As an important part of the ancient Silk Road, Northwest China’s Gansu province has seen commercial and cultural exchanges between the East and West for millennia.

Gansu is home to seven UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites including the world-renowned Mogao Grottoes, a Buddhist paradise in the oasis of the Gobi Desert.

There are numerous historical relics and varied landforms there. The long winding camel caravans, the never ceasing Crescent Spring (a crescent-shaped lake surrounded by desert in Dunhuang city) and the splendid Yadan landform are all breathtaking sights.

Gansu is a place that encourages people to strike up a dialogue with history.

Amazing China in 60 Seconds is a short-video series covering cultural and scenic hotspots across the country.

Footage provided by the culture and tourism bureau of Gansu