Discover Jiuquan: Old Town and Han History

Jiuquan brings together a distinctive Old Town destination and cultural and excursion themes in different locations. The Han-Tang Food Street is in the center of the Old Town; other destinations are nearby, in the associated township, or farther afield in the wider travel area. If you are looking for a vacation rental in Jiuquan, it may help to first choose the focus of your trip: the Old Town and regional cuisine, Han history and garden culture, or rural activities.

Old Town, Cuisine, and City Life

The Han-Tang Food Street is in the center of Jiuquan's Old Town and comprises four street sections. It brings together regional cuisine, tourist leisure activities, cultural entertainment, and shopping. The appeal of this combination lies in its thematic breadth: if you would like to include regional cuisine in your day, you can also consider cultural attractions and shopping as possible interests here. A tourism description published in 2024 lists 178 businesses in operation. This figure gives a concrete sense of the commercial side; the four street sections also indicate how this Old Town destination is laid out.

Han History and Scenery Nearby

The 西汉酒泉胜迹 site is considered the only fully preserved garden complex from the Han period in the Hexi Corridor. It covers 270,000 square meters; within the grounds is a natural lake with an area of 50,000 square meters. Three areas have different emphases: a historical and cultural area, a mountain and lake area, and a recreation and leisure area. History, scenery, and leisure thus sit side by side within the grounds. In 2002, the site was included on the national list of 4A-rated tourist attractions.

The ancient Jiuquan spring is also nearby. It is considered evidence of the development of the Western Regions and territorial expansion during the Han Dynasty; it is said to have a history of more than 2,100 years. It adds another historical point of interest to the garden complex: at the spring, the focus is on the history of the Western Regions associated with it.

Folk Culture, Architecture, and Rural Themes

Suyun Xiangzhuang, an estate dedicated to folk culture, is in the associated township. It was built using local earth, wood, and stone materials in traditional Chinese architectural styles. The folk museum houses more than 5,000 exhibits that visitors can view. The architecture and collection offer different ways to explore folk culture: one focuses on materials and traditional architectural forms, while the other centers on the museum's extensive collection.

Further afield in the travel area, Jiuquan 1969 Cultural and Art Park comprises twelve converted factory buildings. This offers an architectural point of interest distinct from Suyun Xiangzhuang: local materials and traditional construction define the estate, while the adaptive reuse of factory buildings is the central feature here.

The Longdesheng Eco-Agriculture Park is east of Jiuquan's urban area: in Yongjiu Village, Quanhuzhen Township, and in the core area of the Quanhuwan Agricultural Demonstration Zone. Its offerings include rural cuisine, children's entertainment, outdoor barbecues and fishing, agricultural learning experiences, military summer camps, fruit and vegetable picking, RV camping, and a petting zoo. The park also serves as a study-tour base for students from Jiuquan. Agriculture, harvesting, and outdoor activities are more central here than the Old Town and cultural themes. If you are especially interested in these rural offerings, the park provides a distinct focus for planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Tianshui, Longnan, Lanzhou, Gannan, Pingliang, Linxia, Wuwei, Jiayuguan.

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