Lanzhou,
the capital of Gansu, is a large modern city as the political,
economical and cultural centre of the province. The city covers
about 13086 sq. km. with a population of around 2.8 million, half
of which live in the urban area.
Lanzhou takes the heart position of China and owes a reputation
of The City Of Melon and Fruits to its semiarid temperature climate.
Local peach, water melon, honey dew melon and melon seeds are
all well known.
Lanzhou was an important strategic town on the ancient Silk Road,
and is now a key link on the present Eurasia Bridge. It is the
standard Yellow River crossing point and owns its historical significance
due to its geographical position. The spectacular scenery and
relics around Lanzhou include the statue of Yellow River Mother,
Water Wheel Park, Zhongshan Iron Bridge and White Pagoda Park
dotted along the Yellow River. Gansu Provincial Museum, Five Spring
Park, Mt. Xinglong and Mt. Tulugou, etc. Which make Lanzhou well
worth a stop.
Lanzhou is a major transport terminal of Ganzu. Over 20 flights
are opened to major cities from Zhongehuan Airport, some 70 km
from the town. There are 92 passenger trains extend daily to all
directions from Lanzhou Railway Station and back and also good
highways link the neighbouring parts. Lanzhou today is a key tourist
city with complete infrastructure, many star-rated hotels and
tour operators.
Zhongshan Iron Bridge, located at the middle
part of Riverside Road, is at the foot of White Pagoda Park. It
is the earliest bridge on the Yellow River, first built in 1372
and rebuilt in 1909. But 5 steel archways were added in 1954 for
reinforcing the bridge.
Five Spring Park, in the south side of the city
proper of Lanzhou, is at the north foot of Gaolan Mountain. This
Park, bustling with visitors and activities, is famous for springs
on the hillside which :merged from a legend of 2000 years ago.
Today, it's a lovely place to go while away an afternoon, its
buildings are intricate and there is a large Buddhist temple in
the centre.
White Pagoda Park, laid out across a steep hillside,
is small and fairly attractive, famous for a white pagoda of Yuan
Dynasty on the top. There is a fine view of Yellow River snaking
its way in Lanzhou from the top.
Xinglong
Mountain, situated in Yuzhong county, some 56 km southeast
of Lanzhou, is a forest park of provincial level. There is a stream
sandwiched in between two peaks, and Yunlong arch bridge is spectacular.
The coffin of the founder Genghis Khan of Yuan Dynasty has once
been buried here, which made the mountain famous since the past.
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