Tianshui, located in the southeastern part of China's northwestern province of Gansu, is one of the cradles of the Chinese nation. It is known as an important town on the "Silk Road", one of the world's oldest and most historically important trade routes. The Silk Road started in the capital city of Chang'an (the present Xi'an) in ancient China and was composed of several branches passing through different oasis settlements from east to west in central Asia.
With a history of more than 2,000 years, Tianshui is a city of ancient cultures. Its Fu Xi Culture is based on a legendary ruler of great antiquity, Fu Xi, the first of the Three August Ones, credited with the invention of hunting and fishing and the domestication of animals.
Qin Culture is a legacy from the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC). During Qin, China was unified and the approximate boundaries and basic administrative system that all subsequent dynasties were to follow were established. Internal trade was promoted after the standardization of writing, weights and measures. The emperor had the Great Wall built during this time.
Han Culture comes from the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD), a period of cultural flowering. The most remarkable accomplishments include fu, a poetic form of writing that became the norm for creative writing, the invention of paper, lacquerware and silk woven for the export trade. Buddhism entered China during the Han Dynasty, which led to the Grotto Culture, still seen in architecture and sculpture. There are many ancient graveyards, battlefields and constructions in Tianshui. Tianshui is also abundant in natural scenery, such as gardens, cliffs and grasslands.
Area code: 0938
Post code: 741000
Area: 14,300 m2
Population: 3 million, 300,000 of which live in the downtown of Tianshui
Administrative division: Qincheng District, Beidao District, Qingshui County, Qin’an County, Gan’gu County, Wushan County and Zhangjiachuan Hui Autonomous County. |
