Jinchang Travel Guide

Population: 467,000

Area: 9,593 square kilometers (3,704 square miles)

Nationalities: Han

Administrative Division: 1district (Jinchuan); 1 county (Yongchang)

Seat of the city government: No.82, Xinhua Road, Jinchuan District, Jinchang City

Useful Telephone Numbers:
Tourist Complaints: 0935-8214499
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiry: 184

Bank of China Jinchang Branch: Xinhua Road (East), Jinchuan District, Jinchang City
China Post Jinchang Branch: No.87, Xinhua Road, Jinchuan District, Jinchang City

Location: Jinchang City is located in northwestern Gansu Province at the north foot of the Qilian Mountain. It neighbors Wuwei City in the southeast within the province, and shares boundaries with Qinhai Province in the southwest and Inner Mongolia in the northwest.

History: As early as 4,000 years ago, ancestors of Gansu People entered the primitive clan society. Before the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-24AD) established shires and counties to administrate this area, it was successively dominated by several ethnic regimes.

Physical Features: The terrain of the city basically declines from south to north, and its land interleaves mountains and plains. Southern Jinchang is comprised of vast mountainous area. In the central, there are basins, oasis plains and mountain valleys dotted peaks. Desert plain is mainly distributed in northern Jinchang.

Climatic Features: The city bears a dry continental climate in temperate zone. It is rich in sunshine. Spring is windy and the temperature is unstable. Summer is the rainy season, and the cold air usually attacks the city in mid-September. In the dry and chilly winter, its average temperature will drops between -14.6 and -9.5C (14.9 -5.7F). On the whole, the temperature of Jinchang varies greatly both during a day and the whole year.

When to Go: summer and autumn

Special Local Products: trout

Scenic Spots:
Shengrong Temple: In the Yushan Gorge at the end of the Jinchuanxia Reservoir stands the famous temple in northwestern Gansu, Shengrong Temple. It was first built in 561, and once changed into Tonggan Temple in the Sui Dynasty (581-618). Pagoda of Tang Dynasty, Ruins of the Great Wall of Han and Ming Dynasty, tombs and stone carvings of Xixia Kingdom, as well as many other relics are well preserved in the temple.
Badain Jaran Desert is the third largest desert in China, located 90 kilometers (56 miles) northeast of Jinchang city proper. August to October is the best time to admire the desert landscape.
Other Scenic Spots: Qilian Hegou Scenic Area, Ancient Liqian City, Yongchang Bell and Drum Tower (Zhonggulou)

Tourist Tips:
Jinchang Bus Station in Xinhua Road (East) offers buses to Lanzhou, Wuwei, Jiayuguan and many other places within the city or neighboring cities. Jinchang is 396 kilometers (246 miles) from Lanzhou, and buses to Jinchang can be found in the long-distance bus in No.133, Pingliang Road of Lanzhou City.