Lanzhou China Travel Guide

Lanzhou (simplified Chinese: 兰州; traditional Chinese: 蘭州; pinyin: Lánzhōu; Wade-Giles: Lan-chou; Postal map spelling: Lanchow) is a prefecture-level city and capital of Gansu province in northwestern China.

History

Originally in the territory of the Western Qiang peoples, Lanzhou became part of the territory of Qin in the 6th century BC.

In 81 BC, under the Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD), it became the seat of Jincheng county (Xian) and later of Jincheng commandery (jun), the county being renamed Yunwu. The city used to be called the Golden City, and since at least the first millenium BC it was a major link on the ancient Northern Silk Road,[1][2] and also an important historic Yellow River crossing site. To protect the city, the Great Wall of China was extended as far as Yumen.

After the fall of the Han Dynasty, Lanzhou became the capital of a succession of tribal states. Mixed with different cultural heritages, the area at present-day Gansu province, from the 5th to the 11th century, became a center for Buddhist study. In the 4th century it was briefly the capital of the independent state of Earlier Liang. The Northern Wei dynasty (386–534) reestablished Jincheng commandery, renaming the county Zicheng. Under the Sui Dynasty (581–618) the city became the seat of Lanzhou prefecture for the first time, retaining this name under the Tang Dynasty (618–907). In 763 the area was overrun by the Tibetans and was then recovered by the Tang in 843. Later it fell into the hands of the Western Xia Dynasty (which flourished in Qinghai from the 11th to 13th century) and was subsequently recovered by the Song Dynasty (960–1126) in 1041. The name Lanzhou was reestablished, and the county renamed Lanzhuan.

After 1127 it fell into the hands of the Jin Dynasty, and after 1235 it came into the possession of the Mongols.

Under the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) the prefecture was demoted to a county and placed under the administration of Lintao superior prefecture, but in 1477 Lanzhou was reestablished as a political unit.

The city acquired its current name in 1656, during the Qing Dynasty. When Gansu became a separate province in 1666, Lanzhou became its capital.

In 1739 the seat of Lintao was transferred to Lanzhou, which was later made a superior prefecture called Lanzhou.

Lanzhou was badly damaged during the rising of the Gansu Muslims in 1864–1875. In the 1920s and 1930s it became a center of Soviet influence in northwestern China. During the Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) Lanzhou, linked with Xi'an by highway in 1935, became the terminus of the 3,200 km (2,000 mile) Chinese-Soviet highway, used as a route for Soviet supplies destined for the Xi'an area. This highway remained the primary traffic route of northwestern China until the completion of the railway from Lanzhou to Urumqi, Xinjiang. During the war Lanzhou was heavily bombed by the Japanese.

The city is the seat of a currently vacant Roman Catholic diocese[3] and was previously the center of a vicariate apostolic (Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Kan-Su).

Geography

Location within China

Area: 14,620 km²

Elevation: 1,600 m above sea level

China's northwest geographical center

More than 20 km along urban corridor along the southern banks of the Yellow River.

Zonary basin

Location of mountains, located on the south and north sides of the city: Qilian Ranges, Mt. Pingliang and Mt. Kongtong (the most famous in Taoism)

Rivers: The Yellow River flows through from west to east.

Lanzhou is situated on the upper course of the Yellow River, where the river emerges from the mountains. It has been a center since early times, being at the southern end of the route leading via the Hexi Corridor across Central Asia. It also commands the approaches to the ancient capital area of Chang'an (modern Xi'an) in Shaanxi province from both the west and the northwest, as well as from the area of Qinghai Lake via the upper waters of the Yellow River and its tributaries.

Climate and environment

Further information: Environment of China

City of Lanzhou

Lanzhou is situated in the temperate zone and enjoys a semi-dry climate.

In regard to air pollution Lanzhou has some of the worst air quality of all cities in China.[5] According to the Blacksmith Institute, Lanzhou is one of the 30 most polluted cities in the world. The air quality is so poor that at times one can not see Lanshan, the mountain rising straight up along the south side of the city. The city is located in a narrow river valley with an unfortunate curve causing it to be hemmed in with no free air flow. Lanzhou is also the home of many factories, including some involved in petroleum processing, and suffers from large dust storms kicked up from the Gobi Desert, especially in the winter and spring.

The reach of the Yellow River at Lanzhou carries a high load of silt, giving the river its characteristic muddy appearance; however water quality in this reach is better than the "fetid outflow that barely passes for water two hours downstream".[6]

Economy

Productivity

Since 1949 Lanzhou has been transformed from the capital of a poverty-stricken province into the center of a major industrial area. The GDP per capita of Lanzhou was 15,051 yuan (RMB) (ca. US$1,820) in 2003, ranked no. 134 among 659 Chinese cities.

Natural resources

Minerals: coal, gold, silver, zinc, nickel, manganese, clay, and dolomite

Hydropower

There is a thermal generating plant supplied with coal from fields in Qinghai. In addition, there is a hydroelectric station at Zhulama Gorge in Gansu, and a large multipurpose dam has been built in the Liujia Gorge on the Yellow River above Lanzhou.[7]

Industry

Main industries: textile mills, rubber, fertilizer plants, oil refinery, petrochemical, machinery, and metallurgical industry.

Gansu has one of the largest oil refineries in the country and Lanzhou itself is the center of the province's petrochemical industry. Lanzhou has a large refinery linked to the fields at Yumen by pipeline. It also manufactures equipment for the oil industry.

Lanzhou has a large textile industry, particularly noted for the production of woolens and leather goods. In addition, Lanzhou produces locomotives and rolling stock for the northwestern railways, as well as machine tools and mining equipment. Aluminum products, industrial chemicals, and fertilizers are produced on a large scale, and there is a large rubber industry. Copper is mined in nearby Gaolan.

Lanzhou has been one of the centers of China's national atomic energy industry since the 1960s.

Agriculture

Lanzhou is the collecting center and market for agricultural produce and livestock from a wide area.

Spring wheat, vegetables, beans, oil-boiling, melon, peaches, and tobacco

Roses and lilies

Transportation

Further information: Transport in the People's Republic of China

The Yellow River seen from the park of the White Pagoda.

Airlines: Lanzhou Airport serves as the main airport and is located 70 km north of Lanzhou. Flights from more than 20 cities depart and arrive at the airport.

Railroad: linked to Beijing, Shanghai, Ürümqi and Baotou Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway: linked to Xinjiang destinations only

Highways: linked to neighboring provinces

Trolleybus services: serves local and provincial areas

Lanzhou is a regional rail, highway, and air hub in NW China and the junction point to Xinjiang. The Longhai Railway (Lianyungang-Urumqi) line was extended westward to Lanzhou from Tianshui by 1953. Later Lanzhou was linked with Beijing via Baotou in Inner Mongolia, and lines have also been constructed northwest to Urumqi and westward via Haiyan on Qinghai Lake to Golmud (in Qinghai).

Places of interest

Satellite image of Lanzhou

Bingling Temple, Yongjing

Gansu Provincial Museum

Wuquan Mountain

Baita Mountain

Xinglong Mountain

Lutusi ancient government

Media

Lanzhou Radio serves the Lhasa and Lanzhou province regions with news and music.

Culture

The city is the cultural centre of Gansu.[citation needed]

Chinese opera: Qinqiang Drama

Cuisine: Lanzhou beef lamian noodles

Colleges and universities

The city is the seat of Lanzhou University, founded in 1909. The National Minorities Institute at Lanzhou and a number of scientific institutes are also located there.

List

Note: Institutions without full-time bachelor's degree programs are not listed.

National level

Lanzhou University (兰州大学), founded 1909

Other public institutions

Northwest Nationalities University

Eastern Gansu University

Gansu Institute of Administration

Northwest Normal University (西北师范大学), founded 1902

Lanzhou University of Technology (兰州理工大学), founded 1919 (formerly Gansu University of Technology)

Lanzhou Jiaotong University (兰州交通大学), founded 1958

Gansu Agricultural University (甘肃农业大学), founded 1958

Lanzhou Medical College (兰州医学院) (Lanzhou Medical Institute)

Gansu College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (甘肃中医学院)

Lanzhou Commercial College (兰州商学院) (Lanzhou Business Institute)

Gansu Political Science and Law Institute (甘肃政法学院)

Sister cities

Sister cities of Lanzhou are:

Albuquerque, United States

Akita, Akita, Japan

Christchurch, New Zealand

Lanzhou (兰州; Lánzhōu) is the capital of Gansu province

Understand

Lanzhou is an industrial city of about three million people. It is located on the shores of the Yellow River and was a major stop on the Silk Road, where 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 Qing Dynasty in 1656. Until 19th century, Lanzhou was the primary point in crossing the Yellow River via a bridge made by chaining a flotilla of boats together with a road on top to cross on.

Get in

By Plane

Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport (IATA: LHW) is situated 75km from the city centre of Lanzhou. Daily flights to Beijing, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dunhuang, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Hangzhou, Jiayuguan, Kunming, Nanjing, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Ürümqi, Wenzhou, Wuhan, Xiamen, Xi'an, and Zhengzhou.

By Train

Lanzhou Huoche Zhan - southern end of Pingliang Lu at Tianshui Lu

Beijing via Hohhot and Datong

Beijing via Xi'an and Zhengzhou - takes about 25 hours

Chengdu - takes about 19 hours

Golmud via Xining - takes about 14 hours

Guangzhou - takes about 29 hours

Lhasa - takes about 30 hours

Shanghai via Xi'an and Zhengzhou - takes about 23 hours

Urumqi via Jiayuguan and Turpan - takes about 24 hours

Xian - takes about 9 hours

Xining - takes about 3-4 hours

By Bus

East Long-Distance Bus Station

Location: Pingliang Lu

Dunhuang - takes about 24 hours

Guyuan - takes about 8 hours

Jiayuguan - takes about 17 hours

Pingliang - takes about 5 hours

Tianshui - takes about 4 hours

Urumqi* Dunhuang - takes about 38 hours

Xi'an - takes about 14-16 hours

Yinchuan - takes about 12 hours

Zhangye - takes about 12 hours

West Long-Distance Bus Station

Location: Xijin Xilu

Linxia - takes about 3 hours

Liujiaxia - takes about 2 hours

Xining - - takes about 5 hours

Xiahe - takes about 6 hours- from the SOUTH Bus Station, not the West

Get around

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.

See

Gansu Provincial Museum - Silk Road history in one place

Green Corridor along Binhe Rd.

Five-Spring Mountain (Wuquanshan Gongyuan)

White Pagoda Mountain (Baitashan) - Yuan dynasty White Pagoda Temple overlooks the Yellow River

Sun Yat-Sen Bridge (Zhongshan Qiao)

Waterwheel Garden

Sculptures of the Mother River

Lanshan Mountain - cool place to be when the summer heat kicks in

Qiaomen Mosque

Tianfusha Palace

Bingling Si - cave grottoes and a boat ride, all in one trip

Do

Get OUT! Really Lanzhou is one of the most polluted cities in China, having had most if not all touristy areas knocked down and rebuilt. If you want to photograph industry this is a good place if not head for DunHuang, head for XiaHe, head for Xian, but I would not advise spending time here, unless you are looking for reasonably remote but well paid teaching.

Buy

Sanfo is the leading outdoor gear stores in China and their store in Lanzhou is located at 1 Youshengnan Lu, Jinshui District

Xidan, off Zhangye Lu, is the main shopping district of Lanzhou.

Eat

Lanzhou is famous for its beef noodle soup (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. This dish is a specialty of the 'Mazilu' restaurant chain.

UBC Coffee House (Shangdao Kafei Ting) - Zhongshan Lu, opposite Shengli Binguan, for when you need a Western food break thats consistant whereever you are

Get out

Linxia - center for the Dongxiang minority, has colorful markets and relaxing teahouses

Sichuan Back Entrance Route - south via Xiahe, Hezuo and on past Langmusi into Sichuan province