Jiuquan
People's Republic of China · Asia
About Jiuquan
Jiuquan, formerly known as Suzhou, is a prefecture-level city in the northwesternmost part of Gansu Province in the People's Republic of China. It is more than 600 km (370 mi) wide from east to west, occupying 191,342 km2 (73,878 sq mi), although its built-up area is mostly located in its Suzhou District.
The city was formerly known as Fulu, which became known as Suzhou (Suchow, Su-chow, &c.) after it became the seat of Su Prefecture under the Sui. As the seat of Jiuquan Commandery, it eventually became known by that name in turn. The name Jiuquan — "jiu spring(s)" — derives from a legendary story of the young Han general Huo Qubing, who was said to have poured a vat of precious alcohol into a local creek to share its taste with his troops after a victory over the Xiongnu nomads.
Fulu was founded in 111 BC as an outpost in the Hexi Corridor near the Yumen Pass along the overland Silk Road. Jiuquan was a Han prefecture and, under the Eastern Han, an active military garrison. Su Prefecture was established under the Sui and renamed Jiuquan Commandery under the Tang. In 624, Jiuquan County was established. In 763, it was occupied by Tibetan Empire...
Jiuquan travel guide
Understand
Subei Mongol Autonomous County is administered as part of Jiuquan.
Getting there
By plane The nearest airport is Jiayuguan International Airport in Jiayuguan.
By train There are two railway stations in Jiuquan:
1 Jiuquan Railway Station (酒泉站), Jiefang Road, Xidong Town, Suzhou District (肃州区西洞镇解放路) (bus no. 19). Serves regular-speed trains. (updated Jan 2021) 2 Jiuquan South Railway Station (酒泉南站), Gaotie East Road, Suzhou District (肃州区高铁东路) (bus no. 25). Serves high-speed trains. (updated Jan 2021)
By bus 3 Jiuquan Bus Station (酒泉车站), 47 Xiguan Road, Suzhou District (肃州区西关路47号) (local bus nos. 1, 3, 5, 9, 12, 21, 22, 25, 27 Inner Circle and 27 Outer Circle), ☏ +86 937 2603103. Jiuquan's main bus station. (updated Jan 2021) Some possible destinations:
Xining - night bus, takes 11 hours Jiayuguan - local bus, takes 20 minutes
See
1 Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Closed to foreigners.
2 Drum and Bell Tower (钟鼓楼), Intersection of Dongda Street and Beida Street, Suzhou District (肃州区东大街与北大街交叉处) (bus nos. 1, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22 and 25). 08:30-18:00, no entry after 17:30. The first tower was built during the 4th century AD. It burnt down in a fire in the 19th century and was rebuilt in the early 20th century. The tower is a richly ornamented three-storey wooden building standing atop a brick platform. There are entrances on each side through which pedestrians are allowed through. 3 Jiuquan Museum (酒泉市博物馆), 10 Panxuan West Road, Suzhou District (肃州区盘旋西路10号) (bus nos. 5, 7, 12 and 28), ☏ +86 937 2650318. Tu-Su 08:30-12:00, 14:30-18:00, closed on Mondays. Free. (updated Jan 2021)
Eat
Guazhou melons (瓜州蜜瓜). A type of sweet melon grown mainly in Jiuquan's Guazhou County.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range Jiuquan Hotel, 33 Jiefang Road, ☏ +86 937 2614234, fax: +86 937 2614750.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.