, room tariff Rm56 (US$13.20, 2 single beds)

4) Breakfast in a local eatery stall next to our hotel, each of us savoured a bowl of "eight treasure" porridge, youtiao, meat & vegetable buns (each paid Y$7) - a healthy start ! 

1) Leitai Park, Wuwei, Gansu - features the bronze Running Horses, a tombstone complex, bronze horses, chariots & the Han Tomb with artifacts & relics & grave path retained in original form. 

2) Brief introduction of Bronze Entourage - Figurines in Shapes of Chariots & Horses, Han dynasty unearthed in Leitai tomb in Wuwei, composed of 99 bronze cultural relics including 39 bronze horses, 1 bronze cow, 17 bronze figurines of warrior with spear & halberd & 28 bronze figurines of servant, the main vehicle is 36cm long the tallest horse is 40cm high & the servant is 19.5 > 24cm. bronze entourage figurines in shapes of chariots & horses is the largest quantity found so far which represents the great achievement of group bronze sculpture in Han dynasty !  

3) Mural in memory of of a famous young Western Han General (140 - 117AD) who fought against invaders (6 major battles) in order to control & protect the Hexi Corridor during the Han dynasty. 

4) Leitai Park - Han Tomb, Wuwei, Gansu - a large brick & stone structure built during the late Eastern Han dynasty, a total of 221 pieces of relics were unearthed from the tomb including gold, silver, copper, iron, jade, bone, stone & pottery. Admission fee for adult Y45, senior 60+ Y22.50, senior 70+ free; you need to bend your body down to enter the interior of the tombs in order to view the original exhibits mainly bronze horses & pottery wares etc   

5) Leizu Temple, Wuwei, Gansu - it enshrines & worship the god of Leizu, it was built in Tianshun years (AD 1457 > 1465) in Ming dynasty, once it was destroyed twice, rebuilt in the 22 year pf Republic of China (AD1933), it has Taoism character & northern nation style of China which was well protected, it also provides for 4 disciples of Leizu & some immortals for Lei Branch.   

6) Leitai Sanxing Tow Moo Temple. Wuwei, Gansu - named after the folklore of the god of good fortune, wealthy & longevity, it was built in Tianshun years (AD 1457 > 1465), rebuilt in the 22nd year of Republic of China (1933), with three eaves  2 floors, once it enshrines & worship Tow Moo upstairs (no longer exists) & the well known Baxian (eight gods / goddess) downstairs. 

7) Leitai Han Culture Museum, Wuwei, Gansu

8) Culture Square, Wuwei, Gansu

9) Wuweishi Buxing ShangYe Jie (Pedestrian Street), Gansu - a busy street for food & shopping ! 

10) Commercial / Food Street Complex, Wuwei, Gansu

11) Lunch in a local eatery stall, Food Street, Wuwei, Gansu - savoured 2 dishes ie stir fried chicken / vege with rice + stir fried rice vermicelli (total food bill Y$18 + Y$13 = Y$31), each plate served with large portion so enough to share for two persons. 

Stir Fried Chicken / Vege + Rice
Y$18 (US$4.25)

Stir Fried Rice Vermicelli Y$13 (US$3)

12) Confucius Temple, Wuwei, Gansu - built in 2nd to 4th years of the Zhengtong reign of the Ming dynasty (1437 > 1439) AD), known historically as the "Crown of Academics Institutions in Longyou", the temple consists 3 sections ie the Confucian Institute, the Confucian Temple, & the Wenchang Palace, the Confucius Temple hosts various historical & cultural activities & serves as perfect site for study trips for primary & secondary students.   

13) Lousi Pagoda & Temple, Wuwei, Gansu - built in memory of a Western monk, Kumatosh to carry forward Buddhism & translate classic merits in Wu Wei, Octagonal shape, 12 story building, 32m high, made of strip-shaped bricks, symbolising the long & civilised history of Wuwei Ancient city, a testimony of cultural exchange between China & the West on the Silk Road more than 1,500 years ago. 

14) Lousi Pagoda, Wuwei, Gansu - this ancient pagoda in Wuwei City is 33 meter high, divided into 12 layers, hollow brick masonry, octagonal & is a Kumarajiva "tongue" stupa. 

15) Xixia Museum, Wuwei, Gansu - located opposite the Confucius Museum, a museum dedicated to the Western Xia dynasty, with significant artifacts such as the bilingual Xixia Monument & the wooden pagoda.  

16) Background of Western Xia Kingdom - From 11 > 13 century, there appeared a Daxia regime also known as Western Xia Kingdom established by the Tanguts in northwest China, it covered an area of over 20,000 sq miles from the Yellow River to the east  to the Yumen Pass to the west, from the vast dessert  to the north  to the Xiao Pass to the south. At that time, the Western Xia Kingdom, Song, Liao, & Kin dynasties co-existed for more than 190 years until this situation was changed by the Mongolian force in 1227. Since then this mysterious kingdom which once had a brilliant & unique civilisation has disappeared in the long range of history & remained unknown. After the od Western Xia regime, Xiliang Prefecture (today's Wuwei City) was made the the subsidiary capital which had ben strategically important with its prosperous economy & culture & its geographical location during the existence of Western Xia Kingdom. We have found a large number of historical relics of Western Xia dynasty that have both regional n national features including some precious peices such as Stele with inscription in Western Xia character, clay type edition Buddhsit sutra in Western Xia character, wooden pagoda, golden bowl, & silver ingot etc. Western Xia culture is a gorgeous flower in the garden of Chinese civilisation. This civilisation tends to show the glorious history of Western Xia dynasty with large number of related historical relics unearthed in Wuwei & at the same time provide visitors a rare chance to trace the long-time-dust covered Western Xia culture & feel the mysterious & powerful Western Xia Kingdom.