Gansu Province, located in northwest China, is a key provincial administrative region, with its capital in Lanzhou.
It borders Shaanxi to the east, Xinjiang to the west, Sichuan and Qinghai to the south, and Ningxia and Inner Mongolia to the north.
Spanning an area of 425,800 km², Gansu is home to a diverse range of landscapes and climates, including arid, semi-arid, and plateau mountain climates.
The province’s population stands at 24.58 million as of 2024.
Historically significant, Gansu played a central role in the Silk Road, with Zhang Qian’s missions to the Western regions opening trade routes.
The region’s development stretches back to the early Paleolithic period.
If you want help choosing routes, trip length, and the best places to combine on a first visit, see our Gansu Travel Guide.
