Jiuquan (jiǔ quán 酒泉) is a "prefecture-level city" in the westernmost part of the Gansu province (gān sù shěn 甘肃省) in China. Jiuquan neighbors Zhangye (zhāng yè 张掖) in the east within the province. It is also bordered by Qinghai Province (qīng hǎi shěng 青海省) in the south, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (xīn jiāng wéi wú ěr zì zhì qū 新疆维吾尔自治区) in the west and Inner Mongolia (nèi méng gǔ 内蒙古) and Mongolia (méng gǔ 蒙古) in the north. In addition, Jiuquan city is the closest major city to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

Overview

Jiuquan occupies 191,000 square kilometers (73,746 square miles) and had a population of 1,000,000 till 2012. The city possesses both rich culture deposits and amazing natural beauty. Since extremely long ago, this area had been inhabited by nomads of several ancient ethnic minorities in northwestern China. Jiuquan includes a series of famous scenic spots such as  Mogao Caves in Dunhuang (dūn huáng mò gāo kū 敦煌莫高窟), Wine Spring of the Western Han Dynasty (xī hàn jiǔ quán shèng jì  西汉酒泉圣迹) and Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (jiǔ quán wèi xīng fā shè zhōng xīn 酒泉卫星发射中心).
 

 History

The city's name came from legendary tale of the young Han general Huo Qubing, who poured a jar of precious wine into a local creek in order to share the taste with his troops, in celebration of their crushing victory against Xiongnu forces. The creek was later named Jiu Quan ("Wine Spring"), which became the name of the Han prefecture established there. It was an active military garrison during the Later Han Dynasty.

It was until the early ages of the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-24AD) that vast land west of the Yellow River including Jiuquan was entirely put into the regnal territory. The famous Silk Road stretched through the city and it had been the vital pass linking Central China with Central Asia and Europe.


Geographic Features and Climate

Basically, the terrain of Jiuquan is higher in the south, lower in the north and slopes downward from southwest to northeast. Offshoots of the Qilian Mountains occupy the south part of the city. The central land of Jiuquan distributes basins, and the Gobi area is mainly distributed in its north.

Enjoying a continental desert climate in temperate zone, the city is dry and seldom rainy throughout the year. The winter is chilly and summer is hot, the spring is arid. Wind blowing with sands often happens in spring and autumn. Temperature difference varies greatly during a day. It has slim rainfall during the whole year, mainly falling during July to October.



Attractions

Dunhuang Mogao Caves (dūn huáng mò gāo kū 莫高窟)

Dunhuang Mogao Caves is the biggest grotto in China. The traveler finds the Mogao Caves, a shrine of Buddhist art treasures, 25 km (15.5miles) from downtown Dunhuang on the eastern slope of Mingsha Shan (Mount Echoing Sand). A network of plank reinforced roads plying north to south 1600 meters (5, 249 feet) long lead to the cave openings, which are stacked five stories high some reaching up to 50 meters (164 feet). By the way, Mogao means high up in the desert.

According to Tang Dynasty records, a monk had witnessed onsite a vision of thousand Buddhas under showers of golden rays. Thus inspired, he started the caves construction work that spanned ten dynasties. Mogao Caves are commonly known as the Caves of a Thousand Buddhas.

The traveler will note traces of Indian Buddhist art in the earlier works. More recent works depict all walks of life and activities in a local setting. You will relive the daily routines and special events as captured by the artists while you are exploring the 750 caves. There are also ups and downs in the artistic quality over the centuries, depending on the fortunes of Buddhism with available art patronage. Artists in each dynasty painted with their distinctive palette. The visitor can tell the works in the Tang Dynasty from those in the Song Dynasty.

Location: 25 kilometers southeast of Dunhuang city in Jiuquan, Gansu Province
Tel: 0937-8869060
Transportation: Taking special non-stop bus in Dunhuang city
Opening Hours: 9:00am～17:00pm
Admission Fee: CNY160
Advised Visit Time: 1 day
Recommended Seasons: Summer and Autumn

 Wine Spring of the Western Han Dynasty  (xī hàn jiǔ quán shèng jì 西汉酒泉胜迹)
Covering an area of 270,000 square meters, the Wine Spring of the Western Han Dynasty is a well-preserved classic garden with a history of over 2,000 years. The garden was constructed to be elegant and unsophisticated, including vigorous spring, waving lake, vivid sculpture and exquisite palaces.

In the garden besides the Wine Spring there are lakes, hills, bridges and a group of sculptures. The whole garden is sheltered under woods of tall, straight and thick ancient trees. There are also pavilions, archways and temples with carved beams and painted rafters. It has always enjoyed the reputation of being lush southern-type fields beyond the Great Wall and a bright pearl on the Gobi Desert. Now it is a scenery of AAAA rated by the State Tourism Administration.

Location: 1.9 kilometers east of Drum-tower in Jiuquan
Transportation: Taking bus No.1 and No.9 at station Drum-tower and Xiguan.
Opening Hours: 9:00am～18:00pm
Admission Fee: CNY30
Advised Visit Time: 2-3 hours
Recommended Seasons: Summer and Autumn

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center 
Founded in 1958 in Gansu Province, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center was the country's earliest base and where most launches and tests have been conducted.

It is huge, about 2,800 square kilometers, and the climate means that around 300 days each year are suitable for launches. The center is mainly used to send satellites into lower and medium orbits with large orbital inclination angles. It is also capable of testing medium- and long-range missiles. Many groundbreaking launches have been made at Jiuquan.

The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, which was built up in 1958,is the only site to project manned vehicles in the country. So far, it has witnessed the launching of 37 satellites and five spacecraft. It is where China launched the first Chinese-made missile, satellite, long-range rocket carrier, rocket carrying three satellites, unmanned spacecraft and manned spacecraft.

Location: Gobi desert in north of Jiuquan about 1,600 km from Beijing.
Tel: 0937-2460260
Transportation: There are unique buses in Jiuquan city
Travel Tips: It is recommended to consult details before visit

Special Local Products:

luminous jade cup ( fā guāng yù bēi 发光玉杯)
Legend has it that the spring water under the ancient Jiuquan City is endowed with intense fragrance of alcohol. One day, such fragrance was smelled by two gods (God of South Star and God of North Star) who were on an inspection tour. God of North Star squatted beside the spring, acclaiming, “What an alcohol spring!” God of South Star picked up a stone and turned it into two cups. When darkness fell down, there was no moonlight, but the cups were sparkling. It is from then on that this place is named “Jiuquan” (means “Alcohol Spring”) while the cups left by two gods are known as “Luminous Cups”.

Quick-frying Hump
Quick Fried Camel Hump, a dainty dish, has a history of 1500 years. Cut the Camel hump into regular pieces or shredding and quick-fry them. Flavor with seasonings, and voila the finished fresh, soft and tasteful Quick-frying Hump.

The above dishes usually use Camels that die naturally, or are old and infirm as the ingredient. They are delicacies, and you should expect to pay accordingly. If tourists wanted to try such dishes, you should visit some famous hotels in Dunhuang City.

Yellow Noodles
It is a kind of Lamian (dough stretched to form fine noodles). Yellow Noodles look like golden threads, tastes delicious and have a soft texture. They can be added to soups, or mixed with cooked vegetable dishes, and being savoury, makes a good appetitive. From the vivid painting in the Mogao Caves, we may know Lamian is a traditional food with long history.
 

Transportation

Jiuquan Dingxin Airport is located in Dingxin Town of Jinta County, operating three flights a week to Beijing. Jiuquan Bus Station offers buses in the morning to the airport. Furthermore, the Jiayuguan Airport is only 27 kilometers (17 miles) from Jiuquan. It has opened flights to Beijing, Xian, Lanzhou, Urumqi and Dunhuang. It is half hour's drive from Jiayuguan to Jiuquan and about six hours' drive to Dunhuang. Additionally, Dunhuang Airport is another important airport of Jiuquan.

Jiuquan Bus Station is located in No.47, Xiguan Road, Suzhou District. There are several buses daily to Dunhuang, Zhangye and Wuwei. It is about four hours' drive from Jiuquan to Zhangye and another three hours' drive to Wuwei.
 

Travel Tips:

It is recommended to go during May and October which is the best seasonto visit Jiuquan.

Administrative Division Code : 620900;
Post Code : 735000;
Phone Area Code : 0937
The Prefix of Motor Vehicle License Plate : 甘F
The Prefix of Citizen Identity Card Number: 620900

Seat of the City Government: Municipal Square (Shizheng Guangchang), New City ProperUseful Telephone Numbers:
Tourist Complaints: 0937-2682507
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiry: 184

Bank of China Jiuquan Branch: N0.90, East Street, Suzhou District

China Post Jiuquan Branch: No.1, North Street, Suzhou District