金昌市

Why this place

Jinchang is a mining city built around one of China's largest nickel deposits, sitting between the Hexi Corridor and the Inner Mongolian desert. It is a modern industrial town in an old landscape, and the surrounding country has Han and Ming frontier remains.

What to see

• The Jinchuan mine and the industrial heritage of the city
• The Han and Ming frontier walls and forts in the surrounding desert
• The Qilian foothills and the horse country west

What to eat

• Northwest lamb and noodles
• Jinchang is known for its 'yongchang' and its dried apricots

Best time

May–October