Tianshui Gansu, China Travel Guide
Absolutely required. This multi-functional app serves as China's main messaging tool, social media platform, and, crucially, a dominant payment system (WeChat Pay). Many daily transactions, from buying street food to paying for taxis, rely on it. It additionally has mini-programs for various services.
Another required major payment app, often used interchangeably with WeChat Pay. Both increasingly permit international credit cards to link.
China's leading ride-sharing app, comparable to Uber. Indispensable for convenient and transparent taxi-like services. You will need a Chinese phone number to register.
These rank as the most accurate and comprehensive navigation apps for China. Google Maps often shows unreliability or faces blocks. Download at least one of these for walking, driving, and public transport directions.
An excellent offline Chinese dictionary app. It proves invaluable for translation, character recognition (using your camera), and learning basic phrases.
An international version of China's largest online travel agency. Use it for booking flights, hotels, and train tickets within China. It includes an English interface and accepts international payments.
General China travel information and destination guides often offer a good starting point for Tianshui and Gansu.
While potentially limited in English, look for any official tourism portals for Gansu Province. They might offer updated event information or regional insights.
Follow travel bloggers, vloggers, or official tourism accounts that focus on China, Gansu Province, or the Silk Road. They present visual inspiration and practical tips. Search for hashtags like #TianshuiTravel or #Gansu.
Search for podcasts or YouTube channels that cover Silk Road history, Chinese Buddhist grottoes, or Chinese culture and history.
Lonely Planet China / Rough Guide to China typically include chapters on Gansu Province and Tianshui. They offer general overviews, practical advice, and maps. Local maps of Tianshui might appear at hotels or bookstores, often in Chinese. A physical map serves as a good backup if your phone runs out of battery.
Read books on Chinese history, notably those focusing on the Han and Tang Dynasties, the Silk Road, or the spread of Buddhism within China. This background information enriches your understanding of sites like Maijishan Grottoes and Fuxi Temple.
Local newspapers or tourism brochures (likely in Chinese) might appear at your hotel or tourist information centers. While challenging to read without translation, they yield insights into current events or popular spots.
For all police emergencies and reporting crimes.
For medical emergencies and urgent health concerns.
Keep contact details for your country's embassy or consulate in China.
Save the emergency numbers and your embassy's contact information in your phone and also write them down on a small card in your wallet.
Watch factual programs about the ancient Silk Road. Tianshui's history intertwines deeply with this legendary trade route.
Look for films or documentaries that explore the history and art of Chinese Buddhist grottoes, setting context for Maijishan.
Documentaries covering the Han, Tang, and other dynasties offer a broader understanding of historical periods that shaped Tianshui.
Listen to traditional Chinese music, including folk music from Gansu Province. This connects with local culture.
Explore different forms of Chinese opera.
Browse books on Chinese Buddhist art to value the styles and iconography you will see at Maijishan Grottoes.
General travel forums like TripAdvisor or Reddit's r/travel or r/chinatrip can provide valuable tips, recent experiences, and answers to specific questions from people who have also traveled.
Websites like Expat.com or other forums for foreigners living inside China can offer practical advice and current insights from people on the ground.
Utilize language learning apps like Babbel, Duolingo, Memrise, or HelloTalk to learn some simple Mandarin phrases before your trip.
Continue to explore and learn about China after your trip. The country's vast history and culture present endless opportunities for discovery.
