Zhangye City has witnessed human activity as far back as 5,000 years. The Yuezhi people inhabited the Ruoshui River basin during the pre-Qin period. In 176 BC, after the Xiongnu occupied Hexi, it became part of the Xiongnu's right territories. In 111 BC, the western part of Jiuquan County was separated to establish Dunhuang County, while the area east of Yanzhi Mountain was also separated to establish Zhangye County. In 1985, the county was abolished and the city was established, now part of Zhangye Prefecture. In March 2002, the prefecture was abolished and the city was established, with the former Zhangye City being renamed Ganzhou District.
Zhangye City has long been a major trading center along the Silk Road and a crucial integrated transportation hub in northwest China, earning it the reputation of "Jiangnan on the Great Wall" and "Golden Zhangye." With its rich cultural heritage and diverse human landscapes, Zhangye is a National Historical and Cultural City and an Excellent Tourist City in China. It boasts 1,270 immovable cultural relics, five national intangible cultural heritage items, and scenic spots such as the Qilian Mountains grasslands and Zhangye Danxia.