Lanzhou
Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province, is a major stop on the ancient "Silk Road" west of Xi'an. Situated on the upper reaches of the Yellow River, Lanzhou has been important for thousands of years because of the Hexi Corridor (Corridor West of the Yellow River), in which early Chinese civilization began. About 3,000 years ago, in the Zhou Dynasty, agriculture began to take shape in the basins of the Jin and Wei Rivers that formed the corridor, marking the beginning of the great Yellow River basin civilization.
Recommended China Tours Including Lanzhou:
Tourist Highlights
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Five Springs Park (Wuquan Shan Gongyuan)
This park lies at the foot of Gaolan Hill southeast of the city. Behind it a landscaped park rises up to 1600 meters. A climb to the summit (by chairlift) offers a panoramic view of the whole city. The park got the name for its five crystal springs.
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. |
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Grottoes of Bingling Temple
Bingling is a transliteration of Tibetan, which means Ten Thousand Buddha, just the common name of Buddhist caves in China. They were initially made in 420, and expanded several times through the ages. Nowadays, there still exist 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. These caves, which stretch for 200 meters, include the caves of Western Qin, North Wei, Sui, Tang, and Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties .
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Gansu Provincial Museum
Located on Xijin Xi Lu opposite the Friendship Hotel, 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 time, and bronze artifacts. Most archeological finds in the region of Hexi Corridor are kept here. It is well worth a visit. |
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White Pagoda Mountain
The mountain stands at the northern bank of the Yellow River and has its name after the white pagoda on top of it, the White Pagoda Hill Park is a large, quiet area. 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.
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Liujiaxia Dam
The LiuJiaXia Dam is one of five planned with the help of Soviet advisors in the 1950s. It is one of the biggest hydroelectric power stations in China and was completed in 1974. |
Recommended China Tours Including Lanzhou:
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Other City |
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Private China Tours |
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