Lanzhou is the capital city of Gansu Province in northwest China. The Yellow River, the Chinese Mother River, runs through the city, ensuring rich crops of many juicy and fragrant fruits. The city is the transportation and telecommunication center of the region. Covering an area of 1631.6 square kilometers (629.96 square miles), it was once a key point on the ancient Silk Road. Today, it is a hub of the Silk Road Tourism Ring, with Maiji Caves to the east, Bingling Temple Grottoes to the west, Labrang Monastery to the south and Dunhuang Mogao Caves to the north.

With mountains to the south and north of the city and the Yellow River flowing from the east to the west, Lanzhou is a beautiful modern city with both the grand beauty of northern cities and the prettiness of southern cities. The city downtown comprises five districts: Chengguan, Qilihe, Xigu, Honggu and Anning. Among them, Chengguan District, situated in the eastern part of the city, is the center of politics, economy, culture and transportation. Anning District, in the northwestern part, is the economic development zone as well as the area where most colleges are located.

黄河铁桥连接一城南北,而城就是丝绸之路茶马互市的西北重镇兰州。黄涛两岸,依旧保留着传统的黄河羊皮筏子,悠荡着城市的古老气息。而黄河南岸,是兰州颇具特色的黄河外滩,即使不走铁桥坐皮筏,你也可以漫步浪边,悠悠思古。 如果你印象中的兰州只是戈壁中的城市,那么你就错了。尽管兰州古名金城取自固若金汤的寓意,然而母亲河的浪涛早已肥沃了两岸的土地。从八盘峡到吐鲁沟,从徐家山到兴隆山,兰州并不缺乏绿色。而青城寻商,连城礼佛,古西北的商业集散中心以及明清古刹,见证了兰州的历史变迁。北京有潘家园,兰州有城隍庙。从98年开始修葺的兰州城隍庙如今已经是市内最大的古玩市场。兰州独一无二的水车博物馆,更是再现了昔年黄河两岸的景象。 西安碑林天下闻名,兰州碑林一样汇集天下名作。至公堂贡院,左宗棠亲笔题写的匾额高悬,是如今的兰州大学的前身。走在兰州街道,要说满街都弥漫着拉面的味道肯定有些夸张,不过街道两旁林立的拉面店已经足够说明兰州人最爱的美食是什么。清汤细面,牛肉丁萝卜片,喷香劲道。