Things to do in Jinta

No. 3 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Gansu

Jintashamohuyanglin

The Jinta Desert Poplar Forest Attraction is located on the north side of the middle section of the ancient Silk Road and 6 kilometers northwest of Jinta County, Gansu Province. It consists of five functional areas: the Poplar Forest-Jinbo Lake Core Scenic Area, the Elaeagnus angustifolia Forest Sightseeing Area, the Desert Red Willow Forest Conservation Area, the Desert Entertainment Experience Area and the Desert Reed Maze Area. It covers an area of ​​more than 80,000 mu. The Attraction is distributed with 10,000 mu of Poplar Forest, the largest "fossil-level plant" in the northwest region, which is of great ornamental value. The Jinbo Lake is rippling, the Poplar Forest is dazzling, the Elaeagnus angustifolia flowers are fragrant, there are many kinds of wild animals, the red willows are intoxicated in autumn, the white flowers of the reeds are cold, the beach is soft and the sun is charming. When you visit this place, you can fully appreciate the desert style, appreciate the Poplar Culture, explore the secluded realm of the Tonglin, and experience the wild fun of the desert. This is a tourist destination integrating ecological afforestation, windbreak and sand fixation, Dining and entertainment, leisure and vacation, photography creation, and sightseeing tourism. It has been rated as a place with beautiful autumn colors in Gansu Province. When a cool autumn breeze blows across the desert, the poplar forest changes from dark green to light yellow, and then to apricot yellow. Climbing high and looking far away, the golden autumn sea is refreshing. The setting sun is vast, and the evening glow is a touch. The poplars change from golden yellow to golden red, and then to a brown red, gradually blending into the hazy night. After a night of frost, the poplar forest is as red as the maple leaves of Xiangshan Mountain, as if it is burning. And on the crown branches of each tall poplar tree, light green and light yellow leaves occasionally flash, staggered and colorful. When the autumn wind blows, the golden leaves of the poplars fall to the ground with a "rustling" sound, and the ground is covered with a golden carpet, brilliant and solemn. Walking in the poplar forest is like entering a fairyland in mythology. The dense poplars are strange and varied, with various expressions. The sturdy poplars are so big that it is difficult for several people to hug them. Some are as tall as 15 to 20 feet. They are strange and look like dragons leaping and twisted and dancing wildly, which is amazing. The dense leaves are also unique. The leaves of young poplars are narrow and small, like the willow eyebrows of a girl, and people often mistake them for willows; the leaves of middle-aged poplars become oval or triangular, like the white birch in Xing'an Mountains; the leaves of old poplars are elliptical. What's more, the upper and lower layers of the crown of the same poplar grow leaves of several different shapes, which is amazing.

Jinbo Lake

Jinbo Lake has a vast, rippling surface and is surrounded by tall, gnarled desert poplar trees that are beautiful and unique.

Jinta Desert Populus Euphratica Forest Scenic Area - Desert Camping Area

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Gansu

Jiayuguan Guancheng

Jiayuguan Guancheng is located in the western section of the Ming Great Wall and was first built during the Ming Dynasty. Upon entering, you will first see the Heishan stone carving group, a collection of stone carvings replicated by modern stonemasons that showcases the history and culture of Jiayuguan. The stone carving group consists of seven parks available for visiting: the Celebrity Inscription Park, the Ancient Poetry Park, the Chronicle Park, the Story Park, the Guerrilla General Stone Carving Park, the Wei and Jin Brick Mural Stone Carving Park, and the Heishan Stone Carving Park. Continuing forward, you will see the Jiayuguan Great Wall Museum, a museum dedicated to the history and culture of the Great Wall, displaying the history, culture, artifacts, and scenery of the Great Wall and Jiayuguan. Proceeding further ahead brings you to the western core area. Before entering Jiayuguan Guancheng, you can first visit the Jiayuguan Cultural Relics Scenic Area - Jiuyanquan Lake on your left. "Jiuyan Spring"Beside it, the water and grass are abundant and the scenery is pleasant, making it a good place in ancient times for stationing troops, raising horses, and guarding the frontier against threats. The currentJiuyan SpringThe water ripples in emerald waves, so clear you can see the bottom."Jiuyan Spring” lies in its tranquility, unruffled by waves. The pass city is divided into an inner city and an outer city, with three main large gate towers. On the walls, there are also structures such as arrow towers, watchtowers, corner towers, pavilions, and sluice gate towers. Inside the pass city, there are the Youji General's Mansion, Jiayuguan Guancheng Scenic Area - Well Pavilion, and Jiayuguan Guancheng Scenic Area - Wenchang Pavilion. Outside the east gate, there are the Jiayuguan Guancheng Scenic Area - Guandi Temple, memorial archway, and opera tower, each with its own history and characteristics, worth visiting one by one. Climbing onto the wall and gazing into the distance, the Qilian Mountains stretch continuously afar, and the vast Gobi grassland lies beneath your feet, evoking a sudden sense of historical solemnity.

No. 7 of Best Things to Do in Northwestern District of China

Zhangye Colorful Danxia Scenic Spot

Zhangye Colorful Danxia Scenic Spot is located in Linze and Sunan counties at the northern foot of Qilian Mountain. The attraction is 40 km east of Zhangye city and 20 km north of Linze county. Covering a total area of 50 sq km with 4 sq km accessible to visitors, it's currently recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark and a national 5A-level tourist attraction. The attraction features seven viewing spots, including Colorful Cloud Sea, Colorful Fairyland, Colorful Splendor, Colorful Rainbow Glow, Crouching Tiger Gorge, Colorful Ao River, and Wanxiang Earth Forest Valley, along with over 30 scenic views such as Dragon Playing with Fire (colorful hills), Monkey Gazing at the Sea, Turtle Asking the Sky, Golden Toad Seeking the Way, Giant Scallop, Colorful Screen, Sleeping Beauty, and Crouching Tiger. It is a highly integrated area of colorful hills and Danxia landforms. The colorful hills amaze visitors with their vibrant hues, intricate layered patterns, majestic scale, and breathtaking vistas. The Danxia landform area of Wanxiang Earth Forest Valley features towering peaks resembling a forest, with a harmonious yet dramatic arrangement of sparse and dense formations. These extraordinary shapes, carved by nature's artistry, combine grandeur, peril, wonder, elegance, and serenity in one spectacular landscape. After being promoted to a national 5A-level attraction and global geopark, Zhangye Colorful Danxia Scenic Spot aims to become an international travel destination. By deeply exploring and optimizing regional cultural resources, the scenic spot will leverage its unique tourism assets and cultural heritage to transform into a western China-based international resort with scientific research appeal. Centered around colorful hills and Danxia landforms, it highlights the aesthetic and scientific value of geological resources while prioritizing their protection and development. The composite attraction primarily offers geological sightseeing and recreation, complemented by cultural experiences, folk customs, and leisure vacations.

Jiuquan Space Culture Exhibition Area, China

No. 14 of Best Things to Do in Gansu-Qinghai Area

Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon

Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon is located in Zhangye, Gansu Province, just 56 km from the city center. This national 4A-level attraction offers a diverse experience combining canyon exploration, geological research, ethnic culture, and off-road adventures. Here you'll find landscapes as spectacular as Zhangjiajie and as awe-inspiring as Colorado—a rare geological treasure and a new Silk Road discovery for travelers. Along the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop, Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon unveils an extraordinary journey for travelers with its pristine grandeur and profound valleys. This natural masterpiece serves as a sacred site for spiritual exploration, inviting you to give your weary soul a liberating stage.

No. 10 of Best Things to Do in Gansu

Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple

The Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple is located in the urban area of Zhangye. It was first built during the Yong'an era of the Western Xia Dynasty and has a history of over 900 years. The temple is renowned for housing one of China's largest indoor clay reclining Buddha statues, along with other distinctive ancient structures such as the earthen pagoda and the Shanxi Guild Hall, which are open for visits. Exhibitions inside the temple help travelers understand Buddhist art and the history of the Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple. As one of Zhangye's iconic attractions, it is a must-see for visitors to the city. The current site of the temple is not large, with a depth of approx. 200 m and a width of approx. 100 m. Visitors can enter from the western square and explore on foot. The main buildings open for visits, from west to east, include the Giant Buddha Hall, the Hall of Ten Thousand Saints (now the Buddhist Art Exhibition Hall), the Scripture Hall (now the Buddhist Texts Exhibition Hall), the earthen pagoda, and the Shanxi Guild Hall. A complete tour takes approx. 1–2 hrs. The Giant Buddha Hall is the temple's most significant structure and the highlight for travelers. It features one of China's largest indoor clay reclining Buddha statues, depicting the Nirvana of Sakyamuni. The statue measures 34.5 m in length and 7.5 m in shoulder width—so massive that a single finger can accommodate a lying person, and one ear can seat 10 people side by side. The hall also houses statues of the Ten Great Disciples and the Eighteen Arhats, along with exquisite murals depicting Journey to the West and the Classic of Mountains and Seas. The Hall of Ten Thousand Saints and the Scripture Hall, located in the central area, now serve as exhibition spaces for Buddhist art and texts, displaying sculptures, grotto statues, scriptures, and other artifacts. Notable among these is a collection of over 6,000 Buddhist scriptures personally bestowed by Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty, many written in pure gold, which are the temple's prized treasures. The earthen pagoda, standing over 30 m tall, is east of the Giant Buddha Hall. Its two-tiered base features four small pagodas on each level, adorned with exquisite carvings and housing solemn Buddha statues. The Shanxi Guild Hall, situated northeast of the temple complex, was originally a merchant guild hall during the Qing Dynasty. This typical northwestern residential courtyard features ancient architecture with intricately carved beams and painted pillars, exuding rustic elegance.

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Jiayuguan

The Overhanging Great Wall Scenic Spot

The theme of the Great Wall in Suspension is the ancient silk road culture and Great Wall culture. The main contents of the tour include the Great Wall in Suspension, the Silk Road Sculpture Group, and the Jiayuguan Ancient Weapons Exhibition. The area is divided into four main zones: Shiguanxia Ancient Silk Road Cultural Promenade, the Military Defense System Area of the Great Wall in Suspension, the Leisure Resort and the Management Area. The ancient silk sculpture group carved statues of seven major historical figures, including Zhang Qian, Huo Qubing and Xuan Zang, recorded in the Jiayuguan area in ancient China, and five followers, two horses, two camels and a carriage statue.

No. 20 of Best Things to Do in Gansu-Qinghai Area

Mati Grottoes Tourism Area

The Mati Grottoes Tourism Area is located at the foot of the Qilian Mountains in Sunan Yugur Autonomous County, Zhangye. This grotto temple complex was first built during the Northern Liang period of the Sixteen Kingdoms and continued to be carved for over a thousand years. It was renamed Puguang Temple during the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty and was historically renowned alongside the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang and the Yulin Caves in Guazhou as a major center of Buddhist art along the Hexi Corridor. The grotto complex consists of Shengguo Temple, Puguang Temple, the Thousand Buddha Caves, Jinta Temple, and the Upper, Middle, and Lower Guanyin Caves, with over 70 surviving cave niches. Early on, Han Buddhism flourished here, while Tibetan Buddhism gradually rose after the Yuan Dynasty. The coexistence of Han-style halls and Tibetan Buddhist temples on the same mountain is a distinctive feature that sets this grotto complex apart from most others. Legend has it that a heavenly horse left its hoofprint here, giving the mountain and temple their names. The deep hoofprint can still be seen on a bluestone slab in the Mati Hall today. The "Thirty-three heavens" grotto is the iconic view here: over 20 caves across seven tiers are carved into the steep red sandstone cliff in a pagoda-like formation, with halls and pavilions suspended layer by layer. All passageways are hewn into the rock—some so narrow and steep that only one person can pass at a time, requiring visitors to climb on hands and knees along zigzagging stone steps and wooden ladders. From the upper caves, one can overlook the river valley and grasslands at the foot of the Qilian Mountains. The grand Tibetan Buddha Hall, also called the Standing Buddha Hall, extends over 30 m deep, with niches densely lining its encircling corridor, most housing statues from the Yuan Dynasty. The Thousand Buddha Cave, an earlier-excavated section of the complex, preserves intact stone sculptures of one Buddha flanked by two disciples, while nearby cliffs feature extensive relief carvings of stone pagoda forests. The attraction stretches several km deep, with the main route connecting several areas including the "Thirty-three heavens" grottoes, King Gesar's hall and the Thousand Buddha caves, which are some distance apart. Taking the shuttle bus within the attraction will save energy, and walking through the main grotto areas generally takes approx. three hrs. King Gesar's hall features statues depicting the heroic tales of the Tibetan epic figure King Gesar, which can be viewed along the way. It's worth noting that many of the early statues and murals in the grottoes have suffered damage over time, and some of what we see today are later restorations. Rather than fixating on the original millennium-old artworks, it's better to focus on the experience of climbing the cliffside grottoes themselves, along with the Qilian snow-capped mountains, pastoral grasslands and rich Yugur ethnic culture.