Lanzhou Travel Guide: Things to Do & Best Time to Visit

Lanzhou’s sights line the Yellow River, with museums and hillside temples close to the water.

• Zhongshan Bridge — An early 20th-century iron bridge, often called the first iron bridge over the Yellow River.
• White Pagoda Hill (Baitashan) — A hillside park with temples and a white pagoda overlooking the river and bridge.
• Gansu Provincial Museum — Home to the celebrated bronze ‘Flying Horse of Gansu’ and fine Silk Road collections.
• Yellow River riverside — Walk the long embankment parks and see replicas of the traditional waterwheels once used for irrigation.
• Five Springs Mountain Park — Temples, springs and pavilions on a hillside south of the centre.
• Bingling Temple — A day trip by road and boat to Buddhist cave art carved into cliffs above the Liujiaxia Reservoir.
• Lanzhou beef noodles — Watch cooks hand-pull noodles to order and try a bowl of clear-broth beef noodles.

Lanzhou has a dry, semi-arid climate with sunny days and large temperature swings. Winters are cold and dry, while summers are warm but generally less humid than in eastern China, with most of the year’s limited rain falling in summer.

May to October is the best time to visit, with comfortable temperatures for riverside walks and day trips to Bingling Temple, which is easiest to reach when water levels and weather are favourable. Spring can bring dust and wind. Pack layers, as mornings and evenings can be cool even in summer.

Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport lies a long way from the city, roughly 70 km north of central Lanzhou, so allow plenty of time for the transfer.

An intercity railway links the airport with the city’s main stations, and airport shuttle buses run to central districts. Taxis and ride-hailing cars are also available, but the drive is long. Check the latest transport options on arrival, and plan to leave for the airport well in advance of your flight.

Most visitors stay near the river or the main railway stations for easy access to sights and transport.

• Chengguan — The central district, close to Zhongshan Bridge, the riverside and restaurants; ideal for first-time visitors.
• Qilihe — Near Lanzhou West railway station, practical for high-speed train connections and the museum.
• Anning — On the north bank, a quieter district with universities and riverside parks.

• Payments: Alipay and WeChat Pay are standard; link an international card before travelling and carry some cash.
• Getting around: The metro, taxis and ride-hailing cover the city; the centre follows the river, so distances can be long.
• Food and etiquette: Lanzhou has a large Hui Muslim community; many noodle shops are halal, so do not bring pork or alcohol into them.
• Climate: The air is dry and the sun strong; drink plenty of water and use lip balm and sunscreen.
• Connectivity and language: Some international apps may not work in mainland China, and English is limited, so prepare offline maps and a translation app.