Lanzhou
Travel Guide > Asia > China > Gansu > Lanzhou
In this Article
- Introduction
- Neighbourhoods
- Sights and Activities
- Events and Festivals
- Weather
- Getting There
- Getting Around
- Eat
- Drink
- Sleep
- Work
- Learn
- Keep Connected
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Introduction
Polluted, dirty, crowded, and loud, Lanzhou (兰州) in Gansu can be a bit overwhelming on first impressions. This city is ranked in the top 30 most polluted cities in the world according to Blacksmith Institute. Although most tourists arrive in town and then try to leave right away, Lanzhou is worth a day. The city has an excellent provincial museum, several nice mosques and amazing noodle dishes!
Lanzhou historically has been a major crossing point over the Yellow River. Its location at the southern end of the Hexi Corridor made Lanzhou an important stopping point along the Southern Silk Road. Although different groups ruled Lanzhou at different times, Chinese Dynasties were the main rulers and influencers of Lanzhou. Lanzhou was made into a provincial capital in the Qing Dynasty when Gansu was designated as its own province. Today Lanzhou is a center for heavy industry and oil production.
Neighbourhoods
Sights and Activities
- Gansu Provincial Museum (甘肃省博物馆) is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm. This is one the best museums in China with great English translations. The exhibits cover everything from dinosaurs, with some stellar skeletons, to modern times and everything in between. One of the best pieces is a Roman Silver plate featuring Bachuss, from the 2nd century discovered outside Lanzhou.
- White Cloud Temple (白云观) is a nice Taoist temple.
- Lanshan Park (兰山公园) is a nice mountain range south of the city, and good way to spend a summer’s afternoon.
- White Pagoda Hill (白塔山) is a great Yuan Dynasty pagoda located on the Yellow River.
Weather
Lanzhou has a moderate temperate climate and is very dry. June to September is summertime with average daytime temperatures between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius and nights around 15 degrees Celsius. Winters last from late November to early March, with daytime temperatures mostly between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius and nights between -3 and -9 degrees Celsius. Although there is some occasional snow or rain, winters are dry. Most of the rain falls during the summer season from May to September with August being the wettest month at around 80mm.
Getting There
By Plane
By Train
Lanzhou Train Station (兰州火车站) is a major gateway for reaching the east or west of China. There are several trains a day to all major cities in China and Gansu. Make sure to book your tickets in advance because trains sell out quickly. There are also several trains a day to Lhasa, depending on the time of the year.
By Car
Bus
- The South Bus Station (汽车南站) is the most useful. It has several buses a day to Xiahe, Linxia, Zhangye, and one a day to Dunhuang.
- The East Bus Station (汽车东站) is also an useful bus station. It has hourly buses to Pingliang and Tianshui. There are daily buses to Xi’an, Yinchuan and Guyuan.
As always remember that the bus system in China is expanding rapidly. Remember to double check bus schedules with other travelers or hotel staff to make sure you go to the right station.
By Boat
Eat
- Laomian is the main dish to eat in Lanzhou. These pulled noodles can be found at countless food stalls around the city.
- KFC is available if you are craving some western food. There are several KFCs located on the main shopping street.
Drink
Work
This is version 4. Last edited at 19:04 on Aug 30, 09 by Utrecht (+908). 8 articles link to this page.
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