Jiuquan

Jiuquan is a sprawling desert prefecture at the far western end of Gansu's Hexi Corridor, its name meaning 'Wine Spring.' It was a frontier garrison guarding the Silk Road toward the Gobi. Within its borders lies Dunhuang, home to the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO treasure of Buddhist cave art, and the dune-ringed Crescent Lake. The wider region hosts satellite launches and vast wind farms. The climate is arid with dramatic temperature swings. For an international student, Jiuquan offers legendary Silk Road art and Gobi landscapes.