Located on the shores of the Yellow River, Lanzhou, the capital city of Gansu Province, has been important for thousands of years because of the Hexi Corridor (Corridor West of the Yellow River), around which early Chinese civilizations began. Known as the Golden City, it was a major stop on the Silk Road west of Xi'an. It was a major seat of Buddhist learnings from the 5th to the 11th century.

Scenic spots in Lanzhou

Five Springs Park

Located at the foot of Gaolan Mountain southeast of the city, Five Spring Park got the name for its five crystal springs. A climb to the summit (by chairlift) offers a panoramic view of the whole city.

Most of the buildings have been destroyed in warfare over the centuries, and there only remains the Hall of Adamantine, which was built in 1372. Inside there is enshrined a bronze statue of Adamantine, 5.3 meters in height. Another attractive sight is a bell from the Jin Dynasty (1115 - 1234). It is 3 meters high and weights 5 tons. Near the park is a zoo.

The park bustles with visitors and activities. Today, it is a perfect place for an afternoon stroll.

Travel tips:

Admission fee: 5 yuan
Opening hours: 6:00 am to 6:00 pm
Bus Route: 8

Grottoes in Bingling Temple

Grottoes in Bingling Temple are situated on Xiaojishi Mountain on the north bank of the Yellow River, a place about 40 kilometers southwest of Yongjing county of Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture in Northwest Gansu Province.

The temple is a series of grottoes filled with Buddhist sculptures carved in natural caves and caverns in a canyon along the Yellow River. They expanded several times through the ages. Nowadays, there are still 183 niches, 694 stone statues, 82 clay sculptures, and 900 square meters of murals. All the statues, sculptures and murals exhibit superb craftsmanship, and have great artistic appeal. The caves, spanning for 200 meters, include the caves of Northern Wei (386–534), Sui (581–618), Tang (618–907), and Song (960–1279), Yuan (1279–1368), Ming (1368–1644), Qing (1644–1911) dynasties.

The sculptures, carvings, and frescoes that remain are outstanding examples of Buddhist artwork and draw visitors from all over the world. The site is extremely remote and can only be reached during summer and fall by boat via the Liujiaxia Reservoir. Boats leave from near the Liujiaxia Dam in Liujiaxia. The rest of the year, the site is inaccessible, as there are no roads in the area.

Travel tips:

Admission fee: 50 yuan
Opening hours: 9:10 am to 11:30 am; 2:40 pm to 5:30 pm in the afternoon, from Tuesday to Saturday

Gansu Provincial Museum

Located at Xijin Xi Lu opposite the Friendship Hotel, the Gansu Provincial Museum is a local comprehensive museum. First built in 1956, the museum's predecessor was the Science Education Hall of Gansu built in 1939.

With 7,500 square meters of exhibition space, the museum mainly features five exhibition halls, namely, the Hall of Gansu Historical Relics, the Hall of Gansu Natural Resources, the Hall of Jiayuguan Murals of Wei (220–265)and Jin (265–420) Periods, the Hall of the Yellow River Ancient Elephants, and the Hall of Red Army's Long March via Gansu.

The museum houses a variety of collections including color-painted pottery from the Neolithic Period, murals from the Wei  and Jin  periods, bamboo slips for writing from the Han Dynasty (206BC–220AD), and bronze artifacts. Most archeological findings around Hexi Corridor are kept here.

Travel tips:

Admission fee: 35 yuan
Opening hours: 9:10 am to 11:30 am, 2:40 pm to 5:30 pm (Tuesday to Saturday)
Bus Route: 1, 31, 32, 41, 50, 51, 53, 58

White Pagoda Mountain

The White Pagoda Mountain stands at the northern bank of the Yellow River and has its name after the white pagoda on top of it. It is part of the Baitashan Park in the north of the city.

It is a nice place for strolling, with green forests, scattered pavilions, teahouses and, from its heights, some good views of both the churning river and the city beyond. The nearby bridge, Zhongshan Bridge, was the old crossing point for travelers and merchants who were then to head north on the Silk Road.

Admission fee: 6 yuan

The First Bridge over the Yellow River

Located at the foot of the White Pagoda Mountain, Zhongshan Bridge, the First Bridge over the Yellow River, is the oldest bridge in Lanzhou. The bridge is 234 meters long and 7.5 meters wide. It was built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and is still in use now.

In 1928, to commemorate Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the bridge was renamed Zhongshan Bridge as Zhongshan is another name of Dr. Sun.

Along the Yellow River, there are two scenes you should not miss. The first is the sculpture of The Mother Yellow River. This is the best sculpture of its kind in China. A baby lies on the bosom of his mother with a naive smile while the mother (unlike most of the mothers in Chinese arts who are old, weather-beaten, kindly but with a touch of sorrow) looks happy and affectionate.

The second one is the Water Wheel Park, where you can get an idea of the old irrigation tool. The waterwheel was introduced from southern Yunnan Province to Lanzhou by a local who had been an official in Yunnan.

For a cruise on the Yellow River, you can go by motor boat or float on an ancient-style sheepskin raft made up of a dozen inflated sheepskins. The ride on a raft is adventurous and fascinating. You can have a magnificent view, experience the river closely and listen to hua'er (a kind of folk song popular in Gansu, Ningxia and Qinghai) by the boatman.