Tianshui (Chinese: 天水; pinyin: Tiānshuǐ) is the second largest city in Gansu province in northwest China. Its population is approximately 3,500,000.
Tianshui lies along the route of the ancient Northern Silk Road, through which much of trade occurred between China and the west.[1] Nearby are the Maijishan Grottoes filled with thousands of ancient Buddhist sculptures, produced by monks who first came here via the North Silk Road.[2]
The Qin state, later to become the founding dynasty of the Chinese empire, grew out from this area, and the Qin name itself is believed to have originated, in part, from there[3] Qin tombs have been excavated from Fangmatan near Tianshui, including one 2200 year old map of Guixian County[4]
Tianshui is a diocese of the Roman Catholic church, currently vacant.

Tianshui consists of two main area with an industrial area in between. The eastern area is called Beidao and the western area is called Qincheng. Longcheng Lu connects both sections which lie 18 km apart.

Get in

By train

Tianshui Huoche Zhan - located in Beidao

Lanzhou - takes about 4 hours

Urumqi - takes about 28-35 hours

Xian - takes about 4 hours

Xining - takes about 8 hours

Yinchuan - takes about 14 hours

By Bus

Long Distance Bus Station Location: Xinhua Lu, Qincheng

Gangu - takes about 2 hours

Lanzhou - takes about 4 hours

Linxia - takes about 10 hours

Pingliang - takes about 8 hours

Xian - takes about 5-6 hours

Get around

See

Antique Market - Jiefang Lu, under Central Square

Immortals' Cliffs - temples built under the shelter of an enormous overhanging cliff

Maijishan National Park - caves on a perpendicular mountain cliff se of Tianshan, well-preserved but be prepared to climb

Buy

Tianshui Lacquer Carvings - decent prices on lacquarware compared to the rest of China. Bargain hard and you may be a winner!

Get out

Gangu and Great Statue Mountain - temple complex that hugs the ridge overlooking a small tourist-free town