Gansu Province, 385km (239 miles) W of Xi'an, 294km (182 miles) SE of Lanzhou
Tianshuiis divided into two parts -- the main town ofQin Cheng,and the smaller township ofBeidao Qu,15km (9 miles) down the Wei river valley to the west. Both townships are unexceptional; the main reason to visit is a clamber around the stunning Buddhist caves of Maiji Shan, a 1-hour bus ride from Beidao Qu.