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.
Top spas
Curated picks for treatments and day spas.
Lanzhou Dunhu Hot Spring Resort Hotel
A hot-spring hotel in Lanzhou New Area (phone 0931-7835666); the Dunhu selenium-rich spring is also described as lying about 70 km from the city centre
Gansu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Provincial TCM hospital with acupuncture and tui-na; phone 0931-2687032; consultations in Mandarin
Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine
A university-affiliated TCM hospital in central Lanzhou with acupuncture and massage departments
Labrang Monastery Medical College (Menba Zhacang)
The monastery's Medical College, one of the oldest Tibetan medical schools in Amdo; consultations are in Tibetan and Mandarin
Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Tibetan Hospital
The prefecture's Tibetan hospital in Hezuo, offering Tibetan medicine and external therapies
Minxian Chinese Medicinal Materials Market (herbal wellness visit)
Gansu's famed angelica (danggui) hub; useful for buying herbs and learning about TCM raw materials
Wellness retreats
Multi-day immersive experiences.
Signature treatments
Local specialties worth seeking out.
Yoga & meditation
Studios, classes, and meditation centres.
Wellness travel tips
Get the most from your wellness experience.
Book treatments in advance — popular slots fill up quickly during peak season.
Hydrate well before and after treatments, especially massages and saunas.
Communicate any allergies or skin sensitivities before treatments begin.