Live Your Best Lives
Southeast Longdong (Long refers to Gansu), a region in the opposite direction of Dunhuang, is not part of the Tang Dynasty, but has a much longer history. Southeast Longdong, part of Jiangnan, is the birthplace of Fuxi's Eight Trigrams and the Dragon-Horse Spirit. Enjoy summer heat, autumn maple viewing, winter hot springs, and spring morning blossom viewing – Southeast Longdong is a great place to visit year-round.
It takes only a few hours to drive from Lanzhou to the Yellow River Stone Forest in Jingtai. The core scenic area, the Yinmagou Grand Canyon, is a dusty landscape of strange peaks and rocks.
When you enter the Yellow River Stone Forest Scenic Area, don't rush to get to the point. It is a good experience to go to the nearby Longwan Village for a quick meal.
The way to the farmhouse passes through a meticulously tended orchard. Freshly picked Sichuan peppercorns are placed in the courtyard, filling the air with their fragrance under the abundant sunlight, whetting the appetites of even those who haven't yet arrived for dinner. Longwan Village has only one main road, lined with accommodations and farmhouses, making it a prime spot for overnight stays and dining.
In addition to the first ticket to the top of the mountain, the scenic area also requires taking an electric car on the winding mountain road, a sheepskin raft downstream, a speedboat on the Yellow River, and even a donkey cart and horse.
Every household in Longwan Village has a donkey, and it is these farmers with donkeys who named the stone forest in the canyon many names, making it easy to introduce them.
When tourists come, these donkeys are like the Rolls-Royces on this ancient road. The donkeys walk slowly through the canyons and pass through layers of stone gates on the mountain roads.
The Stone Forest opposite is called the Twelve Chinese Zodiac Animals. Those with good imagination may be able to see different animals. The Stone Forest was originally the channel of the Yellow River, and the changes in the course of the Yellow River have left behind many similar ruins. They are large in scale but look desolate.
The Yellow River Stone Forest is a scenic spot that requires multiple transfers of transportation, so it takes a long time to complete the tour. We recommend booking accommodation nearby. Since it is close to Lanzhou, local one-day tours are also available, which is convenient and efficient.
Gaomiao Temple is a temple where Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism share the same temple fire. Approaching Gaomiao, you'll be struck by the exquisite architecture and ingenuity of its creations. While it appears simple and three-dimensional from the outside, its interior is incredibly complex, with its diverse religious structures. It's easy to get lost if you're not careful.
There's also the Gaotai Hell, one of the Four Ancient Hells. Due to war and disrepair, most of the statues have been destroyed, and it was later converted into a bomb shelter. The current hell, constructed using modern sound, light, and electricity, is more like a haunted house in an amusement park, so entering is not recommended.
Passing the middle building, the three-story main building is behind it. Climbing is currently prohibited. The main building is surrounded by temples on both sides, and some of the eaves corners overlap.
Apart from the buildings on the central axis, both sides are the residences of the monks of the temple.
If you turn left from Gaomiao, you will see the Drum Tower in the city. If you look closely, you will see a small building at each of the four corners of the Drum Tower, which serves as a companion building.
Tips:
Currently, there is no entrance fee for Gao Temple, and the tour time is only one hour.
It is recommended that you get up early to visit. Gaomiao is located in the city center and can be found along the main street. The main entrance is Red Sun Square and the side door is the gatehouse with Gaomiao Baoan Temple. You can choose different entrances and exits for sightseeing.
Before Yinchuan became popular, Shapotou had always been Ningxia's tourist attraction. With the Yellow River on one side and the desert on the other, it had a lot of fun things to do and a full range of recreational facilities.
There are also some specially marked plants in the desert. Like grass grids, they are the heroes who control the shifting desert.
In addition to the desert, the South District has recreational facilities themed on the Yellow River. You can fly from the sand dunes to the other side and back, or take a speedboat or sheepskin raft on the Yellow River, walk on the newly built 3D glass bridge, and experience crossing the Yellow River.
Shapotou bungee jumping and the Yellow River zipline are relatively large-scale and exciting evening activities. Crossing the Yellow River also has a pleasant name, soaring to success!
The northern area is basically desert, and there are off-road vehicles and camels for you to play in the vast sea of sand. However, when you come to the desert, you must pay attention to sun protection and hydration.
Another amazing thing about Shapotou is the sound of sand. When the wind blows, the friction between the sand and gravel produces a pleasant musical scale.
Accommodation in Shapotou is easy to find, with farmhouses and RV campsites within the scenic area, perfect for family outings. Those who enjoy the outdoors can camp directly, and the starry sky in the desert at night is truly stunning.
Tips:
Shapotou is a recreational scenic spot, mainly for experiencing various recreational facilities, but each one is expensive, so it is more affordable to buy a package ticket.
The reason why we say Mount Xumi is far away is because the Mount Xumi Museum and the scenic area are built on both sides of the river valley. Generally speaking, when mentioning Mount Xumi, people start from the museum, which is the central point.
The Xumishan Grottoes were built next to the Shimen Reservoir. Construction of the grottoes began in the Northern Wei Dynasty. From the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the techniques of colored clay sculptures and grotto excavation were used, providing the initial skills for the later Longmen and Yungang Grottoes. Of the 162 existing caves, only a few are open to the public, and the most outstanding one is the Great Buddha Building in Cave 5, which is the place where the Great Buddha skills were first created.
The Xumishan Museum mainly contains some grottoes and Buddhist art works, but this is just the tip of the iceberg of Xumishan. The important thing is to go to the grottoes outside.
Most of the items in the museum are replicas, which are mainly used to introduce and explain the cave art and the process of statue making.
Coming out of the museum, you can see the Giant Buddha in Cave No. 5 opposite from a distance.
Xiangguo Temple
Cave 51 in Xiangguo Temple has a pillar in the center, and three preserved statues can still be vaguely seen, while the remaining statues can only be seen in their original state, without the previous delicate carving expressions.
The tree with lush branches and leaves on the right is the Bodhi tree. This tree species, which commonly grows in the south, is said to be successfully planted only here. Local preachers believe that this is the power of the Buddha's land, adding a layer of story to the red rock wall of Mount Xumi Danxia.
Next to the Buddha statues in the caves is the Guanzhong Stone Gate, also known as Shimen Pass. Built during the Sui and Tang dynasties, Shimen Pass was built because the Shimen River flowed through it. It was a necessary route on the Silk Road and a natural barrier among the seven passes in Yuanzhou. However, now that elevated bridges and roads have connected to this area, the once strategic military location has gradually become a place where only the stone Buddhas remain to protect it.
Tips:
The scenic area is very large and you need to take a battery car to travel to various locations. There are not many caves to visit, but they are quite valuable.
Kongtong Mountain is also a famous mountain, but few people put it on their travel itineraries. It's better known for the scene where the six major sects besieged Guangmingding and the Kongtong Five Elders were taught a lesson after their failed attempt at the Seven Injury Fist. However, Kongtong is actually one of the true sources of martial arts. Legend has it that the leader of the Kongtong sect must learn all the techniques of their sect to be qualified.
Besides this, Kongtong is a famous mountain suitable for viewing in all seasons. Take a bus to the center of the scenic area - Zhongtai, and then you can wander around freely.
The essence of the scenic area lies in the West Terrace. The journey up the Heavenly Ladder to the Imperial City is a classic part of the West Terrace, offering breathtaking mountain views from every angle. The 369 steps of the Heavenly Ladder are flanked by numerous stone inscriptions. Once you reach the Imperial City, the Ming Dynasty murals within are truly rare treasures that shouldn't be missed.
There is another trail that goes around from the Imperial City. Qipanling and Longjun Temple are both good places to stop and rest during the climb.
Returning from Xitai to Zhongtai, there is a Buddhist temple to the east with many monks. Although except for the seven-story pagoda which is the original one, the buildings behind it were built later.
But this tower alone is enough to make you marvel at it. There is a century-old pine tree on the tower. I don’t know whether it grew alone due to disrepair or it was intentional. It has become a symbol of God’s benevolence and is carefully preserved by believers.
Tips:
The most essential part of Kongtong Mountain is from the middle platform to the west platform. You can choose other places and decide the scope of your visit according to your time.
Maiji Mountain is a treasure trove of grottoes and sculptures. There's only one path to Maiji Mountain, and following the trail, you'll see statues from different eras. The sculptures are bizarre and unique, ranging from the flowing robes of Wei and Jin dynasty literati to the voluptuous figures of the Tang Dynasty, and even some slightly cartoonish figures from indeterminate eras.
The steps and statues of Maiji Mountain are covered with such fine mesh, unlike the airtight enclosures of the Dunhuang murals. This is mainly because the climate in southeastern Longdong is relatively humid, and an open and ventilated environment is more suitable for the preservation of sculptures, while the fine mesh protects the statues from damage by forest birds.
The Sanhua Tower was built in the Northern Zhou Dynasty. The Buddha niche is deep into the stone wall. The shadow sculptures and murals in the niche still retain the original works of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. This is also the most wonderful part of the eastern cliff of Maiji Mountain, where sculptures and murals are wonderfully integrated together.
Seeing the fiery warriors, we are transported to the lands of the Sui and Tang dynasties, where the Heavenly King Treading on the Ox suppresses the earthquake and blesses the elegant statue of the Bodhisattva in the shrine. This statue is beautifully decorated, with flowing clothes, half-exposed chest, exposed arms, and voluptuous skin, fully demonstrating the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty.
A special reminder: remember to look up at the Tang Dynasty murals on the top of the cliff. The galloping horses in this Western Pure Land Transformation painting change scenery and are cleverly created using optical illusions.
In addition to the Buddha statue in the cliff cave niche, there is also a large Buddha statue carved in relief on the outer wall. Although the Buddha's body is damaged, traces of past repairs can still be seen from a distance.
Tips:
The regular ticket for Maiji Mountain only allows you to visit the caves on the normal tour route, and the special caves require an additional fee.
It is recommended to take the scenic bus from the foot of the mountain, and follow the plank road on the mountain wall to visit without going back. Some places are narrow, so you need to pay attention to safety.
There are several places worth visiting in Tianshui city. The first is the hometown of Emperor Xi, the ancestor of human civilization. There is a grand Fuxi memorial service here every June 22nd.
Fuxi City is essentially an enlarged commercial area, with the scenic area encompassing the Fuxi Temple, adorned with towering ancient cypresses. The remaining cypresses are now nearly leaning, and some have vanished. However, when the temple was first built, a full 64 cypresses were planted around it, meticulously arranged to reflect the hexagrams.
Entering the main hall, there is a unique statue of Fuxi, surrounded by a creature that looks like a horse but is not a horse.
Tips:
The Fuxi Temple is located in the city and can be reached by taxi. The main attraction is the Xiantian Hall. If you look closely at the interior details, it is very interesting.
The location here is relatively remote, and the inside and outside of the mountain gate are a bit dilapidated. Although the two temples on the side of the Wulu God of Wealth Temple are still popular, the temples have nothing to do with splendor and have a unique sense of incomplete beauty.
The Dai Temple is interesting. Over the past few decades, it has been transformed into a school and has trained many students.
The Hu Family Residence is also a homestay museum in Tianshui. It is divided into two houses on both sides of the road. You only need an ID card to enter.
This is the residence of Hu Laijin, a doctor of Zhongxian in the Ming Dynasty. The house is like a maze, with 12 courtyards of different heights connected by small paths. Each courtyard has its own functions and small pieces.
The rooms are connected by yellow mud corridors like this. Sometimes I go back and forth and end up circling in the same corridor without being able to reach the door.
In the deep courtyard, there are shadow puppet shows that can be watched for free.
Tips:
You only need to exchange your ID card for a ticket to visit the North and South Houses, and it is required for ticket inspection at both sides. Do not throw away the ticket at will before the end of the visit.
In the two important cities of Lanzhou and Tianshui, the best accommodation is usually in the old city area, but the high-speed rail stations are some distance away from the city, and you need to rely on taxis or airport buses to get to the city. Lanzhou has high-speed trains and intercity railways to choose from.
You can take the intercity railway from Lanzhou Airport to the city center, which takes one hour and costs about 30 yuan.
Maijishan Airport is located in Maiji District and is adjacent to the high-speed railway station. You can choose to fly or take a bullet train to nearby cities such as Lanzhou and Xi'an, and the journey is within 2 hours.
As for the cities along the way [Baiyin, Zhongwei, Guyuan, Pingliang], it is recommended to join a group or charter a car. It is not so convenient to travel alone for the time being, as some places are still under construction and have restricted traffic.
As for accommodation, the hotels in the above cities are very cost-effective and not far from the downtown area.
Regional products determine local flavors, and southeastern Longdong's main focus is on noodle snacks. Using the same flour to make various kinds of rice, cold noodles, yellow noodles, mixed noodles, and various kinds of noodles made with high-gluten flour, combined with unique dipping sauces, are the specialties of southeastern Longdong.
In addition to the interview, there is beef and mutton. Because there are many Hui compatriots living here, beef and mutton are particularly popular. Every halal restaurant has its own secret recipe for processing beef and mutton. When you come to Southeast Longdong, just eat meat.
