Shandan Horse Farm: A jewel of the Silk Road and Qilian Mountains

The spectacular scenery of Shandan Horse Farm in Shandan county, Zhangye, Gansu province. [Photo provided to gogansu.com]

The grasslands, lakes, and sacred Qilian Mountains; yak, sheep, and herds of Shandan horses - this is the ancient royal horse farm, now the largest horse farm in Asia: Shandan Horse Farm.

Shandan Horse Farm is located in the central part of the Hexi Corridor, on the Damaying Grasslands at the northern foot of the Lenglong Ridge of the Qilian Mountains. Spanning across Gansu and Qinghai provinces, it covers a total area of 3.29 million mu (approximately 219,574 hectares). It is renowned as the "Green Gem of the Silk Road" and the "Pearl of Qilian."

Shandan Horse Farm has a long history and has been a royal horse breeding ground since ancient times. During the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), it was the nomadic land of the Yueshi, later occupied by the Xiongnu King Hunxie. In the second year of the Yuan Shuo period of the Western Han Dynasty (121 BC), General Huo Qubing defeated the Xiongnu and established a city here, stationing troops and breeding horses. Using local breeds as a foundation and introducing various fine horses from the Western Regions, the crossbred Shandan horses became renowned throughout the world. From the Wei and Jin Dynasties  (AD 220-419) to the Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907), it remained a royal horse farm through 2,000 years of historical changes.