The city of Tianshui (tiān shuǐ 天水) is located in the northeastern part of Gansu province. It is the second largest city in the province, and is about 338 kilometers from Lanzhou City, Gansu's capital. Tianshui lies along the route of the ancient Northern Silk Road at the Wei River (wèi hé 渭河), through which much of trade occurred between China and the west. It has a total area of 14,300 square kilometers, and a population of approximately 3,500,000. About 300,000 people live in the Tianshui urban area. Established during the time of Emperor Wu Di, Tianshui County has had a 2000 year history.

 
Overview

Tianshui City was once the first stop that the Silk Road made upon entering the Gansu Province. Situated in the southeastern region of Gansu, it lies halfway between Lanzhou (lán zhōu 兰州) and Xian (xī ān 西安), and along the upper branch of the Wei River, where Shaanxi (shǎn xī 陕西), Gansu (gān sù 甘肃) and Sichuan (sì chuān 四川) provinces converge. Nearby are the Maijishan Grottoes (mài jī shān shí kū 麦积山石窟) filled with thousands of Buddhist sculptures, represented by figures as Sakyamuni (shì jiā móu ní 释迦牟尼) and Avalokitesvara (guān shì yīn pú sà 观世音菩萨), produced in as early as the Wei Dynasty (wèi guó 魏国) and as late as the Song Dynasty (sòng cháo 宋朝) by Buddhist monks (fó tuó sēng lǚ 佛陀僧侣) who first came here via the North Silk Road and, later on, by local Buddhists, for worship purposes.
 

History

Tianshui is a famous historic and cultural city. It is on the route of the ancient Silk Road. The city was named by the legend of the "Tianhe River Infusion." In myths, Tianshui was the birthplace of Fuxi, the earliest Chinese ancestor. The Dadiwan society existed here during the Neolithic times. Then, the Qin state, later to become the founding dynasty of the Chinese empire, conquered other territory from Tianshui.

The Qin established the first empire of China that lasted from 221 to 206 BC. The famous Terracotta Army statues in Xian and the first part of the Great Wall of China was built by this dynasty. The land was originally bestowed by Xiao Wang of the Zhou Dynasty to Feizi whose surname was called "Yin." Feizi described ideas on law and justice that were adopted by the Qin rulers.

In 688 BC historical records referenced the city (though it was then called Qinting). The name 'Tianshui' appeared during the Qin Dynasty (qín cháo 秦朝) (221BC-206BC) when it was given the name Tianshui Shire.

Geographic Features

The southern and eastern parts of the city are mountainous, while the north is a loess hilly area (with soil comprised mainly of wind-blown sediment). A fraction of the central area lies in the river valley. As a whole, the City's terrain slopes downward, from northwest to southeast.


Climate

Tianshui has a monsoon-influenced, four-season, cool semi-arid climate, with seasons of
comparatively equal length. Winters are cold but dry, with an average January temperature of −2 °C (28.4 °F), while summers are warm and somewhat humid, with an average July temperature of 22.8 °C (73.0 °F). Much of the annual rainfall occurs from June to September, and the annual mean temperature is 11.0 °C (51.8 °F).

Attractions

Maijishan Grottoes (mài jī shān shí kū  麦积山石窟)
Located 45 kilometers (about 28 miles) southeast of Tianshui City in Gansu Province, Maiji Mountain rises up abruptly 142 meters (about 155 yards) from the landscape. The people named the mountain 'Maiji' because it resembles a stack of wheat straw (mai meaning wheat, and ji meaning stack).

In the area are preserved 194 grottoes of dynasties such as the Beiwei, Xiwei, Beizhou, Sui, and Tang, the Five Dynasties, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing. There are 7000 clay sculptures and carved stone statues. This grotto group, unlike the column-centered caves in the famous Mogao Grottoes, was built fully according to ancient Chinese tradition. Many fine statues, carved before the Sui Dynasty, are much more valuable than the statues in the Mogao Grottoes that were modified afterwards during several dynasties.

The artistic style in these grottoes show the influence of Central Asian cultures. The Maijishan Grottoes display the features of the culture of the Central Plains because its geographical position is near the Central Plains. The Yungang Grottoes, Sichuan Dazu Rock Carvings, Huangze Temple Caves and the Maijishan Grottoes impacted each other in style.

The Maijishan Grottoes are part of the Maijishan Mountain scenic reserve area with forests and a large variety of plants and animals. It is a beautiful scenic spot in the area and has interesting geology.

Location: 45 kilometers (about 28 miles) southeast of Tianshui City in Gansu Province
Tel: 0938-2731407
Transportation: Get to Tianshui City first and then wait for the bus 34 (Tianshui Railway Station - Maijishan) which is leaving every 15 minutes from 06:30-19:30. Get off the bus and you can find the ticket office of Maijishan 30 meters away from the bus station.
Opening Hours: 8:00-17:00
Admission Fee: Through Ticket of Maiji Mountain Scenic Area: CNY 70 per person
                       Ticket excluding Maiji Caves: CNY 20 per person 
Sightseeing Bus Fare: CNY 10 including return trip

Water Curtain Cave (shuǐ lián dòng 水帘洞)
The Water Curtain Cave is a natural cave about 50 meters high and 30 meters wide and 30 meters deep. During the rainy season, water flows over a fall like a jade bead curtain. In the cave there are ten small buildings such as Sisheng Palace, Guanyin Temple and Laoju Chamber built in the Sui Dynasty. Near the cave is Laoshao Temple that was built in the Beiwei Dynasty.

A large number of works of grotto art dating from the Beizhou Dynasty (běi zhōu 北周) to the Yuan Dynasty (yuán cháo 元朝) are preserved in Laoshao Temple. There is a large fresco there over 40 meters tall on a huge cliff with guarding animals. The fresco covered about 2/3 of the cliff, and the part that remains is extremely precious. On the top of the cliff were built eaves to shelter from the wind and rain. On the eaves were carved flying clouds and walking animals, and real brass bells that rang. These patterns and features, influenced by Hinayana Buddhism, are very rarely seen in Chinese grotto art.

The painted murals, sculptures and cliffside inscriptions in the Thousand-Buddha Cave and Lashao Temple are also very valuable. Due to these historical treasures and the beautiful natural landscape, Water Curtain Cave is a good place to see when traveling to Tianshui in Gansu Province.

Location: 16 miles (30 kilometers) in the valleys in Zhonglou Mountain northeast of Wushan County in Tianshui City
Tel: 0938-3421081
Transportation: There are coaches at Wushan county (wǔ shān xiàn 武山县) bus station for Zhoulou Mountain.
Opening Hours: All day
Admission Fee: CNY180 (peak tourism season)
                       CNY160 (tourist off-season)

Fuxi Temple (fú xī miào 伏羲庙)
Fuxi Temple is also named Taihao Palace, and it is also known as Renzhong Temple. After the ninth renovation and expansion in Emperor Guangxu's reign during the Qing Dynasty, it covered an area of 13,000 square meters. The remaining temple only covers about 6600 square meters.

Fuxi Temple has numerous courts and four compounds. Ten historic buildings in the temple include the theatrical stage, archways, the main gate, the instrumental gate, Congenital Temple, Taiji Temple, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, and Laihe Hall. Six new buildings include Waiting Rooms, the Tablet Gallery and exhibition halls. There are about 76 buildings.

The whole complex faces south. Such grand and majestic buildings as the Memorial Gateway, the main gate, the instrument gate, Congenital Temple, and Taiji Temple are arranged along the axis line advancing layer upon layer, and the Waiting Rooms and the Tablet Gallery are distributed symmetrically and regularly along the horizontal line. This western part of Fuxi Road in Tianshui City  arrangement is the distinctive style of traditional Chinese architecture. Since Fuxi is the first emperor in ancient legends, the complex is like a palace. It is the country's largest architectural complex worshipping Fuxi.

Location: No. 110, Fu Xi Road, Qinzhou District, Tianshui City.
Tel: 0938-6811864
Transportation: 20 minutes walk from the street at the south side of Tianshui center. 10 yuan by taxi
Opening Hours: 8：00-17：00 
Admission Fee: CNY30

Daxiangshan Grottoes (dà xiàng shān dà fó 大象山大佛)
Daxiang Mountain, also called Wenqi, is a steep mountain in Gangu county. It is 2.5 kilometers from the town. When you look at the mountain from the front, it looks like a flag. When you look at it sideways, the mountain looks like a dragon. On the mountain, junipers and pines grow in wanton profusion. Pavilions, platforms, chambers and towers nestle at the foot, and encircling trees hide carved beams and painted rafters. On the cliff of the mountain is a big cave grotto in which sits a giant Buddha.

The giant Buddha is 23.3 meters high and 10.4 meters wide at its waist. It welcomes tourists with a genial facial expression, but has a solemn appearance, and long ears reaching to the shoulders, a magnificent physical prowess, slanting cassocks, and stubbles like tadpoles, and it sits in a lotus position, serene and calm.
At each side of the giant Buddha was the long corridor that was built like a girdle following the shape of the mountain. 22 huge and marvelous grottoes, square shaped, joined together in the corridor. One special character of the Daxiangshan Grottoes is the large conical arch niche and the chancel at the frontal cliff, as well as Chan grottoes for monks'prapatti. These features are not paralleled in China.

Location: Gangu County (gān gǔ xiàn 甘谷县) in Tianshui City and 8 kilometers from Railway Station
Tel: 0938-3328811
Transportation: There are Non-stop buses at Tianshui Railway Station
Opening Hours: 8：00-17：00 
Admission Fee: CNY10
Festivals: On every 8th day of the fourth month in the lunar calendar, young and old people from nearby villages come to visit Daxiang Mountain and see the temple fair. Lieterary art is exhibited, and there is a market in the temple fair. On Sep.10, 1981, the Daxiangshan Grottoes were listed as a provincial-level cultural relic, and money was allocated for its rehabilitation. In 2001, the grottoes became a national cultural relic.

Travel Tips:

Food: Noodles are the most famous snack foods in Tianshui. There is a range of styles like GuaGua, Liang Pi, Liang Feng, Jangshui, Sweet Grains, Islamic noodles, noodles with sauce, and Jaotuan.

Tips: Pedestrian Street and places near the Commercial Building in Qinzhou District are the most prosperous in Tianshui. Tianshui Arrow Field is actually a fair trade market. It is located next to the Pedestrian Street. The delicious foods there are mainly snacks that include virtually every variety of snack in Tianshui and delicious ones from other regions. The price is never high. If you want to taste different delicacies, it is definitely a good choice.

Special Local Products: Sea Backthern from Qingshui County, carved lacquer pro
ducts, silk carpets, Wushan jade cavings
Local Highlights: Tianshui Fuxi Culture and Tourism Festival (June)
Best Time to Go: September, October, and November are the best months to visit Tianshui
Useful Telephone Numbers:
Tourist Complaints: 0938-6811870
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiry: 184
Bank of China: 0938-8213515

Festivals: China Tianshui Fuxi Cultural and Tourism Festival is held on May every year. Fuxi is known as the ancestor of Chinese people. He is one of the earliest legendary rulers. Like Adam and Eve created the western civilization, Fuxi and Nuwa created Chinese culture. In memory of Fuxi, people give sacrifice to Fuxi every year. During the festival, there will be many activities. The agenda of the sacrifice ceremony is playing the music, knocking the tambourine, reading the ritual sacrifice, giving the flowers and worshiping the statue.
Other Tips:
1. Tianshui is a five hour drive from Lanzhou. From downtown Tianshui, visitors can take city buses to the foot of Maiji Mountain (a 40 minute trip; busses are located opposite the train station), and it is still 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Maiji Caves.
2. The Fuxi Temple is easily accessible once you are in the downtown area of Tianshui - simply walk down the street south of Central Square. Temple admission is free from the first day to the seventh day of the first lunar month.