Chinese Name: Longnan City (lng nn sh)

Population: 2,680,000

Area: 27,923 square kilometers (10,781 square miles)

Nationalities: Han

Administrative Division: 1 district (Wudu); 8 counties (Chengxian, Tanchang, Kangxian, Wenxian, Xihe, Lixian, Liangdang, Huixian)

Seat of the City Government: No288, Jiucheng Lu, Wudu District, Longnan City

Useful Telephone Numbers:
Tourist Complaints: 0939-8213302
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiry: 184

Bank of China Linxia Branch: No.163, Panxuan Xi Lu, Wudu District, Longnan City

China Post Linxia Branch: Jianshe Bei Lu, Wudu District, Longnan City

Location:Longnan City is situated in the southeast of Gansu Province , neighboring Shaanxi Province in the east and Sichuan Province in the south. Within Gansu, Longnan borders Tianshui in the north and Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the west.

History: The history of the Longnan region can be traced back to distant ages. By the time of the Zhou Dynasty (11th Century BC-221BC), Longnan had become the cradle of the Qin State which developed into the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC), the unifier of the whole country after the Warring States Period (476BC-221BC). Wudu Special District was established in 1949, changed to Longnan Region in 1985 and promoted to being a regional city in 2004.

Physical Features: Longnan lies in the transition area of Chinas steppes with the Southern Gansu Plateau in the west, Sichuan Basin in the south, Qinling Mountains and Hanzhong Basin in the east, as well as the Loess Plateau in the north. The terrain of the city is higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast. High mountains and deep valleys interweave with hills and basins, forming the unique and complex landform of Longnan.

Climatic Features:The city enjoys a monsoon climate. Affected by its geographic features, the climate in different regions varies greatly. From the southeast to the northwest, there is a subtropical humid climate, warm temperate humid climate, temperate semi-humid climate and alpine and humid climate. The span of annual average temperatures extends 10¡æ (50¡æ), from 5¡æ to 15¡æ(41¡æ to 59¡æ).

When to Go: Summer and autumn are the best seasons to visit Longnan.

Special Local Products: olives, tea, gingko tea, wild pepper, Langya honey, toadstools, monkey head mushrooms, gingko, herbs

Local Highlights:

Every year, Longnan holds many tourist and cultural festivals, such as a peach blossom festival in April, tea picking festival around the Qingming Festival, as well as tourist festivals in Qianba Grassland and Wanxiang Cave.

There is an old branch of Tibetans, the Baima Tibetans, living in Tielou Tibetan Township three kilometers (1.9 miles) west of Wenxian County. The Baima Tibetans are renowned for their singing and dancing. They lead simple lives, inhabiting traditional houses, wearing beautiful costumes and following their own folkways. They shepherd, keep bees, grow hemp and weave cloth for a living. In July, there is a tourist festival held there to show the unique way of life of Baima Tibetans.

Attractions:

Yinping Heaven Lake (Tian Chi):one of the three great pools in China named for their other worldly beauty, this lake is like an emerald inlaid among mountains.

Wanxiang cave:the largest limestone cave in Northwest China.

Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve: the only land in Gansu with a northern subtropical eco system and a beautiful natural landscape.

Other Scenic Spots: Three Beaches (Santan) Scenic Area.

Travel Tips:
1. There are few regular transport links in Longnan. Because of the sometimes difficult road conditions, off-road vehicles or buses with high chassis are the best means of transportation. Wenxian County of Longnan is only 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Jiuzhaigou.

2. Longnan is an important passage between Gansu and Sichuan, and the citys railway station is also a vital passenger and freight transportation hub. The railway station is in Jialing Town of Huixian County on the right bank of the Jialing River. Longnan Wudu Bus Station is located in Panxuan Lu.