Where Exactly Is Longxi, Gansu, as Depicted in The Wind Blows From Longxi?
The hit drama "Wind Rises in Longxi" contains the turbulent history of Gansu spanning thousands of years. The final grand event of the Three Kingdoms period depicted in the plot, "Six Expeditions to Qishan," unfolds precisely in "Longxi," Gansu.
The main settings of "Wind Rises in Longxi"
are located in Hanzhong Nanzheng, a key stronghold of Shu Han, and Longyou Tianshui, a crucial town of Cao Wei.
However, anyone who sees the drama's title will have many questions—
Where exactly is Longxi? Why is the main battlefield in the drama not today's Longxi County in Dingxi, Gansu, but the areas around Tianshui in southeastern Gansu and Hanzhong Nanzheng in Shaanxi?
Whether as a geographical region or an administrative division,
in fact, during the Three Kingdoms period, Longxi was far more than just today's Longxi County in Gansu. It included vast areas such as Dingxi, Tianshui, and Longnan south of Lanzhou. Since the Qin Dynasty established Longxi Commandery during the Warring States period, the Longxi region has long served as the political, economic, and cultural center of Gansu, renowned across China for over 2,000 years.
The Qin people emerged from the Longnan mountainous areas west of Longshan, crossed the Qinling Mountains, and unified the six states;
The Qinling Mountains, the north-south dividing line of China.
The most brilliant tragedy of the Three Kingdoms stories, "Six Expeditions to Qishan," unfolded in the five commanderies of Cao Wei's Longyou (the ancients regarded west as right, hence the name Longyou) and the two commanderies of Wudu and Yinping in Shu Han;
One of the main battlefields of the "Six Expeditions to Qishan" story.
During the Tang Dynasty, "the world said no place was as prosperous as Longyou." Longxi Di Dao (today's Dingxi Lintao) was recognized by the Tang imperial family as the "ancestral home of the Li clan."
Longxi County, Dingxi City, Li Family Dragon Palace.
Even today, the place where 100 million Li clan members trace their roots and honor their ancestors is the "Longxi Hall." One of the abbreviated names for Gansu, "Long," also has deep connections with Longxi...
Behind Longxi lies the profound and far-reaching cultural heritage of the entire Gansu region.
The Longxi in "Wind Rises in Longxi"
Why does it span most of Gansu?
Whether it is the "Long" in Longxi or the "Long" in Gansu, both are intricately linked to Longshan.
In a broad sense, Longshan refers to the Liupan Mountains traversing Gansu, Ningxia, and Shaanxi;
In a narrow sense, Longshan refers to the southern section of the Liupan Mountains.
Geographically, Longxi generally refers to the area east of the Yellow River and west of Longshan Mountain, and can even broadly denote the vast territories west of Longshan.
In ancient times, west was considered the right, so Longxi was also called Longyou. The Longxi battlefield in *The Wind Rises from Longxi*, where the Shu Han and Cao Wei dynasties clashed during the Three Kingdoms period, was situated between the five Cao Wei-controlled commanderies of Longyou (Longxi, Guangwei, Tianshui, Nan'an, Anding) and the two Shu Han-controlled commanderies of Wudu and Yinping.
Click to see where these ancient Three Kingdoms place names are located today.
During the Three Kingdoms period, the Longxi region encompassed most of today’s southeastern and central Gansu. By the Yuan dynasty, the area under Longxi’s jurisdiction, centered around Gongchang Marshal Office (present-day Longxi, Dingxi), covered much of southern Gansu, including parts of Sichuan and Shaanxi, rivaling any major province.
From southeast to northwest, the Qinba Mountains, the Tibetan Plateau, and the Loess Plateau converge here; subtropical, warm temperate, and mid-temperate climate zones interweave, making Longxi home to two strikingly different versions of Gansu.
“The Key to Qinlong, the Throat of Bashu”
The southern part of the Longxi region during the Three Kingdoms period was the area known as the “Jiangnan of Longshang” (Longnan and Tianshui). Here, all the vocabulary and imagery used to describe Gansu’s grandeur and the vastness of the northwest seem to fall short.
Tianchi Lake in Wen County, Longnan—if we told you this is Gansu, would you believe it?
The mountains in Longnan and Tianshui are extraordinarily steep and perilous, with elevation differences exceeding 3,000 meters. Hundred-meter vertical cliffs, such as those at Zhonglou Mountain, Qiuchi Mountain, and Jifeng Mountain, are commonplace here. High mountains and great rivers traverse the land, with rolling hills and Guanshan Grassland at the end of rugged ridges—the beauty here is multidimensional and profound.
Figure 1: Jifeng Mountain in Cheng County, Longnan; Figure 2: Bailong River flowing through Wudu, Longnan.
Beyond its natural elegance, Longnan and Tianshui hold significant geographical importance: to the northwest lies the Hexi Corridor, a vital hub of the Silk Road; to the east, crossing the Qinling Mountains leads to the Guanzhong Plain, the "Eight Hundred Li Qinchuan"; to the south, traversing the Shu roads through layered mountains connects to the Chengdu Plain, the "Land of Abundance."
Thus, this area has always been a strategically contested place and holds countless heroic epics.
A train traverses the Qinling section of the Baoji–Chengdu Railway, the "New Shu Road."
The grand history of the rise of the Qin dynasty began here.
The Qin people traveled from the Qilu region to settle in the river valleys along the West Han River. Through horse breeding and salt production, they achieved a "curve overtaking" in these rugged mountains, steadily advancing eastward from the West Han River area in present-day Lixian and Xihe counties of Longnan.
The West Han River, which nurtured the Qin state, flows through Xihe County, Longnan.
A series of place names—Qinzhou (today’s Tianshui), Qin'an, Qinting, Qingu, Qinshui, Qinchuan—document the 600-year struggle of the Qin people. They crossed the Qinling Mountains, developed the Guanzhong Plain, unified the six states, and laid the foundation for China’s most fundamental political, cultural, and economic frameworks.
The Terracotta Army in Pit No. 1 of the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, solemn and majestic under the light.
This area also holds the origin of the story in *The Wind Rises from Longxi*—the final major campaign of the Three Kingdoms era, the "Six Expeditions to Qishan" (historically, Zhuge Liang’s five campaigns against Wei), began here.
Qishan Fort, located in present-day Lixian County, Gansu. The valley around Qishan was the pivotal point of the entire Longxi (Longyou) region. From here, one could threaten Cao Wei’s key strongholds like Tianshui and Longxi to the front, while controlling the vast mountainous terrain of Longnan to the rear. Whoever held Qishan Fort, this massive mountain fortress, controlled the course of the Longyou battlefield.
The Qishan Fortress, stationed in the valleys surrounding Qishan Mountain,
is a military stronghold built entirely by human effort.
Today, the Qishan Wuhou Shrine stands here.
In ancient times, the main force of the Shu army set out from Hanzhong, emerging from the myriad valleys of the Qinling Mountains, reaching Qishan Fortress, entering the river valleys, and striking directly at Tianshui—a vital area of Longyou. The situation suddenly became clear: "The three commanderies of Nan'an, Tianshui, and Anding rebelled against Wei and responded to Zhuge Liang, shaking the Guanzhong region." However, Longxi Commandery held firm against the Shu offensive. Ma Su tragically lost the strategic stronghold of Jieting on the Guanzhong-Longxi ancient route, plunging Shu and Wei into a prolonged and bloody stalemate in the Longxi area.
Historical records indicate that during Zhuge Liang's five campaigns against Wei, two passed through Qishan.
Beyond the drama of the Three Kingdoms, the "Jiangnan of Longshang" also holds legends of Fuxi's enlightenment and is stained with the anti-Jin fervor of Southern Song generals Wu Jie and Wu Lin. In modern times, the Red Army marched from here to northern Shaanxi, "even more delighted by the thousand miles of snow on Minshan Mountain, all three armies beaming after the journey."
Though gentle in temperament, the "Jiangnan of Longshang" does not lack heroic and passionate spirit.
"Connecting seven regions at its core, the heart of Gansu."
Dingxi: The Gateway to the Great Northwest!
Heading northwest from the Jiangnan of Longshang, one reaches the core area of the northwestern Longxi region during the Three Kingdoms period—today's Dingxi, Gansu.
Upon arriving in Dingxi, one encounters layered loess plateaus and vast, expansive skies. Further northwest, Lanzhou and the four cities of the Hexi Corridor, which connect the Central Plains and the Western Regions, are already within close reach.
The terraced fields of Dingxi, layered across the Loess Plateau.
Here, to the northwest stands the majestic Qilian Mountains, to the south lies the vast Qinling Mountains, and to the east is one of China's youngest mountain ranges—the Liupan Mountains. For millions of years, winds along the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau have shaped the Loess Plateau, while flowing water and sandstorms have carved the land into "myriad mountains and valleys."
Most areas of Dingxi feature deep loess, undulating terrain, steep slopes, deep valleys, and arid conditions with little rainfall. Yet Dingxi is far more than just the vastness of the Loess Plateau.
The winding Wei River flows from Weiyuan in Dingxi,
nurturing the eight hundred miles of the Qinchuang region. The Wei River originates from the Niaoshu Mountain system in the southwest of Weiyuan County. The Tao River, the largest tributary in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, flows from Qinghai's Henan County and turns northwest through Chabu in Min County, Dingxi, passing through gorges and valleys before finally emptying into the Liujiaxia Reservoir.
In southern Dingxi, the western Qinling Mountains and the Minshan Mountains converge, creating a humid, rainy climate and increasingly majestic landscapes. Mountains like Guiqing and Zheyang are perilous yet serene, forming a landscape of "elegant nobility" amidst the vast loess.
The western Qinling Mountains at the border of Longnan and Dingxi,
where the poet Du Fu once passed through and wrote with emotion:
"I journey through lands unlike my own, suddenly finding myself at the edge of the world."
In the southernmost part of Dingxi, Min County unfolds like a "historical scroll" of the lush Langdu Grassland: it was here that the Qin people once herded horses and laid the foundation for their legacy; over millennia, the grassland became a jewel on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road; the Red Army also traversed this land during the Long March, leaving behind monumental footprints in their journey north to resist Japanese invasion...
This place seems to be a microcosm of Dingxi, known as the "land of four battles."
Figure 1: Langdu Grassland Wetland, Figure 2: Herders harvesting hay stacks for winter.
Today’s Longnan, Tianshui, Dingxi, and even parts of Pingliang and Qingyang farther away, constituted the core of the "Longxi" region during the Three Kingdoms period.
The grandeur of the Northwest and the elegance of Bashu, the ancient charm of Han and Tang dynasties and the folk customs of Qiang and Tibetan cultures—all converge in the heroic land of Gansu’s "Longxi," a place where legends were born.
The stories here are a whirlpool of time encompassing the Qijia and Siwa cultures and the Majiayao painted pottery; they are tales of the Zhou people’s eastward migration across the Loess Plateau, filled with valor and determination; they are the fierce war songs of the ancient Qin people, "How can we say we have no robes? We share them with you"; they are the passionate and heroic deeds of Chancellor Zhuge Liang and Jiang Wei, whose spirit remains undimmed even after a thousand years.
The process of the Chinese nation’s gestation, growth, and inspiration has been witnessed on the land of Longxi in Gansu.
Gansu’s long history is passed down through the shadow puppetry of the Loess Plateau
and the worship at the Wuhou Shrine in Shu.
Figure 1 photo by Zhu Rui, Figure 2 photo by Lu Wen.
In the fifth year of the Yuanyou era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1090 AD), Longxi County was established, and its name and administrative seat have remained unchanged to this day. Today, the core area of ancient Longxi and Longxi County are both located in Dingxi City. From Longxi to Dingxi, the resilience of the Northwestern people is embodied in this perilous yet extraordinary land.
Photo by Dingxi netizen Xiao Zhang, image from Tuchong · Creativity.
Compared to ancient cities like Wuwei and Zhangye, Dingxi is "relatively young," but its heroic spirit is no less formidable. In the fourth year of the Yuanfeng era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1081 AD), the Song army recaptured the former territories of the Western Xia, and Emperor Shenzong bestowed the name "Dingxiang City" (modern-day Dingxi urban area), meaning "pacifying the west."
Today, Dingxi, together with Zhenjiang in Jiangsu, forms one of China’s most霸气 (domineering) pairs of railway stations: Zhenjiang South - Dingxi North.
Dingxi is located at the strategic throat of Gansu.
Map by F50BB, Sun Lu.
However, the living environment in Dingxi was once extremely harsh. Thousands of years of intensive development, coupled with changes in the natural environment, led to severe soil erosion on the Loess Plateau. Central and northern Dingxi are typical loess hilly and gully regions, where rivers often become dry valleys, resembling scars on the land. In many areas, greenery is barely visible until summer. The city of Dingxi itself is situated on a dry riverbed.
Terraced fields, common on the Loess Plateau.
Thus, from the Zhou and Qin dynasties to the Tang and Song, heroic epics gradually turned into sorrowful melodies. When Zuo Zongtang passed through Dingxi in the late Qing Dynasty, it had already become a barren land known as "the most impoverished place in Longzhong, worse than anywhere under heaven." This "Longzhong" broadly includes Dingxi and even Xihaigu in Ningxia, as depicted in the popular TV series "Minning Town."
Building terraced fields became a means of survival for the people of Dingxi and is one of the earliest methods of soil and water conservation. On this vast, rugged Loess Plateau, layers of terraced fields rise steeply upward, distinct from the watery elegance of southern terraces, instead embodying the weighty vastness of the Northwest.
Dingxi, Tongwei County, power-generating windmills on terraced fields.
To solve the water problem, the people of Dingxi even conceived a groundbreaking idea: to build a reservoir from the ancient city of Min County upstream of the Tao River, divert water up the mountains, and construct a 1,400-kilometer-long "mountain canal" running eastward. This canal would irrigate Dingxi, Tianshui, Pingliang, Qingyang, and even extend to the Xihaigu region of Ningxia!
However, human effort sometimes falls short in the face of vast nature. The grand endeavor of 170,000 people working for three years turned into a tragic yet enduring ambition. It wasn't until 2021 that the new-era Tao River Water Diversion Project was fully completed. Since then, over 3 million people in the arid central region of Gansu have embraced a new life thanks to this largest inter-basin water transfer project in Gansu's history.
The starting point of the Tao River Diversion Project: Jiudianxia Reservoir.
Photo by Chen Pingsheren, Image from Tuchong Creative.
With water comes vitality. Today, Dingxi is a microcosm of the changes in Northwest China and an important radiation zone of the Lanzhou-Baiyin Metropolitan Economic Circle and the Guanzhong-Tianshui Economic Zone. The Longhai Railway, Lanyu Railway, Baolan High-Speed Railway, and numerous national highways have once again highlighted Dingxi's pivotal status.
Dingxi is becoming the "dantian" (vital energy center) of Gansu.
The Lanyu Railway traverses Dingxi, Gansu.
As the "dantian" of Gansu, Dingxi harbors the most authentic Gansu customs and products, representing the quintessential Gansu way of life.
The Longzhong Plateau resonates with the sound of Qinqiang opera, and Tao-Min folk songs echo across rivers and valleys. Dingxi administers one district and six counties: Anding District, Tongwei County, Weiyuan County, Longxi County, Lintao County, Min County, and Zhang County, each boasting one or multiple "local culture"名片 (calling cards).
Figure 1: Straw hats are common attire for people traveling in the Dingxi area.
Figure 2: Shehuo performances are a highlight on the Loess Plateau.
Figure 1 photo by Li Yuming, Figure 2 photo by Wang Wenbiao.
Longxi County is now a transportation hub and the "Hometown of Chinese Astragalus"; Tongwei County is the "Hometown of Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Art";
Min County is the "Hometown of Chinese Angelica" and the "Hometown of Tao Inkstones"; Lintao County, the historical seat of Longxi Commandery, is renowned as the "Garden on the Longshang Plateau" for its flowers;
Zhang County produces top-tier broad beans and sea buckthorns; Weiyuan County is the "Hometown of Chinese Codonopsis".
Dingxi, Gansu, boasts numerous natural and cultural landmarks.
The most valued local product in Dingxi, and one that best represents Gansu, is the potato (known locally as yangyu). Anding District and Weiyuan County are respectively the "Hometown of Chinese Potatoes" and the "Hometown of Chinese Potato Seeds". During the blooming season, the vast potato fields of Dingxi stretch across the mountains, entering the time when "potato blossoms rival peonies".
Potato flowers are not as "earthy" as potatoes themselves.
In times of extreme water scarcity, potatoes were lifesaving food for the people of Dingxi. Today, they are treasured assets. Dingxi utilizes every part of the potato—transforming them into medicines, textiles, paper raw materials, and even exporting them in bulk to the world. Many of the potatoes in fast-food chains like KFC and McDonald's come from Dingxi.
Potatoes in the Dingxi potato planting base.
No wonder it is said, "Dingxi has three treasures: yangyu, tudou, and potatoes." It is not an exaggeration to say that Gansu people grew up eating Dingxi's potatoes.
Dingxi cuisine, with its distinct potato flavor, also defines the taste of Northwest China. Each of Dingxi's one district and six counties has its own specialty potato dish: for a refined taste, there are yangyu cha cha, yangyu qun qun, yangyu rou rou, and other typical repetitive-word delicacies; for a more refined experience, there is the Lintao potato noodles popular in Lanzhou, and the unique Minxian potato "liangpi"; the simplest and most rustic "warrior-style" eating method is undoubtedly potato balls paired with pickled vegetables.
How many potatoes are hidden in Dingxi's diverse cuisine?
Beyond potatoes, Dingxi's staple foods also include a variety of grains:酿皮子 (liangpi) is refreshing and delicious;尕面片 (ga mianpian) is small and exquisite; Minxian pastries gather flavors from all directions; Longxi烧鸡粉 (chicken powder) can be enjoyed both hot and cold; Tongwei buckwheat circles are delicate and delightful; ginger powder fish paired with a handful of油丝儿 (yousier, fried dough twists) can warm the dry or damp winters on the plateau. Longxi cured meat and ham are especially famous treasures of Northwest cuisine.
Cured meat and ham are best enjoyed stuffed in steamed buns. Inside the plump, white buns, the cured meat shines like a red sunset, much like the vibrant life of Dingxi people and even Gansu people on this vast land of the Northwest.
The land of "Longxi" holds the cultural essence of Gansu.
Picture: The Spring Festival celebration of the Baima people, who once belonged to "Longxi".
Cover image | Still from the drama "Wind Blows from Longxi".
Intern Chu Xiao also contributed to this article.
Longnan, a poetic city between Long and Shu by Mao Shulin, 2018.
The Shu Han military campaigns in Qishan and the evolution of the Cao Wei war situation in Longyou by Song Jie, 2017.
Sealed Scenery—Looking Back at Longxi by Gao Yiqun, 2014.