The name 张掖 comes from the Han-dynasty slogan 张国臂掖，以通西域 ('extend the nation's arms to open up the Western Regions'). Emperor Wu of Han set it up as one of the four Hexi Corridor commanderies in 111 BCE to secure the Silk Road.
culture
Modern Zhangye is best known for the Rainbow Mountains at 张掖丹霞国家地质公园 — striped sandstone in red, yellow and orange laid down over 24 million years.
