Cyclists race along the winding Guanshan Mountain highway in Huating city of Pingliang, Gansu province. [Photo/Huating government website]

Huating is a county-level city located in eastern Gansu province, on the eastern foothills of Guanshan Mountain and at the junction of Gansu, Shaanxi and Ningxia. Covering a total area of 1,183 square kilometers, the city administers seven towns, three townships, one subdistrict and one provincial-level industrial park. It is home to 15 ethnic groups, including Han, Hui, Manchu and Mongolian, with a permanent population of 178,500.

Huating reported a gross domestic product of 11.514 billion yuan in 2025, up 6 percent year-on-year.

Huating used to serve as a key stop along the ancient Silk Road and the city has a long history and rich cultural heritage. It is home to 106 cultural relic sites, including ancient human settlements, tomb clusters, grottoes and stone carvings. Its collections include nearly 30 valuable cultural relics, while traditional performing arts such as Quzi Opera have been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage item.

Huating benefits from a well-connected transport network and is located 55 kilometers south of Pingliang, 395 kilometers east of Lanzhou and 290 kilometers north of Xi'an Xianyang International Airport. Multiple railways, expressways and provincial highways run through the city, supporting regional connectivity.

The city boasts abundant tourism resources, including the Lianhuatai Forest Park, a 4A-rated scenic area, Wutai Mountain scenic spots and a range of historical and cultural attractions such as Tang Dynasty pagoda ruins. Huating is accelerating efforts to build itself into a destination for leisure, summer retreats and wellness tourism.