Lanzhou (兰州; Lánzhōu) is the capital of Gansu province of China.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Lanzhou is an industrial city of about 4.5 million people. It is located on the shores of the Yellow River. It used to be one of the most polluted cities in China but the situation has improved. The elevation of Lanzhou is 1,570 m. Lanzhou was a major stop on the Silk Road; in those days, it was known as the Golden City. From the 5th to the 11th century the city was a major seat of Buddhist learning, and it acquired its present name during the Qing Dynasty in 1656. Until the 19th century, Lanzhou was the primary point for crossing the Yellow River via a bridge made by chaining a flotilla of boats together with a road on top to cross on.
There are two Metro lines, Metro Line 1 (blue line) runs east–west across the city, linking downtown with West Railway Station, and Metro Line 2 (red line). Fare is around ¥2-4. There are other metro lines being build connecting the main Railway Station (as of Aug 2024). The #1 Bus is really useful getting around Lanzhou. It travels from Lanzhou Station to the Lanzhou Hotel, Qingyang Lu, Xihu Gongyuian Park, Qiliheqiao and ending at Lanzhou West Station. It also connects the train station to the starting point of the shuttle bus to the airport, here. The fare for bus or metro is around ¥ 2-3. There's a city bike scheme, with pick-up / drop-off stations dotted around.
1 Gansu Provincial Museum (甘肃省博物馆), Xijin Dong Lu (Take bus 1, 18, 31, 50, 53, 58, 59, 71 and get off at Qilihe Qiao stop. Alternatively take Metro Line 1 to Xishanshizi station.). Tu-Su 09:00-17:00. Silk Road history in one place. The museum is divided into two sections, natural resources and historic exhibits. The main exhibition is on level 2 and 3. Level 1 holds Temporary Exhibition. It houses collections of various colour-painted potteries of Neolithic Age and treasures of ancient grottoes. It's also home to precious linen and silk fabrics, books, wooden and bronze vessels, bamboo writing-slips from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220), frescoes and many other items.
Walk across the Zhongshan Bridge for the night lights, people and the immense Yellow river.
Lanzhou is famous for its beef noodle soup (兰州牛肉拉面 Lanzhou niurou lamian). The noodles are always hand made, and the broth served hot and spicy with as much beef as you care to pay for. If the place offers a cheap bowl of noodle, usually it comes with beef broth, but without sliced beef, you need to pay more for it. They are a specialty of the Muslim Hui ethnic group, and hence are a good option for those looking for halal food. A bowl of beef noodle soup is around ¥15 (as of Aug 2024). 1 Mazilu (马子禄牛肉面). Popular restaurant chain specialising in Lanzhou beef noodles ('Lanzhou niurou lamian') 2 Zheng Ning Road Night Market (正宁路夜市). A street with plenty of food stalls in the evening.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Lanzhou typically sees ~31°C daytime highs and 8 rainy days.
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