Wuwei Travel Guide

Location: situated in the central part of Gansu province, on the east end of Hexi Corridor, between north latitude 37 23' - 38 12' and east longitude 101 59' - 103 23'

Neighboring Areas: Qinghai province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Physical Features: higher south and lower north; sloping from southwest to northeast; leaning on Qilian Mountain in the south and bordering the Tengger Desert in the north; the juncture of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Loess Plateau and Mongalian-Xinjiang Plateau

Population: 1.93million
Urban Population: 509,600
Area: 33,000 sq km
Nationalities: Han, Hui, Mongolian and Tujia

History: Wuwei has very long history since there were people living here 5000 years ago. Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty (206B.C.-220A.D.) sent General Huo Qubing (140-117B.C.) to attack the Hexi Corridor in 121B.C. After successfully defeating the Huns and seizing the territory by Qilian Mountain, Emperor Wu named Wuwei as a city's name in order to cite the heroic exploits and great contribution of General Huo. During the period of Three Kingdoms, Wu Kingdom set its government here, later, the Former Liang (317--376 A.D.), the Later I.iang (386--403 A.D.), the Southern Liang (397--414 A.D.) and the Northern Liang (401--439 A.D.) and some other dynasties all had their capitals here, therefore, the town of Wuwei got another name "Liangzhou".

Climatic Features: temperate, semiarid climate; frost free period of 85-165 days

Average Temperature: 7.7C annually, January is the coldest, with the average temperature of -8.7C, July is the hottest, with the average temperature of 21.9C
Rainfall: annual precipitation 158mm

Mountains: Mt. Qilian

Rivers: Shiyang River and its branches

Products: honeydew melon, wine, vinegar, flour

Local Highlights: the Han Tomb of Leitai, Tiantishan Grottoes, Confucian Temple, White Pagoda Temple