Lanzhou

Lanzhou is a big city in China.

It sits by the Yellow River. The river looks muddy and yellow.

Mountains are on both sides of the city. It can be very hot in summer. The winters are cold and very dry. Many people go to school there. It is a busy place to live.

Lanzhou is a large city in northwest China.

It is the capital of Gansu province. The city sits on the banks of the Yellow River. This river carries a lot of silt. This makes the water look muddy and yellow.

Mountains sit on both the north and south sides of the city. Lanzhou is a very important place for travel. It connects the east of China to the west. Long ago, it was a key part of the Silk Road.

Today, it is a center for science and schools. Many students go to Lanzhou University. The weather has hot summers. The winters are cold and very dry. Sometimes, dust storms come from the Gobi Desert. The city has many big factories too. In the past, the air was very dirty. But the city has worked hard to clean it up. Now, the air is getting better. Over 4 million people live in Lanzhou. It is a busy and growing place.

Lanzhou is a large and busy city in northwest China.

It serves as the capital of Gansu province. The city sits right on the banks of the Yellow River. This river flows from west to east through the area.

Because the river carries so much silt, the water looks muddy. Lanzhou is also the geographical center of China's land territory. It is the third largest city in Northwest China. This makes it a very important place for the whole region.

Travelers have used this area for a very long time.

It was a major link on the ancient Northern Silk Road. This was an old path used for trade across Central Asia. Today, the city is a major hub for trains and roads. It connects the eastern part of the country to the west. It may also become a big part of the New Eurasian Land Bridge. This helps people and goods move across huge distances.

Lanzhou has a very long and changing history.

The area once belonged to the ancient Western Qiangs. Later, it became part of the State of Qin in the 6th century BC. Many different groups ruled the city over the centuries. This included the Han dynasty and the Mongol Empire. The city got its current name in 1656 during the Qing dynasty. In 1666, it became the capital of the new Gansu province. It has grown from an old walled city into a modern place.

Today, Lanzhou is a center for science and big industry.

It is one of the top 50 cities in the world for scientific research. Many students study at places like Lanzhou University or Northwest Normal University. The city also has many large factories for heavy industry.

It is a very important place for petrochemical work too. More than 4 million people live in the city now. This makes it a very crowded and active place to be.

The environment in Lanzhou has many unique features.

The city sits in a narrow valley between high mountains. This can sometimes make the air stay still and get dirty. Dust storms from the Gobi Desert also blow into the city.

The weather is quite extreme with hot summers and cold winters. Most of the rain falls between May and October. However, the city has worked very hard to clean its air. It has even won awards for making progress with its climate.

Lanzhou is the capital and largest city of Gansu province in northwestern China.

It sits at the geographical center of China's land territory. The city is located on the banks of the Yellow River. This river flows from west to east through the region.

Lanzhou is the third largest city in Northwest China. It follows only Xi'an and Ürümqi in size. The city acts as a vital regional transportation hub. It connects the eastern half of the country to areas further west via rail. It is also expected to become a major hub on the New Eurasian Land Bridge.

The geography of Lanzhou is shaped by its position in a narrow river valley.

The city is hemmed in by several mountain ranges. The Qilian Ranges, Mt. Pingliang, and Mt. Kongtong sit to the north and south. This mountain setting influences the local climate and air flow. Lanzhou has a semi-arid climate, which is known as the Köppen BSk type. This means the area experiences hot summers and very dry, cold winters. The annual rainfall is quite low. Most of this precipitation falls between May and October. The city receives about 2,350 hours of bright sunshine every year.

Lanzhou has a deep and complex history involving many different groups.

The area was originally the territory of the ancient Western Qiangs. In the 6th century BC, it became part of the State of Qin. During the Han dynasty, it was the seat of Jincheng commandery. The city served as a major link on the ancient Northern Silk Road. It was also an important crossing site for the Yellow River. To protect this area, the Great Wall of China was extended to Yumen. Parts of the Great Wall still exist within the city's built-up areas today.

Many different dynasties and empires controlled Lanzhou over the centuries. The city was briefly the capital of the state of Liang in the 4th century. It later fell to the Tibetan Empire and the Western Xia dynasty. The Mongol Empire took possession of the area in 1235. During the Ming dynasty, it was part of the Lintao superior prefecture. Lanzhou was reestablished as a political unit in 1477. The city received its current name in 1656 during the Qing dynasty. In 1666, Lanzhou became the capital of the newly formed Gansu province. In 1739, the seat of Lintao was moved to Lanzhou.

During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Lanzhou played a critical role.

It became the terminus of the Chinese–Soviet highway. This route was used to transport Soviet supplies to the Xi'an area. The city's old Donggang Airport was a primary entry point for combat aircraft. These planes were provided under the Sino-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact. The city and its surrounding regions faced heavy bombing by the Imperial Japanese Air Force. Many air battles occurred over the region between 1938 and 1941. On the ground, cavalry troops under General Ma Hongkui and Ma Bufang defended the city. Their resistance prevented Japanese forces from capturing Lanzhou.

Today, Lanzhou is a major center for science, education, and industry.

It is one of the top 50 cities globally for scientific research output. This ranking is tracked by the Nature Index. The city hosts several important research institutions. These include Lanzhou University, Northwest Normal University, and Lanzhou University of Technology. Other institutions include Gansu Agricultural University and Gansu University of Chinese Medicine. Lanzhou is also a center for heavy industry and the petrochemical industry.

The city's population surpassed 4 million people in the 2020 census.

Lanzhou has faced significant environmental challenges due to its location. The narrow valley can block the free flow of air. This has contributed to air pollution levels. In 2013, some reports listed Lanzhou among the ten most polluted cities in the world. Large dust storms also blow in from the Gobi Desert. However, the city has taken strong measures to improve air quality. Authorities closed polluting enterprises and moved others to industrial parks. In 2015, Lanzhou was awarded a title for China's climate progress. Despite these challenges, the Yellow River remains a vital part of the landscape. The river carries a high load of silt, giving it a muddy appearance. Recently, endangered Chinese giant salamanders have been found in and near the river.