Gansu is a long, narrow province in northwest China that follows the Hexi Corridor, the Silk Road passage between the Qilian Mountains and the Gobi. It joins the Yellow River city of Lanzhou, the Mogao Caves and Mingsha dunes at Dunhuang, the Ming fort at Jiayuguan, the rainbow Danxia hills of Zhangye, and the Tibetan monasteries of Xiahe and Langmusi into one of China's richest cultural and landscape routes.
Cultural orientation
Essential context for travellers.
Gansu is a long corridor of ethnic and religious contact: Han, Hui, Tibetan, Dongxiang, Bao'an, Yugur, Salar and Mongol communities live side by side, and customs change sharply within a few hours of travel, from the mosques of Linxia to the monasteries of Xiahe
Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, nicknamed 'Little Mecca of China', and Lanzhou's Nanguan and Xiguan neighbourhoods are strongly Muslim; look for green qingzhen (halal) signs and do not bring pork or alcohol into those restaurants
In Tibetan areas such as Xiahe and Hezuo, walk clockwise around stupas, prayer wheels and monastery halls, never step over prayer flags or mani stones, and do not touch monks' heads or religious objects
Photography is prohibited inside most Labrang Monastery halls and inside the Mogao Grottoes caves; the Dunhuang Academy enforces this strictly and the rules apply to phones
Mogao Grottoes visits require a timed ticket booked in advance through the official Dunhuang Academy reservation channel (see external links); in peak season (May-October) tickets sell out days ahead
Gansu is one of China's drier, poorer provinces, and warm, simple hospitality is the norm; being offered tea (including the Hui covered-bowl eight-treasure tea, babao gaiwan cha) is a gesture of welcome and should be accepted
Many Hui, Dongxiang and Tibetan residents speak Mandarin with a strong regional accent; Tibetan is the daily language in Gannan Prefecture and a few words are warmly received
Dress modestly in religious sites: cover shoulders and knees, remove hats in monasteries, and remove shoes before carpeted mosque prayer halls
Do's and don'ts
Quick guide to local norms.
Do
- Greet with 'Nihao'; among Hui Muslims 'As-salamu alaykum' is welcomed from those who know it, and in Tibetan areas 'Tashi delek' is the standard greeting
- Accept tea and snacks when offered, and receive items with both hands
- Walk clockwise around monasteries, kora circuits and stupas at Labrang Monastery in Xiahe
- Ask permission before photographing monks, worshippers, or people at prayer
- Book Mogao Grottoes tickets in advance and arrive at the Dunhuang Academy visitor centre at your allotted time
- Try regional food: Lanzhou beef noodles (niurou lamian), Hui-style mutton, Tibetan butter tea and tsampa in Gannan, and Dunhuang's donkey-meat yellow noodles
- Carry cash in smaller towns of Gannan and Linxia, since card readers are less common (mobile payment via Alipay is widespread in cities)
- Respect the altitude at Xiahe (about 2,900 m) and Maqu; rest on arrival and drink water
Don't
- Do not bring pork, pork products or alcohol into mosques, Hui homes or halal restaurants
- Do not point your feet at a Buddha statue or sit with the soles of your feet facing an altar
- Do not photograph inside the Mogao caves, or touch the murals, which are fragile
- Do not walk counter-clockwise around Buddhist sites or step on prayer flags
- Do not wear shorts, sleeveless tops or short skirts to mosques and monasteries
- Do not discuss politics, Tibet independence or minority policy with strangers; keep conversation to food, landscape, history and travel
- Do not hand out money or sweets to children at monasteries or in villages
- Do not fly drones near Mogao, monasteries or military zones without permission
Etiquette by setting
How to navigate everyday situations.
- Greetings
- A nod or light handshake is normal. Hui Muslims may say 'Salaam'; in Tibetan areas 'Tashi delek' (good luck) is used and a visitor may be offered a white scarf (khata), which is accepted with both hands and slightly bowed head
- Dining
- Meals are shared. Wait for elders to begin, never stick chopsticks upright in rice, and at a Hui table expect no alcohol. In Tibetan homes butter tea is refilled continuously; leave the cup full if you do not want more
- Dress
- Modest clothing for mosques and monasteries (shoulders and knees covered). In the Mogao Grottoes, bring a warm layer since caves are cool, and sun protection for the Dunhuang desert in summer
- Gifts
- Avoid pork and alcohol as gifts for Muslim hosts; tea, dried fruit, goji berries from Gansu or Zhengning-style pastries are safe. In Tibetan areas a khata scarf is a respectful offering
- Business
- Meetings are relationship-based and formal; business cards are exchanged with both hands. Tea is offered first
- Tipping
- Tipping is not customary in Gansu restaurants, taxis or hotels. Private guides at sites may accept a small thank-you but do not expect it
Useful phrases
A few words go a long way.
Nihao (你好)
Hello
nee-HOW
Xiexie (谢谢)
Thank you
shyeh-shyeh
Zhe shi qingzhen de ma? (这是清真的吗?)
Is this halal?
juh shr ching-jen duh mah
Duoshao qian? (多少钱?)
How much is it?
dwaw-shaow chyen
Wo bu chi zhurou (我不吃猪肉)
I do not eat pork
waw boo chr joo-roh
Cesuo zai nali? (厕所在哪里?)
Where is the toilet?
tsuh-swaw dzai nah-lee
Qing lai yi wan niurou mian (请来一碗牛肉面)
A bowl of beef noodles, please
ching lie ee wahn nyoh-roh myen
Keyi zhaoxiang ma? (可以照相吗?)
Can I take a photo?
kuh-yee jow-shyahng mah
Tashi delek (བཀྲ་ཤིས་བདེ་ལེགས།)
Hello / good luck (Tibetan)
tah-shee deh-leh
Thuk-je-che (ཐུགས་རྗེ་ཆེ།)
Thank you (Tibetan)
took-jay-chay
As-salamu alaykum (اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ)
Peace be upon you (Hui greeting)
ahs-sah-LAH-moo ah-LAY-koom
Religion & spirituality
Understanding faith in Gansu.
Main: Tibetan Buddhism (Gelug school at Labrang Monastery and Gannan), Mahayana Buddhism (the Dunhuang cave tradition), Sunni Islam (Hui, Dongxiang, Salar and Bao'an communities, concentrated in Linxia and Lanzhou), and Taoist and Han folk religion (Kongtong Mountain, Pingliang, Fuxi worship in Tianshui)
Sites: Labrang Monastery (Xiahe), Mogao Grottoes (Dunhuang), Maijishan Grottoes (Tianshui), Bingling Temple Grottoes (Yongjing), Linxia Dongguan Mosque and Bafang Mosque (Linxia), Xiguan Mosque (Lanzhou), Kongtong Mountain (Pingliang), Fuxi Temple (Tianshui) and Gahai-Zecha / Langmu Monastery (Luqu, Gannan)
Holy Days: Monlam Prayer Festival at Labrang (about the first lunar month), Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in Muslim communities, Mawlid (Prophet's birthday) in Linxia, Buddha's Birthday (eighth day of the fourth lunar month) and the Fuxi memorial ceremony in Tianshui (autumn)
Conversations: Religion is approached with respect and curiosity; visitors may ask about customs and practice but should avoid political framing