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Abstract
From the Late Qing Dynasty to the Republican period, Missionaries entered Gansu Province, Which located in China's northwestern frontier, to propagate their faith. While engaged in preach and travel, missionaries in Gansu conducted detailed observations and descriptions of the region, producing a wealth of written accounts. Utilizing the writings of missionaries who either proselytized or traveled in Gansu as historical source material, this study extracts their descriptions of Gansu's overall image, its ethnic groups and religions, and specific accounts of Lanzhou (the provincial capital), as well as the Hexi Corridor areas including Zhangye, Wuwei, and Jiayuguan. This process roughly outlines the image of Gansu as presented in the writings of these missionaries. Analysis of the vocabulary used and their evaluations reveals that the missionaries' assessment of Gansu was predominantly positive. In their collective portrayal, Gansu held significant geopolitical importance and possessed abundant natural resources. These writings offer valuable reference points for the extraction of Gansu's contemporary cultural symbols and the development of its cultural tourism industry.
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