Gansu Administrative Divisions

Gansu Province (甘肃省), abbreviated as Gan (甘) or Long (陇), is located in northwestern China, with Lanzhou (兰州市) as its provincial capital. It borders Shaanxi Province (陕西省) to the east, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区) to the west, Sichuan Province (四川省) and Qinghai Province (青海省) to the south, and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (宁夏回族自治区) and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (内蒙古自治区) to the north. Its northwestern edge also borders Mongolia.

Covering approximately 425,800 square kilometers, Gansu occupies a strategic position between central China, northwestern China and Central Asia. It is an important section of the historic Silk Road (丝绸之路) and a major transportation corridor linking the Eurasian land bridge with western China.

Gansu is one of China’s most geographically diverse provinces. Its long, narrow territory includes deserts, grasslands, river valleys, loess plateaus, snow-covered mountains, forests, wetlands and high-altitude Tibetan areas. For international travelers, the province offers an exceptional combination of Silk Road heritage, Buddhist grottoes, Great Wall passes, colorful landforms, Yellow River culture and ethnic minority traditions.

Administrative Structure of Gansu Province

According to administrative division data published in 2024, Gansu administers:

• 12 prefecture-level cities
• 2 autonomous prefectures
• 86 county-level administrative divisions
• 17 urban districts
• 5 county-level cities
• 57 counties
• 7 autonomous counties

The province also contains more than 1,300 township-level administrative units, including subdistricts, towns, townships and ethnic townships.

The two autonomous prefectures are:

• Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture (临夏回族自治州)
• Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (甘南藏族自治州)

Gansu had a permanent population of approximately 24.43 million by the end of 2025.

Geography, Climate and Traditional Villages

Gansu stretches in a long corridor from southeast to northwest. The terrain generally slopes from the high mountains and plateaus of the southwest toward the deserts and plains of the northeast.

Around three-quarters of the province consists of arid or semi-arid land. However, climate conditions vary greatly between different regions. Southern Gansu receives more rainfall and has forests, river valleys and mountain landscapes, while the Hexi Corridor (河西走廊) in the northwest is dominated by deserts, oases and continental scenery.

The province includes four major climate types:

• Subtropical monsoon climate
• Temperate monsoon climate
• Temperate continental arid climate
• Plateau mountain climate

Gansu is also home to approximately 470 officially recognized Traditional Chinese Villages, many of which preserve historic architecture, farming customs, religious traditions and local lifestyles.

Major Tourism Regions in Gansu

Tourism resources in Gansu are closely connected with its geography and administrative divisions. The province can be divided into three major travel regions.

Silk Road Tourism Belt

The Silk Road Tourism Belt follows the classic route:

Lanzhou–Wuwei–Zhangye–Jiayuguan–Dunhuang

This route passes through the Hexi Corridor, where travelers can visit ancient military passes, Buddhist grottoes, historic trading towns, desert oases and spectacular Danxia landforms.

Major attractions include:

• Mogao Caves (莫高窟)
• Jiayuguan Pass (嘉峪关)
• Zhangye Colorful Danxia Scenic Area (张掖七彩丹霞景区)
• Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake (鸣沙山·月牙泉)
• Yumen Pass (玉门关)
• Yangguan Pass (阳关)
• Tiantishan Grottoes (天梯山石窟)

Yellow River Culture Tourism Belt

The Yellow River Culture Tourism Belt connects:

Gannan–Linxia–Lanzhou–Baiyin

This region combines highland landscapes, Tibetan and Hui culture, Buddhist monasteries, Yellow River reservoirs, ancient ferry crossings and dramatic stone forests.

Important destinations include:

• Labrang Monastery (拉卜楞寺)
• Bingling Temple Grottoes (炳灵寺石窟)
• Liujiaxia Reservoir (刘家峡水库)
• Lanzhou Yellow River Scenic Area (兰州黄河风情线)
• Yellow River Stone Forest (黄河石林)
• First Bend of the Yellow River in Maqu (玛曲黄河第一弯)

Southeastern Gansu Cultural and Ecological Region

Southeastern Gansu includes Tianshui (天水市), Longnan (陇南市), Pingliang (平凉市), Qingyang (庆阳市) and Dingxi (定西市).

This region is associated with:

• Fuxi culture (伏羲文化)
• Early Qin culture (秦文化)
• Three Kingdoms history
• Taoist mountain culture
• Buddhist grotto art
• Forests, valleys and mountain lakes

It is especially suitable for travelers interested in Chinese mythology, archaeology, religious history and natural scenery.

Gansu Administrative Divisions and Major Tourist Attractions