Things to do in Lanzhou

No. 1 of Family-friendly Attractions in Gansu

Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park

Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park is a key cultural tourism project in Gansu Province and a comprehensive cultural tourism initiative prioritized by the Lanzhou Municipal Committee and Government. Located by the Yellow River, the park is just 13 km from downtown Lanzhou and 30 km from Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport, making it one of the closest Danxia landform clusters to a major urban center in China. With a total planned area of 400 sq km and a core visiting area of 25 sq km in its first phase, it ranks among the largest discovered landscapes of its kind in the country. The park primarily features red mountain bay formations, along with spectacular Danxia cliffs, isolated peaks, secluded valleys, narrow gorges, and balancing rocks. Its colorful mountains set against winding waterways create a masterpiece of Danxia landform scenery. The attraction features seven viewing platforms showcasing the Danxia landforms: Silk Road Glow, Silk Road Eagle, Flying Apsaras Exploration, Nine-Colored Danxia, Danxia Reflecting Sky, Emerald Peaks Rippling Sky, and Danxia Summit Scenic View. It also includes the Ancient Silk Road Gateway, Shajing Tribe Cultural Square, Desert Bells Scenic Boulevard, and a 2,550m Danxia boardwalk viewing area. As a key cultural tourism project in the province, Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park adheres to the principles of "ecological protection, green development, preserving original features, and moderate development." Leveraging Lanzhou's unique resource advantages and focusing on the domestic tourism market, it aims to cultivate new growth drivers for Lanzhou's cultural tourism industry and establish a new highland for cultural tourism in the city.

No. 2 of Family-friendly Attractions in Gansu

Gansu Provincial Museum

Gansu Provincial Museum is a large comprehensive museum centered on the civilization of the Silk Road. Located at a strategic point along the Silk Road and a convergence zone of Han and Tibetan cultures, its collections embody the diverse characteristics of the Central Plains, Western Regions, and the Tibetan Plateau. The three treasured artifacts—the Galloping Bronze Horse, the mural brick of a courier, and the painted pottery vase with a human-head-shaped mouth—serve as iconic representations of the museum. The museum has three floors, featuring permanent exhibitions on themes such as the civilization of the Silk Road, Buddhist art of Gansu, painted pottery of Gansu, paleontological fossils, and revolutionary Gansu. The Silk Road civilization exhibition on the second floor is the museum's centerpiece: the bronze galloping horse unearthed in 1969 from the Leitai Han tomb in Wuwei is displayed here. The horse has three hooves in the air and one stepping on a flying bird, standing steadily on a single hoof. Its image is now the symbol of Chinese tourism. In the same hall, the mural brick depicting a courier from the Wei-Jin tombs in Jiayuguan shows a messenger galloping on horseback, notably without a mouth, symbolizing the need for couriers to "keep their mouths shut." This pattern was later adopted as the emblem of China Post. The exhibition also features a procession of chariots and horses excavated from the same tomb as the bronze horse, along with Han and Tang dynasty silk textiles, gold and silver artifacts, making the prosperity of Silk Road trade vividly tangible. The Buddhist art exhibition hall on the third floor features replicas of caves from the Mogao Grottoes and Maijishan Grottoes, alongside statues, ritual objects, white pagodas, and prayer wheels from both Han and Tibetan Buddhism. Stepping into the hall feels like entering a temple, and this harmonious blend of Han and Tibetan styles is rarely seen elsewhere. On the same floor, the painted pottery exhibition showcases ceramics from cultures such as Dadiwan, Yangshao, and Majiayao, with intricate and fluid patterns like spiral and sawtooth designs. Among them, the painted pottery bottle with a human-head-shaped spout unearthed at Dadiwan in Qin'an, which integrates facial sculpture with the pottery vessel, is a highly popular exhibit. If you're interested in natural history, the paleontological fossils exhibition hall features the impressive skeleton of the Yellow River ancient elephant unearthed in Heshui, and the dinosaur fossils and reconstructed models are also popular with children. The revolutionary Gansu exhibition hall showcases historical artifacts and materials from periods such as the Nanliang base area and the Shaan-Gan-Ning border region, narrating the modern history of this land. The museum houses a large quantity of exhibits, and even a quick tour would take half a day. It's recommended to start with the Silk Road exhibition on the second floor, then proceed to the third floor for Buddhist art and painted pottery, following a logical route. In the exhibition halls, you can scan to listen to the audio guide, and at certain times, volunteers also provide guided explanations.

No. 4 of Night Attractions in Gansu

THE YELLOW RIVER TOWER

THE YELLOW RIVER TOWER is a landmark antique-style pavilion built by Lanzhou for the Yellow River. The main tower stands approx. 93 m tall with 16 floors, located at a major bend of the Yellow River in Lanzhou. It integrates Yellow River culture exhibitions, elevated viewing, and live performances. The core experience here is admiring the river from the tower. The 16th-floor "Lanzhou in the clouds" observation deck offers a panoramic view of the S-shaped river bend skirting the city and urban landscapes on both banks. At dusk when the sunset glow blankets the river, many travelers specifically choose this time to ascend the tower. Each floor houses thematically diverse exhibits: the 11th-floor Lanzhou city memory exhibition resembles a 3D photo album, narrating urban stories of the Yellow River flowing through the city; the 13th-floor features a premium Yellow River stone exhibition displaying uniquely shaped rocks polished by millennia of river erosion; the 15th-floor Lanzhou memories·light and shadow museum immersively showcases the four seasons of the "Golden City" through projections, also making it photogenic; the 14th-floor Yellow River study allows visitors to enjoy tea and books while overlooking the river, and families with children can explore the 8th-floor exhibition themed on ancient animal fossils. After nightfall, the live performance "Ode to the Yellow River·Great Lanzhou" uses the entire tower as its backdrop, projecting the Yellow River's flow and Lanzhou's urban memories onto the night-lit facade through chapters like "Origin of the great river," "Golden great city," "Folk great charm," and "Orchid great state." The neon-outlined tower reflection dancing with its watery counterpart becomes the nightlife highlight. We recommend arranging your itinerary with daytime tower visits, sunset viewing at dusk, and evening performances to fully experience THE YELLOW RIVER TOWER's essence in one trip.

No. 7 of Night Attractions in Gansu

Lanzhou Old Street

Lanzhou Old Street is located in the center of Lanzhou city, gathers Chinese branded products, nightlife, trendy fashion brands, retail centers, experiential businesses, catering and entertainment, leading the trend and creating a place for eating, drinking, fun and entertainment in Lanzhou.

No. 6 of Night Attractions in Gansu

Zhongshan Bridge

Zhongshan Bridge, also known as the Lanzhou Yellow River Iron Bridge, spans the Yellow River with White Pagoda Mountain to its north and serves as a city landmark of Lanzhou. Completed in the late Qing Dynasty, it was built by the German firm Telge & Schroeter. The bridge materials, including steel beams and cement, were shipped from Germany across the ocean and then transported to Lanzhou via railway and horse-drawn carriage. It is one of the earliest permanent bridges built across the Yellow River in Lanzhou's history. It was later renamed Zhongshan Bridge in memory of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, a name that remains in use today. The bridge is over 200m long, and its gray-black steel truss structure is simple and substantial. The several arched steel ribs added above the bridge body during reinforcement in the 1950s give the entire structure a more imposing appearance. Today, the iron bridge is open only to pedestrians. Walking onto the bridge deck, you can see the Yellow River flowing slowly eastward beneath your feet. On the south bank lies the lush Binhe Road, while the north bank is home to White Pagoda Mountain Park. Climbing to the top of the mountain and looking back, the view of the iron bridge, the Yellow River, and the streetscape on both banks framed together is particularly beautiful. People often line up to take photos in front of the golden "Zhongshan Bridge" inscription at the south end of the bridge. In the pavilion on the east side of the south bridgehead stands a Ming Dynasty "General Pillar," a relic from the earlier Zhenyuan Floating Bridge that is easy to miss if you just walk past. After nightfall, the iron bridge offers a different scene: the bridge's colorful lights turn on, and the entire outline of the bridge is clearly illuminated. On one side are the bustling lights of Binhe Road, and on the other are the lights shining on the mountain, making it a great place to experience and photograph the night view of Lanzhou.

No. 9 of Night Attractions in Gansu

Lanzhou Yellow River Cruise

The Lanzhou Yellow River Cruise offers a unique waterborne sightseeing experience, showcasing the majestic beauty of the Yellow River and the urban charm of Lanzhou. This tour combines natural views with city culture, providing travelers with a comfortable and distinctive perspective to admire both the grandeur and tranquility of this Mother River. The Lanzhou Yellow River Cruise glides along the Yellow River, where travelers can admire the scenic views from the deck and experience the river's mighty flow alongside the city's vibrant energy. Along the way, it passes byZhongshan Bridge (Yellow River Iron Bridge),BaitashanLandmark attractions like these offer the best spots for photography and sightseeing. Professional guides will share the historical stories and cultural background along the way, allowing you to appreciate the beauty while gaining a deeper understanding of Lanzhou's history and development. The nighttime cruise is especially unique, where the glittering city lights and the tranquil river create a mesmerizing scene. Board the Lanzhou Yellow River Cruise and drift along the Mother River. This is not just a place to admire nature and the cityscape, but also an ideal spot to experience the Yellow River culture and the charm of Lanzhou.

No. 9 of Family-friendly Attractions in Gansu

Lanzhou Wildlife Park

Lanzhou Wildlife ParkIt's a fun-filled destination suitable for all ages, home to adorable animals like alpacas, sika deer, wallabies, and ostriches. Visitors can not only observe these animals but also feed them and interact up close, experiencing the harmony between humans and nature. The park features a sightseeing train where visitors can leisurely ride around the grounds while enjoying the natural scenery and wildlife. These activities are perfect for family trips, especially with children, allowing kids to learn while having fun and sparking their love for nature.

No. 11 of Night Attractions in Gansu

White Pagoda Mountain Park

White Pagoda Mountain Parkis located on the north bank of the Yellow River in downtown Lanzhou. The main entrance is right at the north end of Zhongshan Bridge; you can enter the mountain immediately after crossing the bridge. It is named after the white pagoda on the mountaintop. The existing white pagoda was rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty. It is a seven-story, octagonal structure about 17 m high. Its body is pure white, making it one of the iconic ancient pagodas in Lanzhou. The temple on the mountaintop is commonly known as White Pagoda Temple. It was renamed Ci'en Temple after being expanded in the Qing Dynasty. Among the three treasures of the mountain passed down by local folklore, old artifacts such as the Elephant Skin Drum and the Bronze Bell are still preserved in the temple today. The entire mountain has an elevation of about 1,700 m, but the relative height difference from the Yellow River valley below is only about 200 m, so climbing the stone steps is not strenuous. The three-tiered architectural complex on the front of the mountain is built layer by layer along the terrain, with archways, halls, and corridors distributed in a staggered manner. Many of the old components came from houses demolished in the old city. As you climb the steps, you will pass the old archway inscribed with "Fenglin Xiangniao" and courtyards such as the Sanguan Hall and Luohan Hall. The path is shaded by trees, and along the way, you will occasionally encounter small stalls selling local handicrafts such as carved gourds and Yellow River stone carvings. Looking back from the mountaintop, the Yellow River flows through the city, and the buildings on both banks are lined up in rows, offering a panoramic view of the city. If you reach the top in the evening, you can watch the lights turn on one by one, which is a great time to photograph the night view of the Yellow River.

No. 13 of Night Attractions in Gansu

Yellow River Mother Sculpture

Yellow River Mother Sculpturestands on the south bank of the Yellow River in downtown Lanzhou and is a highly recognizable landmark sculpture of the city. It was created by Gansu sculptor He E and completed in 1986. Carved entirely from red granite, it measures approx. 6m in length and weighs dozens of tons. The composition consists of a reclining "mother" and a "baby boy" nestled in her arms: the mother's expression is elegant and serene, symbolizing the Yellow River that nurtures the Chinese nation with its unyielding, endless vitality; the baby in her arms looks adorable, symbolizing the happy and thriving descendants of the Chinese people. Take a closer look at the base for details that are easy to miss—it is carved with water and fish patterns, which originate from ancient Gansu painted pottery, adding a touch of ancient civilization to this modern sculpture. The statue stands right by the riverside promenade, just a few steps away from the Yellow River. Many travelers come here specifically to take photos with the "mother," then take a slow walk along the riverbank to watch the muddy yellow river water rush by, gaining a deeper appreciation for the bond between this city and the river.

No. 5 of Activities in Gansu

Museums in Lanzhou