Hexi Corridor refers to the historical route in Gansu Province. As part of the Northern Silk Road running northwest from the bank of the Yellow River, it used to be the most important passage from ancient China to Xinjiang and Central Asia for traders and militaries, and a place for exchanges between western and eastern cultures. It began to decline in the 15th century. Today, the route still communicates the east of China and Xinjiang.

Hexi is a long narrow passage stretching for about 1200 km from the steep Wushaolin hillside near Lanzhou City to the Jade Pass (玉门关, Yùmén Guān) of the Great Wall at the border of Gansu and Xinjiang. It covers an area of about 215,000 square kilometers with strikingly inhospitable environment. Famous historic sites along the route include Mogao Grottoes, Yumenguan Pass and Yangguan Pass in Dunhuang; Jiayuguan Pass and Great Wall remains of Han and Ming dynasties. Yugur minority, exist exclusively in Gansu, and Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Tujia nationalities have remained their traditional culture and folk-custom. Hexi Corridor tourist route is reputed as "The Golden Section of the Silk Roada" and "Everlasting Tourist Destination".