Zhangye, formerly known as Ganzhou, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Gansu Province, a tourism center city and an important trade and circulation hub in Hexi region approved by the People's Government of Gansu Province, and one of the agricultural and sideline products processing and energy bases in Gansu Province. By the end of 2019, it has jurisdiction over 1 district and 5 counties, covering a total area of 38600 square kilometers, with an urban population of 600800. There are 38 ethnic groups in the territory, including Han, Yugu, Tibetan, Mongolian and Hui, among which the Yugur nationality distributed in the Qilian Mountains is the unique ethnic minority in the country. According to the data of the seventh population census, as of 0:00 on November 1, 2020, the permanent resident population of Zhangye City was 1131016.

Zhangye is located in the northwest of China, the northwest of Gansu Province, and the middle section of the Hexi Corridor. It is an important ecological security barrier in the western part of the country, a national modern agricultural demonstration area, the largest corn seed production area in the country, and an important production base for grain, vegetables, melons, fruits, oilseeds, cattle and sheep in the country.

Since ancient times, Zhangye has been an important place for merchants and the throat of the Silk Road. It is named after "Zhangye, the arm of the State of Zhang, to connect the Western Regions". Ganzhou is the origin of the name "Gan" in Gansu Province. Zhangye is known as "the south of the Yangtze River" and "the golden Zhangye". It has both the natural beauty of "half city reed" and the historical style of "half city tower shadow". It has two national nature reserves, and has been rated as the national historical and cultural city, China's excellent tourism city, and the pilot city of the national biological civilization demonstration project. Zhangye National Geopark was rated as one of the world's top ten wonders by National Geographic magazine.

There are many scenic spots and historic sites in the city, such as the Great Buddha Temple, the Wooden Pagoda Temple, the Earth Pagoda Temple, the Xilai Temple, the Horseshoe Temple, the Zhenyuan Tower, the Shanxi Guild Hall, the Minqin Guild Hall, and the Heishui State Site.