Tianshui ( ) is the second largest city in Gansu province in northwest China. Its population is approximately 3,500,000.
Tianshui lies along the route of the ancient Northern Silk Road, through which much of trade occurred between China and the west. Nearby are the Maijishan Grottoes filled with thousands of ancient Buddhist sculptures, produced by monks who first came here via the North Silk Road.
The Qin state, later to become the founding dynasty of the Chinese empire, grew out from this area, and the Qin name itself is believed to have originated, in part, from there Qin tombs have been excavated from Fangmatan near Tianshui, including one 2200 year old map of Guixian County
Tianshui is a diocese of the Roman Catholic church, currently vacant.
