平凉市

Why this place

Pingliang is the city below Kongtong Mountain, one of the birthplaces of Taoism — the Yellow Emperor is said to have asked the Taoist immortal Guangchengzi for advice here. The mountain is forested and full of temples, in a region that is otherwise dry.

What to see

• Kongtong Mountain — temples and pavilions on a forested ridge, with a chairlift
• The Wangmu Palace and the Taoist sites on the mountain
• The Longyin and the Qiu Chi Gorge, and the old Jing River country

What to eat

• Gansu lamb and noodles; Pingliang is known for its 'beef' dishes
• The local 'hulu' and the northwest wheat foods

Best time

May–October