The Hexi Corridor in China is a largely unspoiled region of southeast Gansu Province that has many natural attractions.
The Moon Canyon is the biggest attraction in the region and home to large rock faces and formations that drop to the floor of the valley where there is a running river. There is only one place to stay and the accommodation fits perfectly into its natural surroundings.
The region is mainly made up from Tibetan communities and there are a few Mongolian as well, with the majority of Muslim communities in the north. The Yellow River is located in the south and the capital of the region, Lanzhou, is located here. Tianshui is the landing point for many travelers looking to explore the rest of the southeast of Gansu.
Pingliang is home to a large mountain range and it is an important town that connects Gansu with the east of China. Kongtong Shan is a huge mountain that attracts many visitors to see its many temples that are situated all over the mountain slopes. The Daoist monastery is full of religious shrines and it is located at the peak of the mountain that sits in protected park land.
The Water Curtain Thousand Buddha Caves can be reached by traveling through Luomen and the rural town is popular with tourists coming to see the unusual rock formations, including cliff with the 31m towering painting of Buddha.
Getting There & Away
Getting to the southeast of Gansu is simple as there is an airport in Lanzhou that welcomes many daily flights from other destinations in China, most notably from Beijing (1 hour, 30 minutes). Beijing to the capital of Gansu, Lanzhou, takes 25 hours on a train or 23 hours from Shanghai.