From its geological wonders to its cultural riches, the Hexi Corridor in northwestern Gansu Province is a fascinating part of the ancient Silk Road. It’s the place where the Great Wall ends, and where ancient caves house historical Buddhist treasures, and some of the world’s most colorful land formations impress tourists from China and around the world.
A recent journey along the historical trade route skirting the Gobi Desert in Gansu was sponsored by the China Center for International Communication Development and the Information Office of the People’s Government of Gansu Province. The attraction-packed tour for foreign journalists working in Beijing culminated in the city of Dunhuang and the Sixth Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo.
The journalists’ tour began at the Jinchuan National Mine Park in Jinchang, where rich veins of nickel and copper have earned the mine the name China’s “Golden Baby.” The now-depleted original open-pit mine, opened in 1959, serves as an example of the early days of mineral mining in the People’s Republic of China. Eight other depleted mines have been restored and reforested to return them to their natural ecological conditions.
After leaving Jinchang, our
