Major city · China
Tianshui天水
Give Tianshui 1–2 days: the old town, Fuxi Temple and the city museum in Qinzhou, plus a full day for Maijishan Grottoes.
Tianshui is a Silk Road city in southeast Gansu, split into two districts about 18 km apart: Qinzhou in the west and Maijishan in the east. The western centre is walkable in half a day; the Maijishan Grottoes, 45 km out, take a full day. High-speed rail from Xi'an and Lanzhou makes it an easy one- or two-night stop.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CNY
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- avoid Jan–Feb (cold, lows below freezing)
- Airport
- Tianshui Maijishan (CHECK)
- Nights
- 1–2
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Tianshui110 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Tianshui, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 (≈ US$30) carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones…China-wide
- SIM or eSIMA roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.China-wide
- Tap waterNot for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5 (≈ under US$1), and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms.China-wide
- TippingRestaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.China-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/I. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.China-wide
- SafetyTianshui is a low-crime city and the main risks are practical: stairs and cliff walkways at Maijishan, cold winters…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPublic toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls.China-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire · 120 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums and palaces close on Mondays; the Forbidden City too (outside holidays).China-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- Airportcheckcheck Tianshui Maijishan Airport (Small airport with limited domestic service; the tram reaches it on the Maijishan side (2025).
- Getting aroundCity buses cost ¥2–3 (≈ under US$1), paid in cash or by transit QR code.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealTianshui Traditional Noodlescheck
- Metro or bus rideCity bus ride¥2–3 (≈ under US$1)
- Museum or sight ticketMaijishan Grottoes entry¥70 (≈ US$10) off-season¥90 (≈ US$13) peak
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥150–250 (≈ US$25–35) (check) · Mid ¥250–450 (≈ US$35–65) (check) · High ¥450 (≈ US$65)+ (check)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- check Tianshui Maijishan Airport (Small airport with limited domestic service; the tram reaches it on the Maijishan side (2025). IATA code: check.)
Map of Tianshui
Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.
- Tianshui
- Basic guide
Directions in Google Maps · Apple Maps
Guides nearby
- Longxi · 111 km straight line
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Feb
Avoid
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Mar
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Apr
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
May
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Jun
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Jul
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Aug
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Sep
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Oct
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Nov
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Dec
not flagged
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Best: Apr–Oct. Avoid: Jan–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)), coolest Jan (−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C) low), wettest Jul (90 rain days), driest Dec (3). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Tianshui: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
5 rd
Feb
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
7 rd
Mar
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
18 rd
Apr
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
35 rd
May
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
56 rd
Jun
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
63 rd
Jul
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
90 rd
Aug
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
84 rd
Sep
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
77 rd
Oct
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
44 rd
Nov
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
11 rd
Dec
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
3 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
City buses cost ¥2–3, paid in cash or by transit QR code. A tram links the two districts but only runs as far as the airport on the Maijishan side as of 2025. The Qinzhou centre is walkable; taxi fares: check.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1.5 h each way
Direct tourist bus from Tianshui South railway station from 07:00, about 1 h, ¥8–10 (≈ US$2)Direct tourist bus from Tianshui South railway station from 7:00 AM, about 1 h, ¥8–10 (≈ US$2)
45 km (28 mi) southeast of the city; park open 08:00–17:00, entry ¥70 off-season / ¥90 peak. Nearly 200 grottoes on a cliff, many stairs.45 km (28 mi) southeast of the city; park open 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, entry ¥70 off-season / ¥90 peak. Nearly 200 grottoes on a cliff, many stairs.28 mi (45 km) southeast of the city; park open 08:00–17:00, entry ¥70 off-season / ¥90 peak. Nearly 200 grottoes on a cliff, many stairs.28 mi (45 km) southeast of the city; park open 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, entry ¥70 off-season / ¥90 peak. Nearly 200 grottoes on a cliff, many stairs.
Door to door: About 1–1.5 h
Bus no. 37 from near Tianshui railway station, or continue from Maijishan National Park
In Maijishan District; winter entry closes early, after 17:00 (check).In Maijishan District; winter entry closes early, after 5:00 PM (check).
Door to door: About 1.5–4 h
High-speed rail from Tianshui South (time: check), or about 4 h by slow train / bus
Provincial capital and onward rail hub; the slow train and bus both take about 4 h (check).
Door to door: About 1.5–6 h
High-speed rail from Tianshui South (time: check), or about 4 h by slow train, 5–6 h by bus
Terracotta Army and city walls; treat as a separate stop, not a day return.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Qinzhou District, around Central Square
The western centre: Fuxi Temple, the ancient town and the city museum are within walking distance. Prices check.
Maijishan District
The eastern half, closer to the grottoes and the airport; 18 km (11 mi) from Qinzhou along Longcheng Rd. Prices check.The eastern half, closer to the grottoes and the airport; 11 mi (18 km) from Qinzhou along Longcheng Rd. Prices check.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥150–250 (≈ US$25–35) excl. bed (check)
- Mid
- ¥250–450 (≈ US$35–65) excl. bed (check)
- High
- ¥450 (≈ US$65)+ excl. bed (check)
Trip budget
Prices of common things
| City bus ride | ¥2–3 (≈ under US$1) |
| Maijishan Grottoes entry | ¥70 (≈ US$10) off-season / ¥90 (≈ US$13) peak |
| Fuxi Temple entry | ¥20 (≈ US$3) |
| Yuquan Temple entry | ¥20 (≈ US$3) |
| Nanguo Temple entry | ¥30 (≈ US$5) |
| Tianshui Traditional Noodles | check |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Bus timetables thin out on public holidays; check at the station.
- Maijishan Grottoes are cut into a cliff with many stairs; footing advice: check.
- The two districts are 18 km (11 mi) apart — allow for the transfer when you plan a day.The two districts are 11 mi (18 km) apart — allow for the transfer when you plan a day.
- Fuxi Temple entry needs your passport.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire
- 119
- Ambulance
- 120
Pocket card
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Tianshui天水
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
请到这个地址To this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire119
- Ambulance120
Embassy
US consulate in Chengdu (check address); other embassies in Beijing.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Tianshui South Railway → Maijishan Grottoes (bus): about ¥8–10 (≈ US$2), 45 km (28 mi), 1 h (check)about ¥8–10 (≈ US$2), 28 mi (45 km), 1 h (check)
- City bus ride: ¥2–3 (≈ under US$1) per trip, cash or QR
Say or show
- 对不起 — Excuse me / Sorry (duìbuqǐ)
- 谢谢 — Thank you (xièxiè)
- 多少钱？ — How much is it? (duōshǎo qián?)
- 洗手间在哪里？ — Where is the bathroom? (xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Tianshui. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Oct · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, lows below freezing) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Tianshui
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