Food
Tianshui is not really known for its own specialty cuisine, but you can find many varieties of the cuisine of Gansu here. The best of these include Lanzhou Beef Noodles (Lanzhou lamian), Zhangye Fish Balls (Cuo yuzi) and Dunhuang Saozi Noodles (Saozi mian). Cuisines from further afield are also prevalent and travelers should try the Xi'an Yangrou Paomo, Xinjiang kebabs (Kao yangrou), roast lamb leg (Kao yangtui), stewed lamb (Men yangrou) and beef hotpot (Niurou huoguo), that can be found on most stalls and restaurants about town.
As one of the first stops on the Silk Road Tianshui has long been a distributing
center for merchandise into western China. Although business has dropped off
since then, there are still a few goods here that could make worthy presents.
The most famous product here is the Tianshui Lacquerware, that bears lifelike
depictions of figures, flowers, birds, and a variety of other animals. The lacquerware
is sooty in colour, and has the peculiar characteristics of being resistant
to heat and erosion by either acid or alkali. As a result these wares are favoured
by the locals both for their artistic value and practicality.
Further products of note include the Tianshui carpets, depicted above, and a
further variant of the "Self-Illuminating" Cup (Yeguan bei), that
can be found throughout Gansu, especially in Jiayuguan, and Zhangye. Local pharmacies
and stalls are also on hand to sell many herbal medicines, including ingredients
such as Codonopsis pilosula (Dangshen), Angelica (Danggui) and Rhubarb (Dahuang).
Entertainment facilities are sparse in Tianshui or Majishan, although there is the Jietin Spa Resort, 26km from Majishan. This is not the most exciting or impressive of resorts, but may be a nice way to unwind after a trek around the mountain area. Water in the resort, that stays at 40 degrees C. around the year, is said to contain 19 trace elements, which are believed to be beneficial to patients plagued by such diverse illnesses as neurosis, insomnia, high blood pressure, heart disease, rheumatism, skin disease or beriberi. Currently the first phase of the resort has been completed, with all the standard facilities such as suites, restaurants, a swimming pool and a shopping center. The second phase, including a gym and a villa, will be completed in the near future.