Get to know Suzhou District
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- Administrative area
- District · 市辖区
- Part of
- Jiuquan
- Chinese name
- 肃州区
- Local areas
- District guide
Area & population
- Area in the source
- 3,353.74 km²
- Population · 2020
- 455,611
- Administrative seat
- Xibeijie Subdistrict
Source: cited geographic source, as of the dates shown.
History
The Western Han set up a commandery and county here in 121 BC, with the commandery seat at Fulu (福禄县), which is today's Jiuquan. Legend says the Han general Huo Qubing (霍去病) poured wine sent by Emperor Wu into a spring so his soldiers could share it, and the spring, and later the place, became Jiuquan, "wine spring". Li Gao (李暠), ruler of the Western Liang (西凉), once made the town his capital.
The name Suzhou (肃州) dates from 602, under the Sui, and the county name Jiuquan from 618. The Ming set up Suzhou again in 1372. Jiuquan County became a city in 1985, and on 16 September 2002 that city became Suzhou District.
What to see
The Jiuquan Drum Tower (酒泉鼓楼) began as the east gate tower of the city walls rebuilt in the Former Liang (前凉) period, around 346 to 353. When the city was extended eastward in 1395 the tower ended up at the centre. It burned in 1865 and was rebuilt in 1905 with a three-storey timber tower on the old rammed-earth base, which is pierced by four arched gateways. Their inscriptions point the way: "东迎华岳" (east to Mount Hua), "西达伊吾" (west to Yiwu), "南望祁连" (south to the Qilian) and "北通沙漠" (north to the desert). It was listed as a national key protected site in 2013.
The district government names Great Wall beacon towers and the Western Han site (西汉胜迹) among its best-known relics, alongside the Drum Tower. The Drum Tower, Fukang (富康) and Wanda (万达) areas are its three main shopping districts.
Food and local products
With an annual mean of 8.7°C and about 146 millimetres of rain, the district grows maize, wheat, millet, onions, tomatoes, melons, white apricots and apples. The district government describes it as the country's largest base for breeding vegetable and flower seed. Huangnibao (黄泥堡裕固族乡) is a Yugur ethnic township within the district.
Getting oriented
The Lianyungang–Khorgos Expressway (连霍高速), the Lanzhou–Xinjiang railway (兰新铁路) and the Lanzhou–Xinjiang high-speed line (兰新高铁) cross the district, which has four stations: Jiuquan (酒泉站), Jiuquan South (酒泉南站), Suzhou (肃州站) and Qingshui (清水站). Jiayuguan Jiuquan Airport (嘉峪关酒泉机场) lies next to the urban area.
Highlights
- Jiuquan Drum Tower 酒泉鼓楼: Former Liang gate-tower base with a timber tower rebuilt in 1905; national key protected site since 2013.
- Western Han site 西汉胜迹: Named by the district government among its best-known relics.
- Taolai River 讨赖河: One of the six rivers in the district.
Sources for this guide
肃州区 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书 · Wikipedia (Chinese) · CC BY-SA 4.0
肃州区区情概况 · Suzhou District People's Government, Jiuquan
历史沿革 · Suzhou District People's Government, Jiuquan
自然地理 · Suzhou District People's Government, Jiuquan
酒泉鼓楼 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书 · Wikipedia (Chinese) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Original English written from the listed sources and checked sentence by sentence against quoted extracts by a separate reviewer. Updated 2026-09-23.
Explore Suzhou District
Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.
Places to explore around Suzhou District
AI illustration · AI Plan your visit
Getting there
Suzhou District covers the centre of Jiuquan. Search for 肃州区 in a map app to find stations and your accommodation.
Where to stay →Build your route
Start with Jiuquan Shengji Garden. The linked place guides have entrance and visit details.
Continue with Jiuquan →More in Jiuquan
Sources & geographic information
Administrative names and parent areas: Official geographic directory · Reference date 2026-09-06.
Some facts checked against 肃州区 — Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Some facts checked against 酒泉鼓楼 — Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins mark approximate centres, not entrances or boundaries.