Lanzhou Tour
Plan your Lanzhou tour? Maybe you still hesitate mainly due to the lack of must see attractions here in Lanzhou. Well, the real reason to come to Lanzhou is the springboard as which it serves to extend your visit either to the south in the Muslim and Tibetan favored grasslands, mosques and monasteries in Linxia Muslim Prefecture and Gannan Tibeten Prefecture ( Xiahe and Langmusi ) of Gansu Province, or to the Hexi Corridor to explore Jiayuguan and Dunhuang and more...
Lanzhou is a major transport hub, the beginning of some exciting overland trips to the Hexi Corridor (Jiayuguan, Dunhuang...), Xinjiang, Sichuan, Qinghai and Tibet. There are easy trains and flight transports linking Lanzhou and Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Xian, Urumqi and more destinations.
As the first major city along the Yellow River, Lanzhou does have some interesting sites to kill your time during your transit for your trips to the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the south or the Hexi Corridor in the north.
Lanzhou City Tourist Map
Gansu Tourist Map
| Lanzhou Travel Information |
| » Lanzhou Bingling Labrang 5 Day Tour | |
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Travel Route: Lanzhou - Bingling 75km, Lanzhou - Labrang 258km Way of Travel: Private transfer + private car or van + local tour guide + entrance fees Hotels as listed Meals as listed Departure Date: Choose your own departure date Best Visit Time: Summer Customizable: Yes! from US$ 400 p/p Tour Code: LZTP-01 |
For the escorted tours to the Hexi Corridor or Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, please visit Gansu Tour for more travel information.
Lanzhou Travel Information
At the sea level of over 1600 meters and on the loess plateau, the city of Lanzhou is located in a narrrow valley extending from east to west for about 20km and bound by the mountains in the north and south. The Yellow River cuts through the city from west to east in the valley.
The long city is spread along the southern bank of the Yellow River. The city center is composed of two districts – Chengguan District in the east and Qilihe District in the west. Chengguan District is the center of the central city of Lanzhou. You are advised to stay in Chengguan District, which is riddled with brilliant shopping streets, cheap or luxury hotels, local cuisine or western restaurants.
Lanzhou Airport's official name is Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport. Lanzhou airport is about 70km north of the city of Lanzhou, the second furtherest airport from the downtown, just after Lhasa airport.
Lanzhou airport is located in a plain of a valley on the loess plateau and on the fringe of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, a major airport in the northwest China. Lanhzou airport is well connected with the major cities in China like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xian, Urumqi, Shenyang, Wuhan, Xiamen, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Fuzhou as well as the flights within Gansu Province to Jiayuguan and Dunhuang. It has also tourism charter flights to Hong Kong and international cities in Japan, Korea, Singapore and Malaysia.
At the time of my writing, there is only one passenger railway station in Lanzhou – Lanzhou Railway Station. It is located below the Gaolan Mountain in the south of Chengguan District of Lanzhou, Gansu Province.
Lanzhou is a major transport, especially a railway hub in the western China. It has the following railway lines:
Longhai Railway Line:
To the east (Xian, Zhengzhou, Lianyungang), extending to Beijing, Shanghai…, the first railway line connecting Lanzhou (1953).
Lanxin Railway Line:
To the west and northwest linking the western Gansu and Urumqi, and further extending to other places in Xinjiang and to Kazakhstan.
Lanqing Railway Line:
To the west and southwest, with direct train service connecting Xining and Lhasa.
A Train line linking to the north and northeast, with direct train connecting Yinchuan and Baotou.
The main railyway terminal is a two-storey building 171 meters long from east to west and 47.5 wide from north to south.
Lanzhou Taxi Quantity
At the time of my writing, there are more than 8,000 taxis in Lanzhou. In Lanzhou, you can easily get a taxi when you need it. Lanzhou taxis are both very convenient and cheap.
Taxi Models in Lanzhou
The common type of taxi in Lanzhou is Xiali, Lingyang, Fukang, Jetta and Kia
Lanzhou Taxi Fares:
•RMB7 for the first 3km
•RMB1.4 with each additional km
•At night, the rate increases to RMB1.6 per additional kilometer
Though Lanzhou doesn't have many must see attraction in and around the city. But it does have some sights worth visiting to enrich your knowledge of Northwest China. As the first major city along the Yellow River, Lanzhou has some Yellow River related sights and the brilliant Yellow River culture as well. Lanzhou is also an important city on the ancient Silk Road which has left us much history and historical relics during that time.
Yellow River
Zhongshan Iron Bridge
Gansu Provincial Museum
Xiguan Mosque
Lanzhou Antique Market
As the capital city of Gansu, one of the less developed provinces in China, Lanzhou doesn’t possess many luxury hotels. At the time of my writing, no international chain hotels are available in the city of Lanzhou.
Mid-range hotels, like 4 or 3 stars take a large share of the market in Lanzhou. In the past few years, Lanzhou has seen the fast growing of express hotels such Hanting Inn and Hotels, Jinjiang Inn, Home Inn, Green Tree Inn…
If you travel on a budget, these kinds of express hotels mentioned above are highly recommended. They are clean, cheap and equipped with in-house fast internet. If you don't have your laptop on hand, you may go to the compact lobby, such as the lobby of Hanting Inns, they often put two free computers in the lobby for people to use, to surf and to print.
Recommended Hotels in Lanzhou.
JJ Sun Hotel: 585 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou Tel: 0931-8805511
Lanzhou Legend Hotel: 599, Tianshui Road, Lanzhou Tel: 0931-8532888
Grand Soluxe Hotel Gangsu: 428 Qingyang Road, Lanzhou Tel: 0931-4608888
Hualian Hotel: 7-9 Tianshui, South Road Tel: 0931-4992000
Friendship Hotel: 16 Xijin West Road, Lanzhou Tel: 0931-2689169
Jinjiang Inn: 182 Tianshui Road, Lanzhou Tel: 0931-861-7333
When to visit Lanzhou should be more accurately asked when to visit Hexi Corridor or Gannan Tibetan Prefecture of Gansu since most travelers regard Lanzhou a transit zone to extend their further trips to Jiayuguan, Dunhuang... (Hexi Corridor) or in the south of Gansu ( Linxia Muslim or Gannan Tibet ).
The best season to visit Gannan Tibetan Prefecture should be between July and early September when grasslands are at their best. The best time to explore Hexi Corridor should be between May and October.
What to Buy in Lanzhou Lanzhou is one of the best places to pick up some local products and handcrafts during your short trip. You may ask what local products and handcrafts Lanzhou has. Well, I have summed up some of the popular local products in Lanzhou below for your reference:
1. Lily
Lanzhou produces very good lilies, sweet and thick, highly therapeutic and precious.
2. Bailan melon
The Bailan melon is a locally famous type of melon grown near Lanzhou. The melons were said to be introduced to China by a Mr. Wallace, Vice president of the United States, who donated melon seeds to the locals while visiting in the 1940s.
3. Roses
Lanzhou people have a long history of growing roses. Lanzhou’s Kushui Township in Yongdeng County grows the best roses in China. The reserve of rose-oil is in the first place. It can be about 80% of Chinese output.
4. Apricot
Of the all fruits Lanzhou produces, apricots in Lanzhou are considered one of the best local fruits with over 20 species. The local apricots are not only served as eatible fruits, they are alos used by Chinese medicine and industry.
5. Aweto (Chinese herbal medicines)
Its name in Chinese dong chong xia cao means “winter worm, summer grass”. Many shops in downtown Lanzhou advertise Dong chong xia cao – Aweto.
6. water pipe smoke
During ing Dynasty ( 1644 -1911), the water-pipe tobacco, near Lanzhou, became something of a fad among the locals. Now many Lanzhou people still keep the tradition of water pipe smoking. It is said that water pipe smoking is good for health, helping digest, cooling…
7. Ceramic Pan
The earthenware pot is very famous in China. It is a practical kitchen appliance, cooking rice porridge, fried eggs…
8. Nesting vase
It is a kind of arts of glassware in Lanzhou. It has a history of over 100 years dating back to the end of Qing Dynasty.
9. Handicraft
Paper-cut designs, scent bags, Yellow River windmills, shadow puppets show and Taiping drums are very typical handicrafts in Lanzhou and other parts of Gansu Province.
There are many shopping streets in the city of Lanzhou. The best places to do shopping are ZHangye Pedestrian Street and Chenghuang Miao Antique Market.
What Zhangye Pedestrain Street is to Lanzhou is similar to what Wangfujing Street to Beijing. It is a famous pedestrian street in Lanzhou. This commercial road has a long history with rich cultural heritage dating back to Song Dynasty ( 960-1276 ). It was the main avenue in the ancient walled city during the reign of Song Dynasty.
So you are in Lanzhou! Or maybe you are thinking of making a business or leisure travel to Lanzhou. One thing may linger in your mind: does Lanzhou have nightlife considering a city in northeast China perched on the loess plateau. The answer is yes! In addition, the nightlife of Lanzhou will surely surpass your expectation.
Zhengning Road Night Snack Market
Lanzhou Bar Streets
Zhangye Pedestrian Street
Questions & Answers:
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