Jiuquan Travel Guide

The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC), also known as Dongfeng Aerospace City, is China's first and most prominent spaceport. Established in 1958, it has been the launch site for China's first satellite (Dongfanghong-1 in 1970), first manned spaceflights (Shenzhou missions), and numerous scientific satellites. While the active launch facility is restricted, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center Tourist Area includes a museum, exhibition halls showcasing spacecraft and rocket models, and memorials to China's space heroes. A visit here offers a fascinating glimpse into China's remarkable space program.

The West Han Dynasty Museum (Xihan Jiuquan Shengji) is China's first museum dedicated to Han Dynasty frontier culture. Located in a historic park, the museum houses an impressive collection of artifacts unearthed from the Hexi Corridor, including bronze wares, pottery, jade, weapons, and Han Dynasty bamboo slips (inscribed wooden strips). The adjacent park features ancient springs, pavilions, and a lake, creating a serene cultural landscape that has been a gathering place for over 2,000 years.

The Jiuquan Drum Tower is a majestic three-story wooden structure standing in the center of old Jiuquan. Originally built during the Ming Dynasty (1372) and rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty, the tower rises 27 meters and features intricate carved beams, painted ceilings, and a large drum used for timekeeping. It is the best-preserved drum tower in the Hexi Corridor and marks the historic crossroads of the Silk Road. The four archways at its base once led to the four cardinal directions of the city.

Jiuquan Park is a historic public park built around the legendary "Wine Spring" (Jiuquan) that gave the city its name. According to legend, the Han Dynasty general Huo Qubing poured a jar of imperial wine into this spring so his soldiers could all share it, and the spring has since been known as the "Wine Spring." The park features beautiful classical Chinese gardens, willow-lined paths, weeping willow trees, and the spring itself surrounded by pavilions and stone inscriptions.

Shengjiayu is a well-preserved Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) military fortress located about 20 kilometers northwest of Jiuquan. The rectangular earthwork fortification, with walls still standing several meters high, was a key defensive outpost on the Silk Road. Visitors can walk through the ancient gates and imagine the soldiers who once guarded this remote frontier station. The surrounding Gobi landscape adds to the sense of historical isolation.

A unique agritourism attraction showcasing the agricultural heritage of the Hexi Corridor. Visitors can tour vineyards, orchards, and vegetable gardens irrigated by the Qilian Mountain snowmelt. The farm offers wine tasting from local vineyards, fruit picking in season, and farm-to-table dining featuring local specialties. It provides a relaxing contrast to the city's historical and space-themed attractions.