内容提要
张掖地处河西走廊中部，南依青藏高原北缘祁连山脉，北邻内蒙古高原巴丹吉林沙漠。西汉时设郡，以“张国臂掖，以通西域”而得名，历史上又称甘州，是古丝绸之路重镇和东西文化交流、南北民族交融的十字路口。总面积4.2万平方公里，辖甘州区、临泽、高台、山丹、民乐、肃南裕固族自治县1区5县，有人口100多万、38个民族，分布在祁连山北麓的裕固族是全国独有的少数民族。
张掖位于黑河中游冲积扇上，地势平坦，土地肥沃，依靠黑河滋养，这块沙漠中的绿洲亘古以来蔚为壮观，美丽富饶。巍巍祁连，险峻挺拔，山顶终年积雪，山下水草丰润。祁连七一冰川是我国有名的冰斗山谷冰川，也是世界上距城市最近的可游览冰川。肃南草原被誉为中国最美的六大高山草原之一。汉武帝时期开辟的山丹皇家马场闻名遐迩。临泽、肃南境内的窗棂状、彩色丘陵等丹霞奇观冠绝华夏。张掖是一座坐落在湿地上的城市，自古就有“塞上江南”和“金张掖”之美誉，各类湿地达316万亩，其中城区北郊的6万多亩湿地与城市相生相伴，水波荡漾，芦苇摇曳，在西北地区形成戈壁水乡的神奇景观。外邑诗人罗家伦观瞻张掖后由感而咏：“绿荫丛外麦毵毵，竟见芦花水一湾。不望祁连山顶雪，错将张掖认江南。”
张掖不但有“半城芦苇”的美景，而且有“半城塔”的历史风貌。文化积淀深厚，人文景观丰富，是国务院公布的全国历史文化名城和中国优秀旅游城市。张掖大佛寺始建于西夏，寺内卧佛是国内最大的室内木胎泥塑卧佛，距今已有900多年的历史。始凿于东晋时期的肃南马蹄寺、金塔寺石窟群，系国内洞窟艺术之珍品。位于高台县城西南20公里处的北凉古都遗址，是国内最大、保存最完整的汉唐古城遗址。汉代黑水国遗址、隋代木塔、明代钟鼓楼均为十分珍贵的历史文化遗产。张骞出使西域、隋炀帝在焉支山召开万国博览会、马可•波罗旅居甘州、红西路军血战高台等，都在张掖的发展历史上产生过重要影响。
张掖农业基础雄厚，耕作条件优越，林网渠系配套，是典型的绿洲灌溉农业区，也是全国重要的商品粮、瓜果蔬菜生产基地；矿产资源丰富，开发前景广阔，现已探明的矿产有30多种，其中稀有战略性资源钨钼，远景储量位居全国前三位；可利用的水能、风能、太阳能等清洁能源资源得天独厚，开发潜力巨大。
张掖“居中四向”，地理位置独特，是西北地区主要的立体交通枢纽之一。公路、铁路、航空相互交织，东西干线、南北干线、空中干线交相辉映，使张掖“生态安全屏障、立体交通枢纽、通道经济”的区域定位更加鲜明，宜居、宜游、宜商的区位优势更加凸显。
金色的张掖物华天宝、钟灵毓秀、景色迷人，热情好客的张掖各族人民真诚欢迎四海宾朋前来旅游观光、投资创业，共铸“金张掖”更加美好的明天。
Zhangye lies in the middle section of the Hexi Corridor, adjacent south to the Qilian Mountains which are situated in the north of the Qinghai - Tibet Plateau, and bordering north along the Badanjilin Desert of the Inner - Mongolian Plateau. Formally set as a prefecture in administration in the West Han Dynasty, Zhangye got its name from the meaning of extending the influence of the Han Dynasty to the Western Regions (areas west of Yumenguan). Also named Ganzhou in the history, Zhangye was an important garrison on the ancient Silk Road and a crossroad for Oriental and occidental culture communication where ethnic groups from the north and south interacted and mingled with each other. Today’s Zhanye covers an area of 42,000 square kilometers, governing 1 district and 5 counties, i.e. Ganzhou District, Linze, Gaotai, Shandan, Minle and Sunan Yugur Autonomous County, whose total population exceeds one million consisting of 38 nationalities, among whom Yugur nationality inhabiting at the north foot of the Qilian Mountains are a unique ethnic group in China.
Zhangye lies on the alluvial fan of the middle reach of the Heihe River -- the second longest continental river in China. With a flat terrain and fertile land, nourished by the Heihe River, this oasis amid the desert has long presented a splendid sight, being a beautiful and wealthy land. The towering and precipitous Qilian Mountains are snow - capped throughout the year, with abundant water and lush pastures at the foot. The Qilian Qiyi Glacier is a famous cirque valley glacier which is closest to the city among glaciers for sightseeing in the world. The Sunan Prairie is one of the six greatest high mountain prairies in China. The Shandan Royal Horse Ranch has long enjoyed a fame since its opening in Wudi Period of the Han Dynasty. The spectacles of Danxia geomorphology -- window - lattice shaped colorful hills in Linze and Sunan County, hold a superb position in China. As a city on the wetland, with a fame for “lush scenery found beyond the Great Wall” and “Golden Zhangye”, Zhangye has an area of wetland for 210,000 hectares, of which 30,000 mu (2,000 hectares) of wetland in the northern suburb exists along the city with gentle ripples and waving reeds, forming a special spectacle of water scenery in Gobi areas. The poet Luo Jialun, after visiting Zhangye, praised the beauty of this city in his poem: with green grass and ponds, it is very likely to mistake Zhangye for a city in south China without looking at the snow - capped Qilian Mountains.”
Featured by abundant reeds and towers, profound in cultural deposit and rich in humanity spectacles, Zhangye is listed among famous national historic and cultural cities as well as China's excellent tourism cities promulgated by the State Council. The Great Buddha Temple was initially built in the West Xia Dynasty of Dangxiang nationality, and the sleeping Buddha in this temple is the biggest indoors clay sleeping Buddha statue with wooden roughcast in China, with a history of 900 years. Initially chiseled in the East Jin Dynasty, the grottoes of the Mati Temple and Jinta Temple in Sunan Yugur Autonomous County are treasures of the grotto art. The remains of the capital of Beiliang State, lying 20 km southwest to the town of today’s Gaotai County, has the largest scale and is best reserved among remains of cities in the Han and Tang Dynasty. The remains of Heishui State of the Tang Dynasty, the Wooden Tower in the Sui Dynasty, the Bell and Drum Tower of the Ming Dynasty are all rare treasures of cultural and historical heritage. The historical events, including Zhang Qian’s diplomatic voyage to the Western Regions, Emperor Yang Di of the Sui Dynasty holding international exposition in Yanzhi Mountain, Marco Polo residing in Ganzhou, and the Red Army fighting bravely in Gaotai, have exerted strong influence in the history of Zhangye.
Zhangye has a solid foundation in agriculture, favorable conditions for farming, and perfect system of irrigation for woods. It is a typical agricultural area of the oasis irrigation type, as well as an important national production base for grain, vegetables and fruits. Zhangye is rich in mineral resources; among the 30 verified minerals, the perspective deposit of the rare and strategic minerals -- tungsten and molybdenum -- takes the third position in China. Hydro-energy, wind power and solar energy have an immense potential for utilization.
Lying in the middle and accessible to all directions, Zhangye takes a unique geographical location. It is one of the key traffic points in northwest China. Highways, railways and air traffic here have developed fast. The east - west artery, north-south artery and air artery have formed a multilevel traffic system, ensuring the regional feature of a “protective screen, multi - level traffic hub, and corridor economy”. The regional advantages of Zhangye in residence, tourism and trading have become more eminent.
Golden Zhangye is blessed with a favorable climate, fertile land, rich resources, outstanding talents and favorable ecological environment. The hospitable local inhabitants welcome friends from all places to come here for traveling, making investment, starting businesses and jointly building a more glorious Zhangye in the future!
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