About the City-Lanzhou
Geography
Area: 13,300 km2 (5,100 sq mi)
Elevation: 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) above sea level
China's northwest geographical center
More than 20 square kilometres (7.7 sq mi) of urbanisation along the southern banks of the Yellow River.
Zonary basin
Mountains are located on the south and north sides of the city:
Qilian Ranges, Mt. Pingliang and Mt. Kongtong (the most noted in Taoism)
River:
The Yellow River flows through from west to east.
Lanzhou is situated on the upper reaches of the Yellow River where it emerges from the mountains and has been a center since early times, being at the southern end of the route leading via the Hexi Corridor across Central Asia. It commands the approaches to the ancient capital area of Chang'an (modern Xi'an) in Shaanxi province from both the west and the northwest, as well as the area of Qinghai Lake via the upper waters of the Yellow River and its tributaries.
Climate and environment
Lanzhou is situated in the temperate zone and enjoys a semi-arid climate (K?ppen BSk) with hot summers and cold and very dry winters. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from ?5.3 °C (22.5 °F) in January to 22.4 °C (72.3 °F) in July. The mean annual temperature is 9.75 °C (49.5 °F), while annual rainfall is 315 millimetres (12.4 in), almost all of which falls from May to October. The winters are so dry that snow is extremely rare. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 50 percent in December to 59 percent in February, sunshine is generous but not abundant, as the city receives 2,424 hours of bright sunshine annually.
Transportation
Lanzhou Airport serves as the main airport and is located 70 km (43 mi) north of Lanzhou. Flights from more than 20 cities depart and arrive at the airport.
Subway
Lanzhou was the second city in northwest China to open a subway line, in August 2012. The urban railway network, Lanzhou Metro, is planned to consist of six subway lines running 207 km (129 mi). Three of the subway lines, coded Line 1, Line 2 and Line 3, will extend 90 km (56 mi) in the city proper, while the three outer lines, coded Line 4, Line 5 and Line 6, will run 117 km (73 mi), connecting the city centre with Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport, Yuzhong county and Gaolan county, respectively. The first two lines will cost about 23 billion yuan ($3.6 billion) and be completed by 2020.
Lanzhou Railway Station is a major railway hub of western China. Every day over 100 passenger trains originate or pass via this station. It is a vital focal point connecting the western Chinese provinces with the east. Lanzhou Railway Station is located on Huochezhan Dong Lu, in Chengguan district.
It has the following railway connections:
l Longhai Railway to the east (Xi'an, Zhengzhou, Lianyungang), with connection to the main railway of Eastern China supporting direct trains to Beijing, Shanghai, etc. This was the first railway to reach Lanzhou (1953).
l Lanxin Railway to the west and northwest (with direct trains to western Gansu and ürümqi, and further connections to other points in Xinjiang and to Kazakhstan)
l Lanqing Railway to the west and southwest, with direct service to Xining and Lhasa
l A line to the north and northeast, with direct service to Yinchuan and Baotou
Construction of new high-speed passenger-only railway lines is carried out both toward the east (the Xulan Passenger Dedicated Line) and the west (the Lanxin High-Speed Railway). These services will use an upgraded Lanzhou West Railway Station.
Tourism
The Five Spring Mountain Park（五泉山公园）was built at the northern side of Gaolan Mountain, is famous for its five springs and several Buddhist temples.
The Yellow River Bridge(黄河铁桥) has connected the transport hub of Lanzhou to the mainland and northwest since the Ming dynasty when people began to envisage such a crossing to conquer the Yellow River .
Baita Mountain Park(白塔山公园) was built close to the mountains at an elevation of 1,700 metres (5,600 ft) and opened in 1958 across the Yellow River bridge.
Culture
The city is the cultural centre of Gansu. It is home to many different ethnic groups and their respective cultures, but the most prominent three groups are the Han, Hui, and Zang.
Chinese opera: Qinqiang Drama
Cuisine: Lanzhou beef lamian noodles, the root of the lily, and many different kinds of mutton all feature into Lanzhou's distinct food culture.
Islam in China: Xiguan Mosque, the mosque was constructed in the Ming dynasty and later rebuilt in 1990, and occupies an area of 467 square meters, and is one of the most influential mosques in China. The architecture of the mosque predominantly reflects that of Arab architecture.