Lanzhou and the Yellow River

The Yellow River flows through Lanzhou from west to east. It divides the city into two areas while also connecting its two sides. Along the river, the Yellow River Scenic Line stretches out as an ecological landscape corridor and urban viewpoint. This combination of river scenery, cultural sites and city history gives you several points of reference when choosing Lanzhou for your stay.

The Yellow River and its banks

Lanzhou Waterwheel Park lies on the Yellow River and is dedicated to waterwheel culture. It comprises the Waterwheel Garden, Waterwheel Square and Cultural Square. In the Waterwheel Garden, twelve Yellow River waterwheels stand right on the riverbank, each with a diameter of 16 meters. These tangible structures show how closely waterwheels are connected to the river’s cultural image.

The Yellow River Mother sculpture on the riverbank also reflects this connection: it symbolizes the river’s nurturing and protective role for Lanzhou, as well as the city’s bond with its mother river. If you would also like to include an open public space alongside these memorials, you’ll find a riverside park on Binhe Road for walking, relaxation and enjoying nature.

Museums between history and tradition

The Gansu Jiandu Museum was established on December 12, 2012, as a state-run specialized public welfare museum. Its new building stands on Matan Cultural Island in Qilihe District, east of Lanzhou Old Street. The building covers 37,987.75 square meters, with nearly 10,000 square meters devoted to exhibition space. The collection comprises 50,129 cultural relics or collection groups, including 31,943 particularly valuable cultural relics classified as Grade III or above. Its four permanent exhibitions are titled “The Era of Jiandu,” “The Silk Road in Brief,” “Families of the Frontier” and “Written on Bamboo and Silk.”

Lanzhou Museum brings exhibitions and cultural heritage together in one place: it was built on the site of the Ming-era Baiyi Temple and is itself a heritage site with exhibition facilities. Notable holdings include painted pottery, especially from the Majiayao culture; paintings and calligraphy by local figures from the Ming and Qing dynasties; and cultural relics kept in the Baiyi Temple Tower. The Lanzhou Yellow River Bridge Museum offers another perspective on the city’s history. Models, reconstructed historical scenes and audiovisual materials present the history and development of bridges over the Yellow River.

For a focus on regional traditions, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition House in Jinchengguan Cultural Park displays miniature landscapes and original objects. Examples on show include the Lanzhou Taiping Drum custom, the Yellow River waterwheel, Lanzhou Guzi and Yongdeng Gaoqiao. A replica of the Bronze Galloping Horse can be seen at the Gansu Provincial Museum. The motif is regarded as a symbol of cultural exchange between East and West and as a symbol of Chinese tourism.

Bridge culture and seasonal experiences

Zhongshan Bridge is a century-old iron bridge and a surviving testament to the Self-Strengthening Movement. Below the bridge, riding a sheepskin raft on the Yellow River is one of the intangible cultural heritage tourism experiences of the upper Yellow River. The tradition was included in the first list of intangible cultural heritage of Gansu Province in 2006. Raft trips are seasonal and may change; check whether they are operating during your travel dates before making plans.

The Heartlight Handicraft Shop is also located directly beside Zhongshan Bridge. It combines presentations of intangible cultural heritage with hands-on craft activities and the sale of cultural products. Details and participation requirements may change, so ask about current offerings in advance. The Yellow River Scenic Line also has a volunteer guide team that helps visitors find their way and manages visitor flow, as well as offering recommendations on food, routes and ecotourism. If you plan to use this service, check its current availability.

Regional food culture and choosing a hotel

Lanzhou beef noodles are considered a signature specialty of the city, with a strong cultural identity and distinctive regional characteristics. This gives local food culture a place of its own alongside the river scenery and museums. A visit can therefore take many different forms: exploring exhibitions on history and cultural relics, visiting bridges and waterwheels along the river, or discovering regional traditions and cuisine.

If you’re especially interested in museums and collections, the different exhibition themes offer specific points of interest. If the river and bridge history are your priority, Zhongshan Bridge, Waterwheel Park and the Bridge Museum could all feature in your trip. For a trip focused on regional culture, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition House and Lanzhou beef noodles add to your picture of the city.

Discover more destinations: Tianshui, Wuwei, Baiyin, Pingliang, Longnan, Gannan, Linxia, Qingyang.

For the broader travel overview: Gansu.