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兰州North-West China36.06° N · 103.83° E
The capital of Gansu, strung along the Yellow River and famous for its hand-pulled beef noodles. Here is what to see in a day or two and how it fits a Silk Road journey.
Lanzhou stretches for many kilometres along both banks of the Yellow River, hemmed in by dry, terraced hills. For centuries it was a key crossing point on the Silk Road, where caravans heading west to Dunhuang and Central Asia met the river. Today it is a large, working provincial capital rather than a postcard town, but its riverside parks, old iron bridge and excellent provincial museum make for a rewarding stop.
Most travellers use Lanzhou as a gateway. From here, high-speed trains run west along the Hexi Corridor towards Jiayuguan and Dunhuang, and roads climb south into the Tibetan grasslands around Xiahe or west to Xining. One full day covers the main sights, with a second day for the Buddhist grottoes at Bingling Temple, reached by boat across a reservoir.
Our Lanzhou journeys are private and tailor-made, usually as the first stop on a Silk Road route or a gateway to Xiahe and Xining.
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The experiences our travellers enjoy most, in order of what we would not miss.
The best introduction to the Silk Road in China, with Neolithic painted pottery, Han dynasty wooden slips and the famous bronze Flying Horse of Gansu. Allow two to three hours.
The iron bridge from the early 20th century was the first permanent crossing of the Yellow River here. Walk it at dusk, when the riverside promenade fills with locals.
Caves and niches carved into a sandstone canyon, including a giant seated Buddha, reached by boat across the Liujiaxia Reservoir. A long but memorable day trip from the city.
A short climb across the river from the bridge leads to temple halls and a white pagoda, with wide views over the city, the hills and the muddy Yellow River.
Reconstructed wooden waterwheels recall the giant wheels once used to lift river water to the fields. A pleasant riverside stop with a museum about irrigation.
Locals eat beef noodles in clear broth with chilli oil, radish and coriander, often first thing in the morning. Choose your noodle thickness and watch the cook pull them by hand.
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Customise My TripLanzhou is also well linked by high-speed rail: Xi'an is about 3 hours away and Xining about 1 to 1.5 hours. Check which of the city's stations your train uses, as they are far apart.
Places that pair well with Lanzhou, with approximate travel times.
May to October is the best time, with warm, dry days and clear evenings by the river. Spring can bring dust from the deserts to the north and west. Winters are cold and dry, and air quality is often at its worst then.
A general guide. Weather varies from year to year, and we plan each route around the season.
Quick answers from our local team. Anything else, just ask your travel specialist.
Ask us on WhatsAppAs a stop on a longer route, yes. One day is enough for the provincial museum, the riverbank and a bowl of beef noodles, and Bingling Temple adds a fine second day. Lanzhou is less rewarding as a destination on its own, so most travellers combine it with Xiahe, Xining or the Hexi Corridor to Dunhuang.
One night is enough for the city sights. Stay two nights if you want to visit the Bingling Temple Grottoes, which take most of a day with the drive and the boat across the reservoir. Lanzhou also works well as an overnight stop between trains or before heading into the grasslands.
Above all, Lanzhou beef noodles, found across China but best here. The city is also known for its position on the Yellow River, the Zhongshan Bridge and its long history as a Silk Road crossing. The bronze Flying Horse of Gansu, displayed in the provincial museum, is a well-known national symbol of Chinese tourism.
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