The wider surroundings of Tianshui offer a range of cultural experiences, from an old town with courtyards dating from the Ming and Qing periods to temples, historic memorial sites and a regional dish made from buckwheat starch. This makes it easy to plan your stay around your interests: city history, religious traditions, historical figures and food culture each offer a different way to explore the region. The old town and several temples are in Qinzhou District; other sites lie in the wider region.

Old town and temples around Tianshui

Tianshui’s old town is in Xiguan, a neighborhood in Qinzhou District. Its historic streetscape includes courtyards dating from the Ming and Qing periods, old streets and lanes, and trees. Together, these features draw attention not only to individual monuments, but also to historic residential and urban spaces. A tourism classification published in 2026 lists the old town as a Category 3A area.

Yuquan Temple is also in Qinzhou District. It is one of Qinzhou’s eight scenic sites and is listed as a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit and a Category 4A tourist area. A description published in 2026 gives these designations. The old town, with its courtyards and lanes, and a temple classified at a national level offer different ways to explore the area’s history.

Fuxi Temple in Qinzhou District was founded during the Chenghua era of the Ming dynasty and is considered one of the oldest and best-preserved temples dedicated to Fuxi. Here, the focus is on the dedication to Fuxi; the old town, by contrast, invites visitors to explore the interplay of courtyards, streets, lanes and trees. Bingling Temple lies in the Wuqü River Valley near Qinzhou District. It is a Tibetan Buddhist temple of the Gelug school and a Category 3A national tourist area. Together, the temples offer different religious and cultural-historical perspectives.

Residence and historical memory

The former residence of Tianshui scholar Feng Guorui is among the historic sites in the wider region. The building dates from the late Qing period, and 26 rooms have been preserved. The site draws attention to a particular historical figure and to the residence as a type of building. The Tomb of Li Guang offers a different perspective: it is a cenotaph for Li Guang, a general of the Western Han period. Preserved features include a Han-dynasty stone horse, a Qing-dynasty sacrificial pavilion, a tomb stele and an inscription written by Chiang Kai-shek. The comparison reveals the site’s layers of history: the cenotaph commemorates a Han-dynasty general, while the preserved features also include a pavilion from the Qing period.

Tianshui guagua and regional food culture

Tianshui guagua adds a culinary tradition to the region’s architectural and commemorative history. This traditional snack originated in Tianshui, Gansu, and is made from buckwheat starch. It is described as aromatic and spicy, as well as soft and delicate. Its origins are dated to the Western Han dynasty. The preparation technique was included in the fourth list of Gansu Province’s intangible cultural heritage; Qinzhou District is listed as the application area. For a cultural trip, guagua offers a tangible connection to regional cuisine, distinct from the temples and historic buildings. The tradition also brings together a named ingredient and a time-honored preparation method with a historical attribution reaching far back in time.

Discover more destinations: Lanzhou, Zhangye, Pingliang, Jiayuguan, Baiyin, Jiuquan, Wuwei, Qingyang.

For the overview of the wider region: Gansu.