How Many Spectacular Landscapes Does Linxia, Gansu Offer?
There is a plateau that belongs to oneself
(The snow-capped peak of Taizi Mountain in southern Linxia, image credit @ Visual China)
(Please view horizontally, overlooking the Liujiaxia Reservoir on the Yellow River from near the Qijiadu Bridge, photographer @ Qiu Menghan)
(The vast loess plateau of Linxia, photographer @ Chen Ruge)
(The Huangcaoping meadow at the foot of the Lesser Jishi Mountain is covered with alpine grasslands, where herders often graze, image credit @ Linxia Prefecture Culture and Tourism Bureau)
Across the boundless plateaus
It condenses into an extreme and unique world
(Geographical location of Linxia, map by @ Zhang Wei & Luo Zihan/Planet Research Institute)
This region located in central Gansu
Often leads people to confuse it with "Ningxia"
Its area ranks only second to last in the province
Larger only than the steel city of Jiayuguan
(Please view horizontally, the Liujiaxia Yellow River Bridge, photographer @ Guo Rui)
How many extreme landscapes does Linxia have?
Faithfully recording the traces of time
(Topographic map of Linxia, map by @ Zhang Wei & Luo Zihan/Planet Research Institute)
It lies at the junction of the Tibetan Plateau and the Loess Plateau
The Lesser Jishi Mountain and Wusu Mountain, remnants of the Qilian Mountains
Taizi Mountain and Lianhua Mountain, remnants of the Western Qinling Mountains
(Leiji Mountain is a prominent peak of the Lesser Jishi Mountain range, photographer @ Qiu Menghan)
(Please view horizontally, the mist-shrouded Lotus Mountain in Kangle County, photographer @ Jiang Xi/Sky Image)
A staggering drop of nearly 3,000 meters cascades step by step
Forming the topographic pattern of "southern mountains and northern plateaus"
163 mountain ridges and 10,823 gullies
(The crisscrossing ravines in Linxia, photographer @ Institute of Planetology)
How was this achieved on such a small piece of land?
Over 100 million years ago during the Cretaceous period
The climate was warm, vegetation lush, and life abundant
Particularly dominated by the well-known dinosaurs
The "fattest" dinosaur discovered in China
(The world's largest dinosaur footprint cluster was found in Linxia; please swipe to view, the Liujiaxia Dinosaur Museum and protected dinosaur footprints by the Yellow River, photographer @ Institute of Planetology)
These colossal creatures, often living for hundreds of years
Along with the sediments and gravel there
(Please view horizontally, the stratigraphic profile near the dinosaur footprint cluster, with a clear boundary between the red rock layer below and the loess layer above; these red layers are sandstones and mudstones deposited in river and lake environments during the Cretaceous period, photographer @ Institute of Planetology)
Occurring 65 million years ago
The continuously northward-drifting Indian plate
Violently collided, causing the crust to uplift
With blazing volcanoes and surging seawater
The peripheral regions of the Tibetan Plateau rose
Forming plateaus such as the Loess, Yunnan-Guizhou, and Mongolian Plateaus
On the edge of the Tibetan Plateau
more intense crustal compression and folding occurred
outlining a ring of rugged and towering mountains
(Please view horizontally, overlooking the Dalijia Mountain from Dalijia Pass, photographer @Institute of Planetology)
Especially since 3.6 million years ago
the Tibetan Plateau entered a period of rapid uplift
Its towering mass blocked moisture from the Indian Ocean
while strong winds carried sand and dust from the Eurasian interior
covering the rugged surface within the basin
(Stratigraphic section exposed in the Hezheng Paleontological Fossil National Geopark, with loess layers from different periods labeled, photographer @Institute of Planetology)
The transition of the Linxia Basin from lakes and marshes to loess
was witnessed by the darlings of the Cenozoic—mammals
Hipparion, Hezheng sheep, Platybelodon, giant hyena, saber-toothed tiger
Among them were broad-bodied prey
(The Hezheng area in Linxia is one of China's richest regions for ancient mammal fossils; please view horizontally, a reconstruction of some ancient mammals in Linxia, illustration by Du Rui/@Institute of Planetology)
Their bodies also sank into the earth
Encased in the silt at the bottom of rivers and lakes
Buried by the relentless wind and sand
(Please view horizontally, Platybelodon skull fossils displayed at the Hezheng Paleontological Fossil Museum, arranged from six months to forty years old, photographer @Institute of Planetology)
Taking initial shape within the steps of the earth
And a long-brewing new force
Carved out the chapters of the plateau epic
What binds the earth as one
Are the ceaselessly flowing rivers within
They were once given various names
But ultimately converged into a weighty and resounding title
(Distribution of rivers in Linxia, map by Zhang Wei & Luo Zihan/Planet Research Institute)
"Do you not see the Yellow River's waters descending from the heavens?"
Yet he never set foot in Linxia in his lifetime
And thus naturally never witnessed with his own eyes
The first stop where the Yellow River falls from the sky to the mortal world
Lifting the southwestern part of the Linxia Basin high
Causing the lake water accumulated in this basin
To continuously converge and flow northeastward
The Yellow River's headward erosion cut through the Little Jishi Mountain
(The Yellow River flows into Linxia through the mountains of Jishi Gorge, photo by Wang Shenghui)
The Yellow River's downward erosion then created
The famous "Three Gorges of the Yellow River"
(Please view horizontally, the Yellow River passing through narrow gorges, photo by Wang Shenghui)
(Please view horizontally, the Yellow River scenery around Dongxiang Sanyuan, image courtesy of Linxia Prefecture Culture and Tourism Bureau)
Red rock layers formed by overlapping since the Cretaceous period
Creating the magnificent and diverse Danxia landforms
(Danxia landforms in Yongjing County, photographer: Xiao Wenkai)
The mountains are split by flowing water and strong winds into clusters of stone forests
(Bingshi Stone Forest, photographer: Chen Liwen)
Already cleaving mountains and surging like waves
These two tributaries with abundant water and sediment
Opened the door for the Yellow River to "turn yellow"
(Confluence of the Tao and Yellow Rivers, left: Tao River, right: Yellow River, photographer: Li Junbo)
Tributaries of the Tao River: Guangtong River and Sancha River
(Daxia River in Linxia City, image source: Visual China)
They originate from the mountains at the junction of two major plateaus
Gathering into fine, clear streams at the foothills
(Rapid streams under Dalijia Mountain, photographer: Qiu Menghan)
And carving deep gullies into the flat loess surface
The dislodged loess and fragmented rocks
Are deposited in relatively low-lying areas
(Heifangtai in Yongjing County, prone to landslides, photographer: Qiu Menghan)
These gullies eventually evolve into spectacular
(Please view horizontally, schematic of Linxia Valley terraces, mapping: Du Rui/Planet Research Institute)
The higher terraces slightly farther from the riverbed
are covered with loess deposits tens of meters thick
Their terrace surfaces can reach over two kilometers in width
(North Plateau of Linxia, photographer @Institute of Planetology)
are mainly formed by the accumulation of sand and gravel carried by rivers
The Daxia River formed by alluvial deposits of the Daxia River
is the largest flatland within the Linxia Basin
(Qijia Town, Guanghe County, the river valleys along the Tao River, photographer @Institute of Planetology)
These scattered river valleys within the basin
were brought here by the rushing rivers
building the layered terraces of Linxia's mountains and rivers
Dinosaurs left footprints, and giant beasts left traces
(Distribution map of prehistoric cultural sites in Linxia, designed by Zhang Wei & Luo Zihan/@Institute of Planetology)
can be traced back to around 5,300 years ago
gradually forming the famous Majiayao Culture
This is a prehistoric culture that can be described as "bridging the past and the future"
The advanced pottery-making techniques of the Central Plains
Its painted pottery stands out among China's prehistoric cultures
(Painted pottery jar with spiral patterns, unearthed from the Sanping site, its spiral patterns symbolize the surging waves of the Yellow River, hailed as the "King of Painted Pottery," photographer @You Zuo, designed by Wang Shenwen/@Institute of Planetology)
The geographical advantage of being close to the interior of Eurasia
Many cultural elements from Central and Western Asia
were gradually adopted by the ancestors of the Majiayao culture
The earliest bronze artifacts unearthed in China to date
a bronze knife hailed as "China's First Knife"
dates back 5,000 years
(The origin of China's copper smelting technology remains highly debated, with alternative views and evidence suggesting indigenous development; pictured is a bronze knife unearthed at the Linjia site, photographer@ You Zuo, graphics@ Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
Copper smelting and casting matured and became widespread here
Bronze artifacts with diverse functions and enduring durability
A new era emerged on the plateau
enabling sharper conquests of the outside world
(A bronze axe unearthed at the Qijiaping site, photographer@ Planet Research Institute, graphics@ Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
allowing clearer reflection on one's own existence
(A bronze mirror unearthed at the Qijiaping site, the earliest bronze mirror discovered in China to date, photographer@ Planet Research Institute, graphics@ Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
With harvested millet, domesticated sheep, and woven silk
the flames of civilization rose from copper and iron furnaces
The Qijia people frequently engaged with neighboring groups
in exchanges of population, materials, and ideas
(A jade bi unearthed at the Qijiaping site, resembling jade bi from other regional cultures, photographer@ Planet Research Institute, graphics@ Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
On a broader spatial scale
this millennia-spanning grand exchange
It also drives the collision and integration of different ethnic groups
as well as the entire civilization process of China
an arc-shaped zone stretching from Jiliao in the east to Chuandian in the south
Vast ancient China was divided into two
one half humid, the other half arid
one half farmland, the other half pasture
one half the heartland of the Central Plains, the other half the frontier of foreign lands
one half the Han Chinese civilization, the other half the barbarian states
It is precisely the key node along this arc-shaped zone
where the Hexi Corridor and the Qin Mountains converge
Ethnic groups with distinct appearances and livelihoods
thus gathered on the terraces of the Linxia region
(The 400mm isohyet is an important boundary for distinguishing agricultural and pastoral zones; the map below shows the distribution of the farming-pastoral ecotone around Linxia, with modern geographic information, mapped by Zhang Wei & Luo Zihan/Planet Research Institute)
The descendants of the Qijia people who remained in Linxia
gradually evolved into an independent ancient Qiang people
labeled with names such as "Quanrong" and "Western Qiang"
They once even conquered the powerful Western Zhou Dynasty
After the Qin and Han dynasties, they continuously migrated outward
(The ancient Qiang people created bronze civilizations like the Xindian, Siwa, and Kayue cultures in the Gansu-Qinghai region. Pictured is a pottery vessel from the Xindian culture, photographed by You Zuo, mapped by Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
During the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, they roamed the Hehuang region
The regimes they established, such as the Western Qin and Tuyuhun,
either used Linxia as a base to campaign in all directions
but Linxia also became a passage between Han and Tibetan regions
as cultures from both lands spread along the bustling ancient trade routes
through the comings and goings of envoys and merchants
(Schematic map of ancient trade routes in Linxia, designed by Zhang Wei & Luo Zihan/Planet Research Institute)
undoubtedly became part of this two-thousand-year ethnic epic
They established counties and engaged in farming and trade in Linxia
and bestowed upon this land traversed by great rivers
the majestic name "Hezhou"
The imperial court built the "Twenty-Four Passes of Hezhou" here
and established the "Hezhou Tea-Horse Trading Bureau"
elevating Hezhou to a vital frontier stronghold in the western borderlands
"If you reach the pass, halt your horse; drink a ladleful and be drunk on the spring breeze"
(The preceding poem is from Xie Jin's "Ninghe Post Station," where Ninghe is present-day Hezheng; besides passes, the Ming Dynasty also built numerous beacon towers in Linxia, pictured here is the ruins of Ketuo Beacon Tower in Yongjing, photographer Wang Jinyun/Linxia Prefecture Bureau of Culture and Tourism)
With the arrival of Mongol armies returning from western campaigns during the Yuan Dynasty
most were Muslims from Central and Western Asia
who extensively intermingled with Han Chinese and Mongols
gradually localizing in clothing, language, and surnames
and eventually forming communities across northwestern provinces like Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and Qinghai
including Arabs, Persians, and Turks
primarily derived from the Huihui Semu people
(The Eight Squares and Thirteen Lanes is the most famous Hui community in Linxia. Click to explore each lane. Photographer: @Institute of Planetology, annotation by @Wang Shenwen/Institute of Planetology)
some originated from the Samarkand people of Central Asia
others from those who cultivated land in the Gansu-Qinghai region
(The Baoan people's "Baoan waist knife" is renowned as one of China's three famous ethnic minority knives. The photo shows two Baoan craftsmen forging waist knives. Image source: @Linxia Prefecture Culture and Tourism Bureau)
living scattered across the undulating mountains and rivers of Linxia
an inseparable part of the Chinese nation
Linxia is home to as many as 41 ethnic minorities
(Illustration of Linxia's ethnic composition. Chart by @Du Rui/Institute of Planetology)
Yet the comings and goings of all these peoples
their heroic tales and legendary eras
For visitors to Linxia
are undoubtedly a magnificent visual feast
But for the local residents of various ethnicities
it is more a persistent challenge to their destinies
offering responses unique to each era
Human power is still insufficient to master the laws of nature
People doodle on fired pottery
This is their understanding of the relationship between humans and nature
(Patterns on prehistoric artifacts from Linxia, photographer @Institute of Planetology, graphic design @Wang Shenwen/Institute of Planetology)
Gradually materializing into anthropomorphic deities or spirits
Their joys and angers determine the sorrows and joys of the mortal world
Holding temple fairs, performing Shehuo dances, and performing Nuo dances
Hoping the deities would bestow upon them the gifts of fate
These folk customs that have lasted for thousands of years
Are still preserved in some areas of Linxia today
(Shehuo is a traditional festive folk activity during the Spring Festival; pictured is a Shehuo performance in Linxia, image source @VCG)
And through people's reverence for nature
Became spiritual solace for people in historical periods
In deep gorges, on perilous cliffs, and among remote mountains
People began to carve caves, build temples, and erect statues
The Bingling Temple Grottoes, with a history of over 1,600 years
(Please view horizontally, panoramic view of Bingling Temple Grottoes, image source @Linxia Prefecture Culture and Tourism Bureau)
Artisans from ethnic groups such as the Qiang, Xianbei, Han, and Tibetan
Carved over 200 caves and niches here
Leaving behind more than 800 statues and countless murals
Silently gazing upon the Yellow River's ceaseless flow for centuries
And the travelers who came and went along the ancient trade routes
Who, in turn, silently gazed back upon them
(The 27-meter-tall Maitreya Buddha in Cave 171 of Bingling Temple Grottoes is China's fifth-largest Buddha, photo by @Planet Research Institute)
Change has quietly begun within
They can use their own hands
To strive for a better life from these mountains and rivers
The people of Linxia fully unleash their carving talents
Bricks, wood, gourds, and even bird eggs
All become exquisite artworks under their engraving knives
(An egg carving artisan at work, image source @VCG)
Particularly the Hezhou brick carving originating from the Song Dynasty
Made from white clay produced in Linxia's Beiyuan area
Combining auspicious symbolism with ethnic characteristics
They adorn courtyards, streets, and alleys
Reflecting the daily life of Linxia's people
("Jiangshan Dianhe Tu" in Dong Mansion's courtyard, a masterpiece of Linxia brick carving art, photo by @Planet Research Institute)
The vocal styles, melodies, and instruments of various ethnic groups
Hezhou Xianxiao, Hezhou Pingxian, Hui banquet songs, etc.
(A performance scene of Hezhou Pingxian, photo by @Planet Research Institute)
It is a folk song originating from Linxia
Widely beloved by people in Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, and other regions
The annual Hua'er Festival in late April of the lunar calendar
Singing loudly amidst the green mountains and clear waters of the southern region
Attracting audiences from all over to come and appreciate
(Songmingyan Hua'er Festival, photographer: Mao Tianbing)
Plump cattle and sheep cooked into a sumptuous feast
(Swipe to view. Linxia cuisine features beef, lamb, and pastries with rich flavors. Image source: Linxia Prefecture Culture and Tourism Bureau, designed by Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
Scorching molten iron scattered into a shower of sparks
(Please view horizontally. "Da Tiehua," or iron fireworks, is a folk tradition in Yongjing, Linxia, originating from local iron-casting techniques. Image source: Linxia Prefecture Culture and Tourism Bureau)
It is the people of Linxia, upon the steps of mountains and rivers,
Climbing the ladder of their own destiny.
With the support of technology and nationwide assistance,
At the most famous Liujiaxia of the Yellow River's Three Gorges,
Tons of concrete were sunk into the river,
Beginning the construction of a dam as high as 147 meters.
(Liujiaxia Dam, with Yongjing County not far away. Photographer: Chen Ruge)
The Liujiaxia Railway Line was completed and opened to traffic,
Delivering various equipment and raw materials needed for the project.
This remains the only railway line in Linxia to this day.
As all five generator units were put into operation,
The Liujiaxia Reservoir project was fully completed.
A water area spanning over 130 square kilometers.
With a storage capacity of over 5.7 billion cubic meters,
it emerged abruptly on the northwestern plateau.
(Please view horizontally, Liujiaxia Reservoir, image credit @ Visual China Group)
It was then China's largest hydropower station in terms of installed capacity and reservoir volume.
Providing power to provinces and regions such as Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi, and Ningxia,
the once formidable natural barrier of the Yellow River, with its icy currents and iron horses,
transformed into a powerhouse driving the development of northwestern provinces.
(Proportion of power generation at Liujiaxia Hydropower Station, chart by @ Du Rui/Planet Research Institute)
After the construction of Liujiaxia Reservoir,
the hydro resources in Linxia were further developed.
Between cliffs and gorges, along rivers large and small,
a series of cascade power stations of varying scales
were built, serving functions like flood control, irrigation, and navigation,
channeling Yellow River water to arid regions.
(Irrigation area in Yongjing County, photographer @ Xiao Wenkai)
Expansive plateaus were cultivated into undulating terraced fields,
becoming the foundation of livelihood for local communities.
(Please view horizontally, terraced fields shrouded in mist in Dongxiang County village, image credit @ Visual China Group)
Modern technologies like plastic mulch are widely applied in farmlands.
(Plastic mulch helps improve soil moisture, temperature, etc.; pictured: plastic-mulched farmland in Linxia, photographer @ Planet Research Institute)
Linxia is being developed into a renowned flower production hub in Northwest China.
(In a greenhouse at Linxia International Flower Port, rose buds bloom with vibrant freshness, photo by @Institute of Planet)
The barriers of mountains and rivers are being further broken down.
(Please view horizontally, Liujiaxia Yellow River Bridge under the sunset, photo by @Yan Tianfeng)
(Please view horizontally, S202 Highway crossing the Daliga Pass, photo by @Qiu Menghan)
(The Lanhe Railway passing through Linxia is under construction and expected to open in 2027; please view horizontally, the Lanqing Railway crossing the Yellow River near Xiaocigou Station in Yongjing County, photo by @Li Xingyu)
People are beginning to explore and familiarize themselves with this land.
More and more modern industries tailored to local conditions
(Leveraging its natural advantages, Linxia has developed sports tourism such as paragliding, skiing, and paddleboarding. Pictured is a paraglider soaring toward Liujiaxia Reservoir, image credit @Visual China)
This is the answer today's Linxia people give to their mountains and rivers.
It is also their confidence in bidding farewell to poverty and isolation.
Remember this land called Linxia!
(Please view horizontally, Linxia's nightscape illuminated by dazzling lights, photo by @Jiang Xi/Sky Image)
- PRODUCTION TEAM -
Design | Du Rui, Wang Shenwen, Luo Zihan
Review | Yun Wu Kongcheng, Lushumao, Chen Zhihao
Special collaboration unit for this article: Linxia Prefecture Cultural Tourism Investment Group
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[8]Editorial Committee of the Chronicles of Liujiaxia Hydropower Plant. Chronicles of Liujiaxia Hydropower Plant[M]. Lanzhou: Gansu People's Publishing House, 1999
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