Gaotai County 高台县

Setting and landscape

The Hei River runs through the county, and more than 20 reservoirs lie within its borders. Gaotai contains 71.6 percent of the wetland area of the Zhangye Heihe wetlands, and its landscape ranges from snow peaks and desert dunes to fertile oasis land and reed marshes. The county government notes that Gaotai lies at 38 degrees north, the same latitude as Bordeaux, and wine grapes are grown here for Qilian wine.

History

Qiang, Wusun, Yuezhi and Xiongnu peoples lived here before the Han dynasty set up Biaoshi county (表是县) in 111 BC under Jiuquan commandery (酒泉郡). In 335 the Former Liang ruler Zhang Jun (张骏) created Jiankang commandery (建康郡) at what is now Luotuocheng (骆驼城), and in 397 its governor Duan Ye (段业) declared himself king, founding Northern Liang. Gaotai County itself dates from 1725, when the Qing merged two Ming military posts. The county was known as the "lock and key of Hexi" because it guarded the routes west to Xinjiang and north to Mongolia.

On 12 January 1937 the Fifth Army of the Red Army's Western Route Army was wiped out at Gaotai by the Ma family forces.

What to see

The Memorial Hall of the Western Route Army of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (中国工农红军西路军纪念馆) is a national first-grade museum and 4A scenic area. Three sites are national protected monuments: the Han and Ming Great Wall, the Luotuocheng ruins (骆驼城遗址), which the county lists as the largest and most complete Han–Tang site in China, and the Xusanwan town and tombs (许三湾城及墓群). Wei–Jin painted bricks and dated slips from the Sixteen Kingdoms period are among the relics held in the county.

The other 4A scenic areas are the Dahuwan water scenic area (大湖湾) and Crescent Lake Park (月牙湖公园); the Qilian Grape Estate (祁连葡萄庄园) is a 3A area, and the Beba poplar forest (八坝胡杨林) is also named by the county.

Food and local traditions

Gaotai gluten (高台面筋) is on the Zhangye city intangible heritage list. Eleven traditions are on the provincial list, including the Yellow River lantern maze (黄河灯阵), Qinqiang opera tusk performance (秦腔獠牙) and Gaotai folk songs. Long called the granary of Hexi, the county grows hybrid maize seed and highland summer vegetables.

Getting oriented

The Lanzhou–Xinjiang Railway and its second double track, the Lanzhou–Xinjiang High-Speed Railway, the Lianyungang–Khorgas Expressway and National Highway 312 all run through the county. The county government sits in Chengguan town (城关镇).

Highlights

• Memorial Hall of the Western Route Army 中国工农红军西路军纪念馆: National first-grade museum and 4A scenic area on the Western Route Army's campaign in Hexi.
• Luotuocheng ruins 骆驼城遗址: National protected site; seat of Jiankang commandery from 335.
• Xusanwan town and tombs 许三湾城及墓群: National protected site, listed by the county as the densest and best-preserved large tomb group in China.
• Dahuwan 大湖湾: 4A water scenic area.
• Gaotai gluten 高台面筋: On the Zhangye city intangible heritage list.