Tianshui Travel Guide

The Jingtusi Temple

Welcome to Tianshui, an ancient city full of charm. It is one of the important birthplaces of the Chinese civilization and the Chinese nation. It is the earliest site found in the Neolithic Age in China. Tianshui, located in the southeast of Gansu Province, is a city with a long history and profound cultural heritage. It is known as the “pearl of Gansu” and an important node on the economic belt of the Silk Road.

Tianshui is a place that boasts of beautiful natural scenery, with the most famous being the Maij Mountain Grottoes. Maiji Mountain is one of the four major grottoes in China, known as the “Exhibition Hall of Oriental sculpture Art”, famous for its exquisite sculpture art and well-preserved artistic style. Here, you can enjoy the art of the caves in the ancient temples for thousands of years, and feel the vicissitudes of history and cultural heritage. In addition to Maiji Mountain, Tianshui also has Fuxi Temple, Jingtusi Temple, Immortal Cliff and other famous scenic spots, all of which are national 4 - and 5-star scenic spots, each with its own unique charm, waiting for your exploration and discovery.

The  Bathing Buddha Festival

The food in Tianshui is even more mouth-watering. There are plenty of special snacks here. Tianshui has recently become popular all over China with its Malatang, and many people go to Tianshui specifically for a bite of Malatang. In addition to Malatang, there are Niang Pi, Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup, Tianshui Quagua, and other delicacies with a unique taste, letting people have an endless aftertaste. In the streets of Tianshui, you can taste the authentic long cuisine and feel the thick local customs.In addition to the unique attractions and delicious food, Tianshui also has an exclusive cultural charm. There are rich and colorful folk cultural activities here, such as going to the Yuquan “Chaoguan,” Fuxi temple fair, and Bathing Buddha Festival. Each culture carries the traces of history and inherits the wisdom of the nation. In Tianshui, you can feel a strong historical and cultural heritage and understand the charm of this ancient city.

Tianshui is an enchanting ancient city that boasts a rich blend of culture, history, and natural beauty. The place has a unique charm that captivates visitors and makes them want to stay longer. Whether you're exploring the scenic spots, savoring the local delicacies, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Tianshui promises an unforgettable experience. We warmly welcome you to Tianshui, where you can feel the magic of this ancient city and embark on a journey of a lifetime!

Area: 14,300 square km

Population: 2,956,500 (2023)

Postal Code: 741000

Phone Area Code: 0938

Time in Tianshui: the same as Beijing time, GMT+8

Tianshui Tourism Map

Tianshui is rich in tourism resources, a unique natural landscape, and a pleasant climate. Tianshui is a typical temperate monsoon climate, with winter being cold and dry, summer being hot and rainy, four distinct seasons, abundant sunshine, and large variations in precipitation. The famous scenic spots in Tianshui are Maijishan Grottoes, Wushan Water Shutter Cave scenic spot, Gangu Daxiang Mountain, Pure Land Temple, and Fuxi Temple. They are very famous at home and abroad. To help you plan your trip, here is a Tianshui tourism map that shows the various tourist attractions that may interest you.

Tianshui Travel Season Tips

Tianshui City is located in a temperate continental climate zone, while the urban area has a temperate semi-humid climate. The average annual temperature in Tianshui is 11.5℃. The hottest month is July, with temperatures reaching up to 33.4 ℃, while January is the coldest. Tianshui has four distinct seasons with plenty of sunshine and moderate rainfall. It's significant to check the weather forecast before traveling to Tianshui and take appropriate personal safety measures to make your journey more enjoyable. 

The best time to visit Tianshui is from September to November when the weather is mild and comfortable. It won't be as hot, but it will still be dry, so bring plenty of water to make sure you don't get thirsty during your trip. View More>>

Tianshui Attractions

The Maijishan Grottoes

Maijishan Grottoes is one of the four major grottoes in China and one of the famous grotto art sites on the Silk Road. Maijishan Grottoes, a large and exquisite art grottoes group, was founded 384 years ago after centuries of development. The Maijishan Grottoes have been recognized as a World Cultural Heritage site, and are visited by numerous tourists and scholars for research purposes. It is a significant representative of ancient Chinese Buddhist art and offers an essential insight into the development of ancient Chinese culture and religion. The Buddha statues and murals inside the grottoes are of immense artistic value and historical significance.

The Fuxi Temple

Fuxi Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Fuxi. Fuxi is regarded as a figure in traditional Chinese mythology and is honored as “the first ancestor of China” and “the founder of the eight trigrams”. Fuxi Temple is an important religious place to worship Fuxi and is also one of the cultural heritages of Tianshui City. The building style of Fuxi Temple is simple and elegant. There are statues and tablets of Fuxi in the temple. Visitors can feel the solemnness and mystery of Chinese traditional culture here. There are also many ancient cultural relics and historical documents preserved in the temple, demonstrating the important position and influence of Fuxi in Chinese culture. Visitors can feel the atmosphere of ancient Chinese religious beliefs in the Fuxi Temple and understand the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture. At the same time, it is also a place to meditate and pray for peace, attracting many believers and tourists to visit.

The Jingtusi Temple

Jingtusi Temple is a Buddhist temple with a long history. Built in the Tang Dynasty, Jingtusi Temple is one of the oldest temples in Tianshui City and one of the important Buddhist holy places in Gansu Province. The architectural style of the temple is simple and elegant, reflecting the characteristics of traditional Chinese temples, and visitors can feel the peaceful atmosphere here. The area surrounding Jingtusi Temple is truly beautiful. The temple has been built on a mountain, and the scenery changes with the seasons. Spring and autumn, in particular, offer a stunning display of natural beauty that attracts many tourists to come and enjoy the sights. There are also many precious Buddhist relics and historical documents in the temple, demonstrating the important position of Jingtusi Temple in the inheritance of Buddhist culture.

The Xianren Cliff

Xianren Cliff : A natural landscape full of mystery, it is a scenic spot where Buddhism, Taoism ,and Confucianism coexist.It is a national 5A scenic spot. Along with Maijishan Grottoes, Gangu Big Image Mountain, and Huagai Temple, it is one of the four famous cultural relics of Buddhism along the Silk Road. Xianren Cliff scenic spot is north of Maiji Mountain scenic spot, with rock caves, offering Everest, South Tianmen, Baogai Mountain, thousand Buddha Cliff is the most typical, strange mountain, beautiful water, green trees, wildflowers, involved in it, there is a sense of fairyland.

Travel in Tianshui

Transportation:

Tianshui is one of the closest tourist cities to Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province. Here don't have to worry about your way of travel, there are airports, train stations, and bus stops in Tianshui, you can choose any way of travel, and of course, you can also choose to drive. If you fly to Tianshui, you can take Chongqing to Tianshui, Tianjin to Tianshui this direct flight route, or you can go to Lanzhou first, and then change other ways of transportation to Tianshui. View More>>

If you want to take the train, consider the following price list:

Local Cuisine:

Tianshui’s food is rich and diverse, combining regional characteristics and historical culture to form a unique flavor. The staple food here is Tianshui Braised Noodles. Tianshui Guagua is also very popular in the locals’ daily life. See more about Local Cuisine in Tianshui. View More>>

Pay Attention:

When you select your hiloday destination then there is something you should pay attention to avoid unnecessary tactics when you travel to Tianshui. Here we prepare the Tianshui Travel Advices for you. View More>> 

Best Time to Visit Tianshui

A trip to Gansu is a great opportunity to experience the customs of western China and its rich history and culture. Gansu, located in northwest China, is rich in natural landscapes and historical sites, so choosing the right time to travel there is crucial. Spring and autumn are the best time to visit Tianshui. View More>>

Where to Stay

In the process of traveling, it is very important to choose the best place to rest. These are some of the hotels in Tianshui. View More>>