Dangchang, Gansu, a forgotten 22℃ summer paradise! Deep in the canyon, waterfalls and streams flow, and the breeze brushes through forest meadows. This small town hides too many surprises

Dangchang, Gansu, a forgotten 22℃ summer paradise! Deep in the canyon, waterfalls and streams flow, and the breeze brushes through forest meadows. This small town hides too many surprises. When the summer heatwave sweeps across most cities nationwide, Dangchang County in Longnan, Gansu quietly stays at a refreshing 22℃ summer day. This place is not only known as the "Millennium Medicine Town," but also a natural "air conditioner" and wellness destination carefully crafted by mountains, waters, and culture. The green coolness of Guan'egou, the red passion of Hadapu, the vast magnificence of the grasslands, the nourishing fragrance of medicinal cuisine, and the songs and lights flowing on summer nights together form Dangchang’s unique summer retreat and wellness code. --- 01 Guan'egou: The "Natural Oxygen Therapy Chamber" for Green Summer Cooling Stepping into Guan'egou feels like instantly entering a cool paradise. This canyon, about thirty kilometers long, is known as the "Little Jiuzhaigou," boasting 1.55 million mu of vast forest sea and more than 20 lakes of varying shades of green. Morning mist wraps around the verdant mountains, and the plank road winds through the primeval forest, with the clear sound of streams hitting rocks in your ears. The water rushes and weaves, sometimes turning into waterfalls cascading down, with splashing mist refracting colorful rainbows; sometimes gathering into emerald pools resting quietly at the valley bottom, reflecting the lush trees on both sides. Guan'egou is divided into Guanzhu and Eman gorges, with Leigu Mountain standing between them. The majestic mountain and the serene Zedangcuo Lake together witness the beautiful love story of Guanzhu and Eman, earning this place the title of "China’s Valley of Love." With a perceived temperature of 22℃, this land becomes a "cool barrier" in the height of summer. Ms. Zhang, a visitor from Xi’an, excitedly said, "This place is literally a natural giant refrigerator!" 02 Hadapu: Spiritual Baptism at the Red Holy Land Not far from Guan'egou, Hadapu, a "refueling station" in the history of the Long March, adds a strong red revolutionary heritage to Dangchang. As a national-level historical and cultural town and a 4A-level red tourism scenic spot, Hadapu has 52 precious revolutionary sites including the Red Army Long March Memorial Hall and Long March Street. The detailed historical materials in the memorial silently tell the glorious years of the Long March. Teacher Li, who brought her child for a study tour, remarked, "Revisiting this passionate history in such a cool place feels especially profound!" Visitors can also wear Red Army uniforms to experience the hardships of that era and feel the power of red culture. 03 Wellness Experience: Tongue-Nourishing Delicacies from the Millennium Medicine Town As a "Millennium Medicine Town" and "Natural Medicine Warehouse," Dangchang turns authentic medicinal materials into delicious health-preserving medicinal cuisine. Locally developed products like Astragalus tea and Angelica medicinal cuisine series are popular nationwide, and the "Qiangyuan Weidao" medicinal dishes won the gold medal at the 12th National Medicinal Cuisine Skills Competition. At Luren Wellness Station or wellness homestays scattered throughout the scenic area, visitors can taste specialty medicinal dishes such as Angelica and Astragalus stewed native chicken and Codonopsis pilosula lamb stew. Aunt Liu, a visitor from Chengdu, praised enthusiastically, "This Angelica stewed chicken is perfect for those sensitive to cold air!" Additionally, visitors can experience traditional Chinese medicine foot baths, TCM massages, and other wellness services for full body and mind relaxation. 04 All-Around Experience: From Daytime Frolic to Nighttime Flavor Seeking During the day, Guan'egou is the "main battlefield" for tourists: hiking in the forest and playing in the streams. At night, the fortress town transforms into a "cultural night feast"—the bonfire at Luren Tibetan Village Cultural Square lights up the night sky, melodious Tibetan folk songs play, and locals and visitors join hands to dance the Guozhuang dance. Ms. Li from Shenzhen excitedly joined the dance, saying, "It's cool and fun, this is truly a summer resort!" Besides Guan'egou, Dangchang also has 1.35 million mu of vast grasslands, painting a beautiful picture of ecological protection and green development. Visitors can go directly to the Cloud Pasture to experience the sky garden supported by clouds and the unique mysterious grassland charm up close. Heading north from the county town, the newly built 26-kilometer grassland connecting road stretches forward like a ribbon. Along the way, vehicles with license plates from various places slowly stop, and tourists eagerly capture the beautiful scenery of the "Cloud Pasture." --- The morning Tanzhi Grassland looks like an oil painting brightened by the morning light. Yak herds scatter across the meadows, and the windmill blades gently turn with the mountain breeze. Beijing visitor Lin Xiaofeng is running on the grassland with his child, who holds a freshly received grilled meat skewer from a herder. "After traveling through the deserts and gobi of the Hexi Corridor, suddenly entering a green oasis in Longnan, Dangchang has given us so many surprises." The mountains and rivers remain the same, the place names unchanged, but Dangchang’s travel and living chapter has long transformed from a hurried "been there, done that" glance into a "deep immersive" savoring experience.