Three Lesser-Known Treasure County Towns in Gansu Perfect for Road Trips

I've finally arrived at the other side of the Anywhere Door in Gansu. Over the course of six years, we've taken several leisurely road trips through Gansu and encountered numerous treasure county towns. This collection features three particularly memorable ones. In terms of travel, these towns are quite niche, with the first being especially obscure, yet all three boast rich landscapes. Join us as we virtually travel and plant the seeds of wanderlust. ❶Lintao County (Images 1, 2, 3) Obscurity Level: ★★★★★ A county under the jurisdiction of Dingxi City in Gansu Province, it is named after the Tao River, the largest tributary of the Yellow River on its upper right bank, which flows through it. As a travel destination, it's quite off the beaten path, but Lintao has a long history. As early as the Warring States period, it was established as Didao County. After the Qin dynasty built Longxi Commandery, it gradually became an important town and was also a vital passage on the ancient Silk Road. The county is rich in cultural landscapes, being both the site where Majiayao painted pottery was unearthed & the namesake of the Majiayao site, and the location of the Geshu Han Monument of Merit. This monument, erected in honor of the Tibetan general Geshu Han, featured in the movie 'The Longest Day in Chang'an,' is located in the center of Lintao County. Its age makes it extremely precious. The natural scenery here is also breathtaking. There's the Sumu Gorge Grand Canyon, which features both karst & Danxia landforms and stretches nearly 28 kilometers, still rarely visited by tourists. 🏞️Other attractions in Lintao County: Tao River, Diaochan Lake, etc. 🚙One-day road trip itinerary: Tao River ➡️ Diaochan Lake ➡️ Geshu Han Monument of Merit ➡️ Majiayao Site ➡️ Sumu Gorge Grand Canyon. ❷Xiahe County (Images 4–8) Obscurity Level★★★★ A county under the jurisdiction of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, it is an area where Tibetan people live. It is named after the Daxia River that flows through the territory. The county is home to the famous Labrang Monastery of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The monks here are very knowledgeable, and we got detailed answers to several questions we had accumulated during our visit. In Ganjia Town, there is also an ancient city with a very special octagonal-shaped city wall, hence the name 'Octagon City.' Presumed to have been built during the Han dynasty, it has always been a strategic military location through the ages. Like Lintao County, Xiahe is also located in the transitional area between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Loess Plateau, so its natural scenery is particularly colorful. There are vast grasslands like Sangke and Ganjia, as well as geological landscapes like Baishiya. The scenery is even more beautiful in summer and autumn. 🏞️Other attractions in Xiahe County: Dazhong Lake, Sangke Wetland, Baishiya Temple, Zohai Temple, etc. 🚙Three-day road trip itinerary: D1 Dazhong Lake ➡️ Labrang Monastery ➡️ Ganjia Grassland. D2 Ganjia Grassland ➡️ Baishiya ➡️ Baishiya Temple ➡️ Octagon City ➡️ Zohai Temple. D3 Sangke Grassland ➡️ Sangke Wetland. ❸Dangchang County Dang is pronounced tàn. A county under the jurisdiction of Longnan City. The town of Hada Shop in Dangchang County has an important patriotic education base: the Red Army Long March Memorial. This place is a turning point in the Long March and should be understood in detail. Dangchang County is located at the intersection of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Minshan and West Qinling mountain ranges, with stunning natural scenery and the nickname 'Jiangnan of Long'. The Guan'e Gully here, with its towering mountains, cascading waterfalls, and clear blue lakes, offers even more spectacular views in summer and autumn. 🚙Other attractions in Dangchang County: Wanxiang Cave, Yaozhai Gully, etc. 🚙Two-day road trip itinerary: D1 Hada Shop ➡️ Wanxiang Cave ➡️ Yaozhai Gully. D2 Guanzhu Gully ➡️ Eman Gully. ▶️The above content is summarized based on personal travel experiences, please forgive any omissions. ▶️Due to the timeliness, some scenes may have changed, please refer to the current situation. ▶️Address location information is provided by the website, please leave a message for more detailed information. ▶️All the attractions that Cai Cai Juan'er and Mr. Dog have traveled to by car are accessible. 🔸🔹🔸 Follow Cai Cai Juan'er and Mr. Dog on a road trip to explore niche travel destinations deeply.