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The city of Tianshui is located in the northeastern part of Gansu province. It is the second largest city in the province and also the first stop in Gansu for travelers and merchants to various parts of northwestern China and beyond. The population in Tianshui is approximately 500,000, with a few foreigners. Tianshui is a famous historic and cultural city and is also situated on the route of the ancient Silk Road. The city was named according to a legend called the "Tianhe River Infusion." According to the myth, Tianshui was the birthplace of Fuxi, the earliest Chinese ancestor. At that time, the Qin state (The famous Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an and the first part of the Great Wall of China was built by the Qin dynasty), later to become the founding dynasty of the Chinese empire, conquered other territories of Tianshui.

Tianshui is renowned for its historic relics and natural beauty. Fuxi Temple and Guatai Mountain are places where Chinese people worship their ancestors. The Water Curtain Cave in Wushan Mountain has many ancient towers, sculptures, and portraits decorating its surroundings. Daxiangshan Mountain in Gangu county is a majestic and magisterial wonder made by the creative efforts of both man and nature. On the hill sits a giant Buddha engraved into a grotto, overseeing the world in the Immortal Cliff near Maijishan Mountain. Here is found a unique tourist attraction that integrates three religions: Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. The Maijishan Grottoes are filled with thousands of exquisite clay artifacts. This is reputed to be one of China's four greatest grottoes, along with the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, the Longmen Grottoes, and the Yungang Grottoes.

Transport

Tianshui has a very convenient transportation system. The city has excellent public transport featuring clean and modern buses. Taxis are also readily available and very cheap. Tianshui is about 338 kilometers from Lanzhou City, Gansu's capital, and 295 kilometers from Xi’an, the capital of Shannxi’s province. Car travel to Lanzhou and Xi’an both takes about 4 hours. There are Flights to Lanzhou and Xi’an every Tuesday and Thursday departing from Tianshui Airport which is about 15 km from the city center.

Climate
Tianshui has a very convenient transportation system. The city has excellent public transport featuring clean and modern buses. Taxis are also readily available and very cheap. Tianshui is about 338 kilometers from Lanzhou City, Gansu's capital, and 295 kilometers from Xi’an, the capital of Shannxi’s province. Car travel to Lanzhou and Xi’an both takes about 4 hours. There are Flights to Lanzhou and Xi’an every Tuesday and Thursday departing from Tianshui Airport which is about 15 km from the city center.

Shopping

Since ancient times, Tianshui has been an important distribution center for goods and materials in the southeast of Gansu province. It is reputed as the "Western Chinese Textiles City". Western foods are easy enough to come by, the city has KFC, plenty of western cuisine restaurants, plenty supermarkets and cafes. Supermarkets in Tianshui are a famous fruit-producing city, apart from the excellent-quality and tasty apples, Qin’an County in Tianshui also produce lovely juicy peaches, sweet almonds, cantaloupes and watermelons. Tianshui’s crafts like jade carvings, carpets, silk tapestries are famous at home and abroad.

Food & Restaurants
Tianshui’s main crops are wheat and corn. Tianshui food is noted for its delicious Guagua, Liangpi, Jiangshui Noodles, Jiaotuan Noodles and Dalu Noodles. Guagua is the most featured dish here. Historical documents have provided evidences that as early as the Western Han Dynasty, Guagua was a dish offered to the royal family regularly. Nowadays, Guagua, loved by the locals, is one of the most popular breakfasts in Tianshui. Various noodle bars offer Guagua every day. No matter how cold in winter or how hot in summer, business and service is always brisk and prompt.

As with other northwestern cities, restaurants in Tianshui will provide you with authentic local food, ranging from traditional muslim foods to many other kinds of traditional and modern Chinese cuisines. As an old Chinese saying goes, “although food is the top priority of life, taste is the top priority of food”. Not only are there many well-known luxurious restaurants, but also many popular local small Noodle bars and family restaurants.

Entertainment
Tianshui has various kinds of folk entertainment which, due to it being so far south and located on the borders of Sichuan and Shanxi Province, is heavily influenced by the different customs from most parts of China. The folk activities here are diversified and colorful.

 

Every year, Tianshui holds various cultural festivals. The "Fuxi Culture Tourism Festival", "Shangjiu Festival", and "Buddha's Birth Festival" are to name but few. During the Chinese Spring Festival, there are ongoing flame and flower lantern festivals. From the first day to the sixth day of May, according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, is the Tibetan Deflower Festival. The 7th day of July is the Double-Seventh Day (traditional Chinese Valentine's Day). At these times the Baima Tibetans will hold a Mask Show Dance within the city. Combined with national style and traditional Chinese myth, all these folk activities are brilliant with their own distinguishing features and passionately celebrated in Tianshui.

Rest & Relaxation
There are many entertaining places to go in Tianshui. Night clubs like Roman, the Rui Long Xiang Leisure Club, Rhine Riverside Bar and the Golden Ages KTV all make for memorable nights out. Many hotels in Tianshui open entertainment centers together with their room services. These entertainment centers will include Disco Bars, KTV private rooms and gyms.

Near the Maiji Mountain you will find hot springs, which are greatly beneficial to medical care, and have a unique and effective curing method for many ailments. Tourists can enjoy the refreshing spa with the hot springs that help you relax and unwind.