Gansu has a population of 26 million, ranking22nd in China. Its population is mostlyHan, along withHui,Dongxiang andTibetan minorities. The most common language is Mandarin. Gansu is among the poorest administrative divisions in China,ranking last in GDP per capita as of 2019.
Thestate of Qin originated in what is now southeastern Gansu, and later established the first imperial dynasty in Chinese history. TheNorthern Silk Road ran through theHexi Corridor, which passes through Gansu, resulting in it being an important strategic outpost and communications link for the Chinese empire.
The city ofJiayuguan, the second most populated city in Gansu, is known for its section of theGreat Wall and theJiayu Pass fortress complex.
Gansu is abbreviated as甘 (Gān) or陇 (Lǒng), and was also known asLongxi (陇西; 'west of Long') or Longyou (陇右; 'right of Long') prior to earlyWestern Han dynasty, in reference toMount Liupan between eastern Gansu and westernShaanxi.[citation needed]
Gansu's name is acompound name first used during theSong dynasty. It is a combination of the names of two prefectures (州) in theSui andTang dynasty: Gan (aroundZhangye) and Su (aroundJiuquan). Its eastern part forms part of one of the cradles of ancient Chinese civilisation.
In prehistoric times, Gansu was host toNeolithic cultures. TheDadiwan culture, from where archaeologically significantartifacts have been excavated, flourished in the eastern end of Gansu from about 6000BC to about 3000BC.[7] TheMajiayao culture and part of theQijia culture took root in Gansu from 3100 BC to 2700 BC and 2400 BC to 1900 BC respectively.
TheYuezhi originally lived in the very western part of Gansu until they were forced to emigrate by theXiongnu around 177 BC.
TheState of Qin, known in China as thefounding state of theChinese empire, grew out from the southeastern part of Gansu, specifically theTianshui area. The Qin name is believed to have originated, in part, from the area.[8][9] Qin tombs and artifacts have been excavated fromFangmatan near Tianshui, including one 2200-year-old map ofGuixian County.[10]
In imperial times, Gansu was an important strategic outpost and communications link for the Chinese empire, as theHexi Corridor runs along the "neck" of the province. TheHan dynasty extended theGreat Wall across this corridor, building the strategicYumenguan (Jade Gate Pass, nearDunhuang) andYangguan fort towns along it. Remains of the wall and the towns can be found there. TheMing dynasty built theJiayuguan outpost in Gansu. To the west of Yumenguan and theQilian Mountains, at the northwestern end of the province, theYuezhi,Wusun, and othernomadic tribes dwelt (Shiji 123), occasionally figuring in regional imperial Chinesegeopolitics.
By the Qingshui treaty, concluded in 823 between theTibetan Empire and the Tang dynasty, China lost much of western Gansu province for a significant period.[11]
After the fall of theUyghur Khaganate, a BuddhistYugur (Uyghur) state called theGanzhou Uyghur Kingdom was established by migrating Uyghurs from the khaganate in part of Gansu that lasted from 848 to 1036AD.
Along theSilk Road, Gansu was an economically important province, as well as a cultural transmission path. Temples andBuddhistgrottoes[12] such as those atMogao Caves ('Caves of the Thousand Buddhas') andMaijishan Caves contain artistically and historically revealingmurals.[13] An early form of paper inscribed withChinese characters and dating to about 8BC was discovered at the site of a Western Hangarrison near the Yumen pass in August 2006.[14]
The Xixia orWestern Xia dynasty controlled much of Gansu as well asNingxia.
The province was also the origin of theDungan Revolt of 1862–77. Among theQing forces were Muslim generals, includingMa Zhan'ao andMa Anliang, who helped the Qing crush the rebel Muslims. The revolt had spread into Gansu from neighbouring Qinghai.
As a result of frequent earthquakes, droughts and famines, the economic progress of Gansu was significantly slower than that of other provinces of China until recently. Based on the area's abundant mineral resources it has begun developing into a vital industrial center. Anearthquake in Gansu at 8.6 on theRichter scale killed around 180,000 people mostly in the present-day area ofNingxia in 1920, andanother with a magnitude of 7.6 killed 275 in 1932.[15]
While the Muslim GeneralMa Hongbin was acting chairman of the province, Muslim GeneralMa Buqing was in virtual control of Gansu in 1940. Liangzhou District inWuwei was previously his headquarters in Gansu, where he controlled 15 million Muslims.[16]Xinjiang came underKuomintang (Nationalist) control after their soldiers entered via Gansu.[17] Gansu'sTienshui was the site of a Japanese-Chinese warplane fight.[18]
TheYellow River gets most of its water from Gansu, flowing straight through Lanzhou. The area around Wuwei is part ofShiyang River Basin.[25]
The landscape in Gansu is very mountainous in the south and flat in the north. The mountains in the south are part of theQilian Mountains, while the far westernAltyn-Tagh contains the province's highest point, at 5,830 metres (19,130 ft).
A natural land passage known asHexi Corridor, stretching some 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) from Lanzhou to theJade Gate, is situated within the province. It is bound from north by the Gobi Desert and Qilian Mountains from the south.
Gansu generally has a semi-arid to arid continental climate (KöppenBSk orBWk) with warm to hot summers and cold to very cold winters, althoughdiurnal temperature ranges are often so large that maxima remain above 0 °C (32 °F) even in winter. However, due to extreme altitude, some areas of Gansu exhibit asubarctic climate (Dwc) – with winter temperatures sometimes dropping to −40 °C (−40 °F). Most of the limited precipitation is delivered in the summer months. Winters are so dry that snow cover is confined to very high altitudes and thesnow line can be as high as 5,500 metres (18,040 ft) in the southwest.
Despite recent growth in Gansu and the booming economy in the rest of China, Gansu is still considered to be one of the poorest provinces in China. For several years, it hasranked as one of the provinces with lowest GDP per capita.[33] Its nominal GDP for 2017 was about 767.7 billion yuan (US$113.70 billion) and per capita of 29,326 RMB (US$4,343). The province also has a large difference in wealth between regions and urban versus rural areas. The poorest areas are Dingxi, Longnan, Gannan and Linxia.[34] According to analysts, the local economy failed to gather momentum while other provinces did manage to increase their economic growth.[33]
Due to poor natural conditions such as aridness, Gansu is one of the Chinese provinces with smallest per capita area of arable land.[34] Agricultural production includescotton,linseed oil,maize,melons (such as thehoneydew melon, known locally as theBailan melon),millet, andwheat.[citation needed] Gansu is known as a source for wild medicinal herbs which are used inChinese medicine. However, pollution by heavy metals, such ascadmium in irrigation water, has resulted in the poisoning of many acres of agricultural land. The extent and nature of the heavy metal pollution is considered a state secret.[35]
The industrial sector in Gansu was developed after completion of theLonghai railway in 1953 and blueprinted in the firstfive-year plan of China.[36] It was a major recipient of China's investment in industrial capacity during theThird Front campaign.[37]: 298
Until 2014, the industrial sector contributed the most to Gansu's economy.[34] The most important industries are petrochemicals,non-ferrous metallurgy, machinery and electronics. The province is also an important base for wind and solar power.[36] As a result of environmental protection policies, the industry sector is not growing.[38] The manufacturing sector has been shrinking for several years and has low investment numbers.[33]
As stipulated in the country's 12th Five Year Plan, the local government of Gansu hopes to grow the province's GDP by 10% annually by focusing investments on five pillar industries: renewable energy, coal, chemicals, nonferrous metals, pharmaceuticals and services.[citation needed]
The following economic and technological zones are situated in Gansu:
Lanzhou National Economic and Technological Development Zone was established in 1993, located in the center of Lanzhou Anning District. The zone has a planned area of 9.53 km2 (3.68 sq mi). 17 colleges, 11 scientific research institutions, 21 large and medium-size companies and other 1735 enterprises have been set up in the zone. Main industries include textile mills, rubber, fertilizer plants, oil refinery, petrochemical, machinery, and metallurgical industry.[40]
Lanzhou New & Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Lanzhou Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone, one of the first 27 national hi-tech industrial development zones, was established in 1998 covering more than 10 km2 (3.9 sq mi). It is expected to expand another 19 km2 (7.3 sq mi). The zone mainly focuses on Biotechnology, chemical industry, building decoration materials and information technology.[41]
Ningxia Province/AR was part of Gansu Province until 1929 and 1954–1958.
Gansu province is home to a little more than 25 million people.[54] As of 2020, 47.7% of the population was rural, but much relocation in recent years has reduced this. Gansu is 89.4%Han[54] and also hasHui,Tibetan,Dongxiang,Tu,Uyghurs,Yugur,Bonan,Mongolian,Salar andKazakh minorities. Gansu province's community of ChineseHui Muslims was bolstered by Hui Muslims resettled fromShaanxi province during theDungan Revolt. Gansu is also a historical home, along withShaanxi, of thedialect of theDungans, who migrated toCentral Asia. The southwestern corner of Gansu is home to a largeethnic Tibetan population. Modern Gansu is dominated by Lanzhou city and Linxia Hui prefectures, their growth hides the stark fact that much of the rest of the province is rapidly losing population.
A unique variety of Chinese folk music popularly identified with the local peoples of Gansu include the"Hua'er" (flowery melodies), and is popular among the Han and nine ethnic groups of Gansu.[55] The cuisine of Gansu is based on the staple crops grown there:wheat,barley,millet,beans, andsweet potatoes. Within China, Gansu is known for itslamian (pulled noodles), andMuslim restaurants which feature authentic Gansu cuisine.
Protestantism: Approximately 60,000 adherents; 304 places of worship. Comprises 15 denominations, including, the China Inland Mission, the Assemblies of God, the Evangelical Alliance Mission, the Coordinating Council, theSeventh-day Adventist Church, the Brethren, the Baptist Church, theTrue Jesus Church, and others.[57]
Roman Catholicism: Over 30,000 adherents; 83 places of worship.
Muslim restaurants are common, and feature typical Chinese dishes, but without any pork products, and instead an emphasis onlamb and mutton. Gansu has many works ofBuddhist art, including theMaijishan Grottoes. Dunhuang was a major centre of Buddhism in theMiddle Ages.
Jiayuguan Pass, in Jiayuguan city, is the largest and most intact pass, or entrance, of theGreat Wall. Jiayuguan Pass was built in the earlyMing dynasty, somewhere around the year 1372. It was built near an oasis that was then on the extreme western edge of China. Jiayuguan Pass was the first pass on the west end of the great wall so it earned the name "The First And Greatest Pass Under Heaven".
An extra brick is said to rest on a ledge over one of the gates. One legend holds that the official in charge asked the designer to calculate how many bricks would be used. The designer gave him the number and when the project was finished, only one brick was left. It was put on the top of the pass as a symbol of commemoration. Another account holds that the building project was assigned to a military manager and an architect. The architect presented the manager with a requisition for the total number of bricks that he would need. When the manager found out that the architect had not asked for any extra bricks, he demanded that the architect make some provision for unforeseen circumstances. The architect, taking this as an insult to his planning ability, added a single extra brick to the request. When the gate was finished, the single extra brick was, in fact, extra and was left on the ledge over the gate.[60]
The Mogao Grottoes nearDunhuang have a collection ofBuddhist art. Originally there were a thousand grottoes, but now only 492 cave temples remain. Each temple has a large statue of abuddha orbodhisattva and paintings of religious scenes. In 366 AD under theFormer Liang dynasty, a monk named Le Zun (Lo-tsun) came near Echoing Sand Mountain, when he had avision. He started to carve the first grotto. During theFive Dynasties period they ran out of room on the cliff and could not build any more grottoes.
A terracotta warrior from Gansu, with traces of polychrome and gold, from theTang dynasty (618–907)
The historicSilk Road starts inChang'an (present-dayXi'an) and goes toConstantinople (Istanbul). On the way merchants would go to Dunhuang in Gansu. In Dunhuang they would get fresh camels, food and guards for the journey around the dangerousTaklamakan Desert. Before departing Dunhuang they would pray to the Mogao Grottoes for a safe journey, if they came back alive they would thank the gods at the grottoes. Across the desert they would form a train of camels to protect themselves from thieving bandits. The next stop,Kashi (Kashgar), was a welcome sight to the merchants. At Kashi most would trade and go back and the ones who stayed would eat fruit and trade theirBactrian camels forsingle humped ones. After Kashi they would keep going until they reached their next destination.
Located about 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of the city, theCrescent Lake or Yueyaquan is an oasis and popular spot for tourists seeking respite from the heat of the desert. Activities includes camel and 4x4 rides.
Bingling Temple, or Bingling Grottoes, is aBuddhist cave complex in a canyon along theYellow River. Begun in 420 AD during theWestern Qin dynasty, the site contains dozens of caves and caverns filled with outstanding examples of carvings, sculpture, and frescoes. The great Maitreya Buddha is more than 27 meters tall and is similar in style to the great Buddhas that once lined the cliffs ofBamiyan, Afghanistan. Access to the site is by boat fromYongjing in the summer or fall. There is no other access point.
Labrang Tashikyil Monastery is located inXiahe County,Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, located in the southern part of Gansu, and part of the traditional Tibetan province ofAmdo. It is one of the six major monasteries of theGelukpa tradition ofTibetan Buddhism inTibet, and the most important one in Amdo. Built in 1710, it is headed by the Jamyang-zhaypa. It has 6dratsang (colleges), and houses over 60,000 religious texts and other works of literature as well as other cultural artifacts.
TheMaijishan Grottoes are a series of 194caves cut in the side of the hill of Majishan inTianshui. This example ofrock cut architecture contains over 7,200Buddhist sculptures and over 1,000 square meters ofmurals. Construction began in theLater Qin era (384–417 CE).
Three thousand deposits of 145 different minerals. Ninety-four minerals have been found and ascertained, including nickel, cobalt, platinum,selenium, casting clay, finishing serpentine, whose reserves are the largest in China.[citation needed] Gansu has advantages in getting[clarification needed] nickel, zinc, cobalt, platinum, iridium, copper,barite, andbaudisserite.
Among Gansu's most important sources of energy are its water resources: the Yellow River and other inland river drainage basins. Gansu is placed ninth among China's provinces in annual hydropower potential and water discharge. Gansu produces 17.24 gigawatts of hydropower a year. Twenty-nine hydropower stations have been constructed in Gansu, capable of generating 30 gigawatts in total. Gansu has an estimated coal reserve of 8.92 billion tons andpetroleum reserve of 700 million tons.
There is also good potential for wind and solar power development. TheGansu Wind Farm project – already producing 7.965GW in 2015[62] – is expected to achieve 20GW by 2020, at which time it will likely become the world's biggest collective windfarm.
In November 2017 an agreement between theChinese Academy of Sciences and Gansu government was announced, to site and begin operations of amolten salt reactor pilot project in the province by 2020.[63]
Among zoologists who studymoles, theGansu mole is of great interest. For a reason that can only be speculated, it is taxologically aNew World mole living amongOld World moles: that is to say, an American mole living in a sea of Euro-Asians.
Gansu is home to 441species ofbirds; it is a center ofendemism and home to many species andsubspecies which occur nowhere else in the world.
On 16 December 1920, Gansu witnessed the deadliest landslide ever recorded. A series of landslides, triggered by a single earthquake, accounted for most of the 180,000 people killed in the event.[65]
^gansu's total permanent population at the end of 2023 is 24.6548 million, and at the end of 2024 it is 24.5834 million"zh:(甘肃)关于2024年全省主要人口数据的通报" (Press release). gansu.gov. 18 February 2025. Retrieved26 February 2025.[permanent dead link] so that the mid-year population of gansu in 2024 is 24.6191 million. gansu's GDP in 2024 is CN¥1,300.29 billion, or US$182.58 billion (average annual exchange rate in 2024 is 1 US dollar to RMB 7.1217)"zh:(甘肃)2024年全省经济运行情况" (Press release). gansu.gov. 20 January 2025. Retrieved26 February 2025.[permanent dead link] Gansu's GDP per capita in 2024 based on the mid-year population is CN¥52,816 (US$7,416).
^Powers, John (2017).The Buddha party: how the people's Republic of China works to define and control Tibetan Buddhism. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. Appendix B, page 6.ISBN9780199358151.OCLC947145370.
^National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (1972)."Significant Earthquake Information". NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K.
^地球知识局, 行业观察 (9 April 2018)."新中国第一座石油工业城市已落幕?".OILSNS. China. Retrieved13 February 2021.With the exploration efforts of Sun Jianchu, Yan Shuang and other patriotic scholars, on August 11, 1939, the Laojunmiao oil well blew out the first oil. This moment has also become the starting point of China's petroleum industry. During the Anti-Fascist War against the Imperial Japanese forces, the Yumen oil wells produced a total of 250,000 tons of crude oil, accounting for more than 90% of the country's crude oil output during the same period, making an important contribution to the victory toward the Anti-Fascist War.
^Census Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China; Population and Employment Statistics Division of the National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China (2012).中国2010年人口普查分乡、镇、街道资料 (1 ed.). Beijing:China Statistics Print.ISBN978-7-5037-6660-2.
^Zhou, Jasmine."Folk Songs of Qinghai and Gansu".NAXOS. Retrieved15 February 2021.Hua'er is a form of Chinese folk music that is widely disseminated in the Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, and Xinjiang Provinces located in north-western China. It is performed among the Han and nine other ethnic minorities...
^Wang Xudang,Li Zuixiong, and Zhang Lu (2010). "Condition, Conservation, and Reinforcement of the Yumen Pass and Hecang Earthen Ruins Near Dunhuang", in Neville Agnew (ed),Conservation of Ancient Sites on the Silk Road: Proceedings of the Second International Conference on the Conservation of Grotto Sites, Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang, People's Republic of China, 28 June – 3 July 2004, 351–357. Los Angeles: The Getty Conservation Institute, J. Paul Getty Trust.ISBN978-1-60606-013-1, pp 351–352.
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