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Home Travel in Gansu Longnan-- Southern Gateway of Gansu Province
Longnan-- Southern Gateway of Gansu Province
Travel in Gansu

Longnan
Longnan
(Lǒngnán 陇南) is a prefecture-level city in China's Gansu province. It is in southern Gansu province bordering Shaanxi  (shǎn xī 陕西) in the east and Sichuan (sì chuān 四川) in the south. Within Gansu, Longnan borders Tianshui (tiān shuǐ 天水) in the north and Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (gān nán zàng zú zì zhì zhōu 甘南藏族自治州) in the west. It is called Gansu's southern gateway and China's gateway to the northwest.


LongnanOverview

Longnan is an important transportation hub between Gansu and Sichuan, it is 440 km from the capital city, Lanzhou. Longnan city has 1 urban district, 8 counties, 242 towns, and 3243 villages with a total population of 2,676,100.

Therefore it has a lot of tourism resources, among which the major attractions Wanxiang Cave (wàn xiàng dòng 万象洞), Heaven Lake (tiān chí 天池) and Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve (bái shuǐ jiāng zì rán bǎo hù qū 白水江自然保护区).
 

History

LongnanLongnan was settled by humans at least 7000 years ago. Between 5000 and 6000 years ago, civilizations developed along the Xihanshui (xī hàn shuǐ 西汉水) and the Bailong Rver (bái lóng jiāng 白龙江). Longnan is very important in Chinese history and is considered the cradle of the Qin Dynasty; the dynasty that would unite China as a whole for the first time. Wudu County was even founded in the Qin dynasty. It is common to still find Qin dynasty artifacts includingsd pottery, bronzes, and coins. Wudu Special District was established in 1949, changed to Longnan Region in 1985 and promoted to being a regional city in 2004.
 

Geographic Features and Climate

LongnanThe major geographic features in Longnan are the Qinba Mountains (qín bā shān qū 秦巴山区) in the east, the Loess Plateau (huáng tǔ gāo yuán 黄土高原) in the north, and the Tibetan Plateau in the west. It is part of the Central Han basin in the east and the Sichuan basin in the south. The area is 27,000 km². The terrain of the city is higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast. High mountains and deep valleys interweave with hills and basins, forming the unique and complex landform of Longnan.

Longnan has a temperate, monsoon-influenced semi-arid climate, with chilly winters and hot, moderately humid summers. Due to the protected valley location and the southerly location within the province, the area is one of the warmest in Gansu, with annual temperatures ranging from 10 to 15°C. The annual precipitation is 400 to 1000 mm, while there are between 160 to 280 frost free days and the annual mean sunshine total is 1,850 sunlight hours. Rainfall tends to be greatest during the summer.
 

Attractions

Heaven Lake (tiān chí 天池)
LongnanHeaven Lake in Wenxian (wén xiàn 文县) is one of the three great pools inChina named for their other worldly beauty this lake is like an emerald inlaid among mountains.

Lying in the Tianwei Mountains (tiān wèi shān 天魏山) at an elevation of about 2, 400 meters and seated about 100 kilometers north of the county, it is one of the four famous heavenly lakes in China. It is depth is 87 meters which is shaped like a bottle gourd and has a circumference of about ten kilometers. Ithas nine large crooks and 108 small ones.

An earthquake blocked the river here, the water accumulated behind the natural dam, and thus, the lake was formed. This beautiful alpine lake is surrounded by fantastically shaped peaks and dense forests where live manyrare animals such as golden. haired monkeys, leopards, antelope, musk deer, golden pheasants and so on.

Location: 100 kilometers north of Wenxian county in Longnan city
Tel: 0939-8213302
Opening Hours: 08:00-18:00
Transportation: Take Bus No.12 in Wenxian or taxi
Admission Fee: CNY30
Best Time to Go: Spring and Autumn

Wanxiang Cave (wàn xiàng dòng 万象洞)
LongnanLocate on the southern bank of the White Dragon River some 15 kilometers to the west of Wudu District ,the Wanxiang Cave is found at the waist of the mountain in the Yangpang Village. As the cave is featured with caves within the cave looks very elegant and fascinating as though it were an Immortal Palace of Langyuan, hence the Wanxiang Cave.

Formerly called the Immortals Cave or Cave of Five Immortals it is said that there have ever been five immortals cultivating and got themselves immortalizde here in the cave, therefore it is renowned far and wide.

With the exception of the natural scenic spots there are still quite some inscriptions and stone--tablets, a total of over 100pieces as well as 768 poem for you to appreciate and they are left overwritten by men of letters from various dynasties. However, what is the most attractive are that "An Totally Different World" written by Gao Yihan in the days of the Republic of China and "Wanxiang Cave" by Zhao Puchu,a late famous personage in China.

Location: On the southern bank of the White Dragon River some 15 kilometers to the west of Wudu District (wǔ dōu xiàn 武都县)
Tel: 0939-8528414
Opening Hours: 08:00-18:00
Transportation: There is no direct bus in Longnan city, it is recommended to rent a car or take a taxi.
Admission Fee: CNY25

Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve (bái shuǐ jiāng zì rán bǎo hù qū 白水江自然保护区)
LongnanBaishuijiang National Nature Reserve is located in Wenxian County, south of Gansu Province. The whole preservation zone is in the shape of a ribbon, with 110 kilometers long from the east  to the west and 20 kilometers wide from the south to the north. Covering an area of 213,750 hectares, Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve features verdant and lush forest and a great variety of plants and animals. It was established in 1978 and mainly protects giant pandas, other rare wildlife and their ecosystem.

In Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve, there are altogether 265 species of terrestrial vertebrate, 180 species of birds and over 2,000 species of reptiles. As a co1ourfu1 wildlife reserve, it is also one of the main habitats for China's giant pandas. In addition to pandas, there are other rare and precious animals such as black gibbons, takins, and golden eagles under the first-grade national protection. Animals in the Reserve under the second-grade state protection include macaques, otters, giant salamanders and gorals.

Location: Wenxian County, south of Gansu Province
Tel: 0939-5522641
Opening Hours: The whole day
Transportation: There are buses in Wudu Station
Best Time to Visit: Summer and Autumnw


Travel Tips

Transportation
1. There are few regular transport links in Longnan. Because of the sometimes difficult road conditions, off-road vehicles or buses with high chassis are the best means of transportation. Wenxian County of Longnan is only 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Jiuzhaigou.
2. Longnan is an important passage between Gansu and Sichuan, and the city's railway station is also a vital passenger and freight transportation hub. The railway station is in Jialing Town of Huixian County on the right bank of the Jialing River. Longnan Wudu Bus Station is located in Panxuan Lu.

Other Tips:

Special Local Products:
Mianpi, Mutton, olives, tea, gingko tea, wild pepper, Langya honey, toadstools, monkey head mushrooms, gingko, herbs
Longnan

Festivals: Every year, Longnan holds many tourist and cultural festivals, such as a peach blossom festival in April, tea picking festival around the Qingming Festival, as well as tourist festivals in Qianba Grassland and Wanxiang Cave.
There is an old branch of Tibetans, the Baima Tibetans, living in Tielou Tibetan Township three kilometers (1.9 miles) west of Wenxian County. The Baima Tibetans are renowned for their singing and dancing. They lead simple lives, inhabiting traditional houses, wearing beautiful costumes and following their own folkways. They shepherd, keep bees, grow hemp and weave cloth for a living. In July, there is a tourist festival held there to show the unique way of life of Baima Tibetans.
Best Time to Go: Summer and autumn are the best seasons to visit Longnan.
Seat of the City Government: No288, Jiucheng Lu, Wudu District
Useful Telephone Numbers
Tourist Complaints:
0939-8213302
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiry: 184