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Zhangye (p=Zhāngyè), formerly romanized as Changyeh and also formerly known as Kanchow, is a prefecture-level city in central Gansu Province in the China. It borders Inner Mongolia on the north and Qinghai on the south. Its central district is Ganzhou District, formerly a city of the Western Xia and one of the most important outposts of western China.
Zhangye Commandery was established by Han dynasty in 111 BC, with the seat at the site of modern Wuwei, Gansu. Etymology of Zhangye is unclear. A popular theory interprets the name Zhangye as "Extending Arm", excerpted from a phrase "to extend the arm of the country through to the Western Regions" (张国臂掖，以通西域) documented in Han Shu.
The Yuan dynasty founding emperor Kublai Khan is said to have been born in the Dafo Temple, Zhangye, now the site of the longest wooden reclining Buddha in China. Marco Polo's journal states that he spent a year in the town during his journey to China..
The pine forests of the Babao Mountains (part of the Qilian Mountains range) formerly regulated the flow of the Ruo Shui or Hei Shui, Ganzhou's primary river. By ensuring that the melt-waters lasted throughout the summer, they avoided both early flood and later drought for the valley's farmers. Despite recommendations that they should thus be protected in perpetuity, a Qing dynasty imperial official in charge of erecting the telegraph pole for China's telegraph network ordered them cleared in the 1880s. Almost immediately, the region became prone to flooding in the summer and draught in the autumn, arousing local resentment..
Christian missionaries arrived in 1879, after Jiuquan was found to be too hostile for their settlement..
Note: Shandan Horseground is part of Shandan County. | ||||||
| 1 | Ganzhou District | 甘州区 | Gānzhōu Qū | 519,096 | 4,240 | 120 |
| 2 | Minle County | 民乐县 | Mínlè Xiàn | 192,476 | 3,687 | 59.5 |
| 3 | Linze County | 临泽县 | Línzé Xiàn | 115,946 | 2,777 | 48.4 |
| 4 | Gaotai County | 高台县 | Gāotái Xiàn | 125,705 | 4,312 | 33.3 |
| 5 | Shandan County | 山丹县 | Shāndān Xiàn | 150,031 | 5,402 | 30 |
| 6 | Sunan Yugur Autonomous County | 肃南裕固族自治县 | Sùnán Yùgùzú Zìzhìxiàn | 27,762 | 20,456 | 1.6 |
The Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, covering an area of , is located in Linze County and Sunan counties of Zhangye, west of the city center. Known for its colourful rock formations, it has been voted by Chinese media outlets as one of the most beautiful land-forms in China.
Zhangye Railway Station is on the Lanzhou–Xinjiang Railway, located to the north east of the city. A high speed railway station has been constructed on the south west side of the city, Zhangye West Railway Station was opened on 26 December 2014 as part of the Lanzhou–Ürümqi High-Speed Railway.
Zhangye Ganzhou Airport, a combined civilian-military airport, opened in October 2011 with flights to Lanzhou and Xi'an.
Climate
Zhangye has a cold desert climate (Köppen BWk) with very warm summers and cold and very dry winters. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from in January to in July. The mean annual temperature is , while annual rainfall is , almost all of which falls from May to September. The winters are so dry that snow is extremely rare.
Demographics
Zhangye has a total population of 1,199,515, only 260,000 being urban residents. There are 26 ethnic minorities other than Han Chinese represented including many Hui people, Yugur and Tibetan people.
Transport
Zhangye is served by China National Highways numbers G30 Expressway, 227 and 312.
Economy
The 2002 GDP was 7.566 billion RMB, almost 9% growth over the previous year. Annual urban income was 5960 RMB, 10.4% growth from the previous year and rural income was 3092 RMB, up 5%.
Education
Hexi University (河西学院) is located in Zhangye. Approximately 10,000 students are enrolled at the university.
Sport
Zhangye has hosted a round of the Chinese Rally Championship (CRC) since 2011. It is held on specially constructed roads across the deserts north and to the south of the city. The event attracts over 100 entries regularly, including international drivers. A stadium for side-by-side super special stages has also been constructed.
Demographics
According to the Seventh National Census in 2020, the city’s Permanent Population (hukou) was 1,131,016. Compared with a population of 1,199,515 at the time of the Sixth National Census in 2010, there were 68,499 fewer people, or an average annual decrease of 0.59 percent.
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