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[Lanzhou Free Travel] How to enjoy a 3-day and 2-night trip to Lanzhou, a comprehensive itinerary planning guide!

Travellers Magicians
Travellers Magicians
Sep 17, 2025

Contents

  • Trip Planner
  • Lanzhou itinerary planning overview
  • Lanzhou Day 1
    • Gansu Provincial Museum
    • Lanzhou Old Street
  • Lanzhou Day 2
    • Lanzhou Ink Danxia Tourist Scenic Area
  • Day 3 in Lanzhou
    • Yellow River Mother Statue
    • Baitashan Park
    • Yellow River Iron Bridge
    • Lanzhou Yellow River Cruise
    • Nanguan ethnic flavor street
  • Show more

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This guide carefully plans a perfect 3-day and 2-night trip to Lanzhou for you. Covering local attractions, authentic food and popular shopping areas, you can easily travel around Lanzhou and enjoy a worry-free holiday. Whether it is an in-depth exploration of history and culture or a fashionable check-in in a modern city, this guide can meet your needs. Come and start your wonderful trip to Lanzhou!




View the Yellow River rushing through the city from the summit of Baita Mountain, sample various fermented rice wines at Nanguan Night Market, see artifacts from the Silk Road in the museum, and sip tea and eat gray beans in the ancient street.

Take a boat ride to see the lights on both sides of the Yellow River, take pictures of the vibrant mountains in ink-and-wash Danxia paintings, and spend a day taking in the city's bustle and the grandeur of the mountains and waterways.


date journey
Day 1 Gansu Provincial Museum->Lanzhou Old Street
Day 2 Lanzhou Ink Danxia Tourist Scenic Area
Day 3 Yellow River Mother Statue->Baitashan Park->Yellow River Iron Bridge->Lanzhou Yellow River Cruise->Nanguan Ethnic Flavor Street


The Qilihe District of Lanzhou City is home to the Gansu Provincial Museum. It contains many priceless cultural artifacts and antiquities. In terms of its grandeur and depth, it is one of the best museums in the nation. It is one of the most recognizable structures in Lanzhou. Many cultural relics representing the Western Regions, Central Plains, and Tibetan areas have been unearthed and put on display because Gansu is situated on the Silk Road and serves as the border between Han and Tibetan areas. As a result, the museum's collection of cultural relics is rich, colorful, and one-of-a-kind, making it well worth a visit. The bronze statue of Horse Stepping on Flying Swallow and the brick painting of Postman in the museum are famous and precious national treasures that you cannot miss when visiting.

The museum's three floors are separated into a number of permanent display halls with different themes, including the Paleontology display, the Silk Road Civilization Exhibition, the Gansu Buddhist Art Exhibition, the Gansu Painted Pottery Exhibition, and Red Gansu. You can visit based on your interests, but the three themes of the Silk Road, Buddhism, and Painted Pottery are the most fascinating. Additionally, the first floor has a temporary exhibition hall that frequently holds short-term displays of artwork and cultural artifacts. The museum has a lot of exhibits, and it typically takes over half a day to see them all.

The main display of the Gansu Provincial Museum is the Silk Road Civilization Exhibition, which is situated on the second level. This is where you can see the well-known bronze statue of Horse Stepping on Flying Swallow. This bronze statue's shape has come to represent Chinese travel. The statue demonstrates the exceptional casting abilities of ancient times by standing solidly with only one foot on the ground. The entire museum's value is Horse Stepping on Flying Swallow. Here is also the well-known block with the postman's picture on it. Today, the image of the postman that was painted on it has come to represent China's postal sector. The museum holds numerous priceless cultural artifacts from the ancient Silk Road, including artifacts from the Central Plains culture, artifacts left by Western regions and even European civilizations that came here via the Silk Road in the past, and the distinctive culture left by Islam in ancient China, in addition to these two national treasures. Sand tables and other techniques have been used in some places to revive the ancient Western Regions countries' ways of life and customs, which is incredibly eye-opening and ethnic.

Situated on the third level, the Gansu Buddhist Art Exhibition is a significant display within the museum. There are enormous white pagodas, Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheels, and grottoes that are replicas of the Mogao and Maijishan grottoes. Entering the exhibition space is like entering a grand, colossal temple. The museum also features some really beautiful Buddha statues, ritual tools, etc. There are priceless religious artifacts from Tibetan Buddhism as well as historical artifacts from Han Buddhism. Only in places like Gansu, where Tibetan Buddhism and Han Buddhism coexist, can such a combination be observed. It's really unique.

The third floor also houses the Gansu Painted Pottery Exhibition. You get the impression that you are in an ancient tribe as soon as you go into the exhibition hall. They recreate the working tribesmen and the old thatched cottages. If you look attentively at the portraits in the exhibition hall, you'll think they're actual individuals because they are so realistic. Numerous ceramic items from the Majiayao, Qijia, Yangshao, and other four- to five-thousand-year-old cultures are on show at the museum. Even though they were thousands of years old, the pottery was already incredibly attractive at the time, with many lovely patterns and distinctive shapes that are seen one at a time.

Two display halls make up the paleontology theme exhibition. The fossil exhibit, which features the remains of extinct animals like dinosaurs, is located on the second floor. The most well-known is the largest ancient elephant fossil found in my nation, the Yellow River elephant fossil. Models of extinct elephants and dinosaurs are on display on the third floor. Children will like it more when they enter the exhibition hall since it feels like they are in the dinosaur world. You may see revolutionary artifacts from the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region and the Nanliang base during the revolutionary era in the second-floor Red Gansu theme exhibition hall.

There is a cafe on the second floor of the museum. The prices are the same as those in ordinary cafes outside. If you are tired, you can go in and have a cup of coffee and take a break. There are volunteers in the museum who provide explanations from time to time, but you may not always meet them. You need to make an appointment in advance by phone to ask for a specialist explanation. The price varies from about 100 to 300 yuan depending on the number of people and the language. You can also connect to the museum's wireless network via your mobile phone and listen to the voice explanation by scanning the QR code of the cultural relics. In addition, the museum also provides free wheelchair rental and luggage storage services. Please visit the official website for details.


Address: No. 3, Xijin West Road, Qilihe District, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province

Business hours: Open from 09:00 to 17:00 tomorrow (no admission at 16:30)

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❤️Gansu Provincial Museum is located in Qilihe District, Lanzhou City. It is the largest comprehensive museum in Gansu Province. It is also a national first-class museum. It has rich collections. It shows the long history and culture of Gansu and the brilliant achievements of the Silk Road. Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00-17:00 (no admission at 16:30). Closed on Monday. Except for statutory holidays. Tickets are free and must be collected with ID card. The main exhibition hall is the Silk Road Civilization Exhibition. It shows the Silk Road. Precious cultural relics 😍 include bronze galloping horses 👉🏻 horse stepping on flying swallows 👉🏻 Han Dynasty bamboo slips, etc. Gansu Painted Pottery Exhibition ❣️ Focuses on the painted pottery culture from the Neolithic Age to the Bronze Age Gansu Buddhist Art Exhibition 👉🏻 Presents the essence of Buddhist art such as Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes 👉🏻 Maijishan Grottoes Paleontological Fossil Exhibition 👉🏻 Exhibits dinosaur fossils and other paleontological specimens found in Gansu✅Treasures of the Museum Bronze Galloping Horses 👉🏻 Horse Stepping on Flying Swallows 👉🏻 Eastern Han Dynasty Bronze Ware 👉🏻 Chinese Tourism Logo 🥰 Human Head Shaped Painted Pottery Bottle 👉🏻 Neolithic Majiayao Cultural Treasures


The city heart of Lanzhou is where you'll find Lanzhou Old Street. In the northwest, it seeks to establish a 24-hour business district. In order to create a place in Lanzhou where people can eat, drink, play, and have fun, the development strategy of "dry, hot, red, and taste" brings together national brands, the night economy, trendy clothing brands, retail stores, experience-based business formats, catering, and entertainment facilities, among other things.

Address: No. 606, Xijin West Road, Tumendun Street, Qilihe District, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province

Opening hours: 24 hours a day, all year round

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Lanzhou Old Street is indeed a world of food, with delicacies from different places gathered here, especially the local delicacies which are very rich and can satisfy the different tastes of the public, including Xianhezhuang, Zhazha Lao Hotpot, Cage Western Food, Wa Oh Charcoal-grilled Bullfrog, Bantian Yao Grilled Fish, Yanzhi Noodles, Mi Tan Roasted Pig Man Grilled Meat, Xin Sanbu Beef Brisket, Jie Niu Chaoshan Fresh Beef Hotpot... Beverage collection: Cha Baidao, Fengqiwu, Wu Tiao Ren Tangshui Shop, Shuyi Roasted Grass Jelly. Snack collection: Wenguo Shouzhu (Halal): A place where you can eat on the boat, serving Northwest specialties such as hand-pulled lamb, Sanpaotai, Dongxiang potato chips, etc. Ma Ye Egg and Milk Fermented Glutinous Rice Wine (Halal): This is the earliest, most authentic and most famous milk and egg fermented glutinous rice wine. Add fermented glutinous rice and eggs to milk and stir slowly. Finally, add crushed peanuts and raisins. It is sweet and delicious. Pei'afu Apricot Peel Tea: My favorite and most recommended apricot peel tea among the many apricot peel teas in Lanzhou, with just the right sweetness and sourness~ A cup of it in the summer is absolutely amazing~ 504 Ice Cream: A childhood memory~ I like chocolate the most, and now they have launched new flavors such as sweet embryo and milk and egg fermented glutinous rice. Ma San Potato Chips: I have been eating at this shop since I was a child. Potato chips, bean curd skin, sugar-coated rice cakes, and carotene are really a classic combination. Manfu Coffee Shop: I ordered two cups of "Lanzhou Brand" tea series, Osmanthus Hip-Hop and Burning Tea Battle, which are my favorite flavors. Fragrant milk tea, not sweet nor greasy ~ Ding Puff: I ordered several flavors of puff, and I like the dark chocolate puff the most; Snow Skin Mochi: I recommend the mango one, you must eat it as soon as you buy it, the ice cream inside will melt. Naruto Taiyaki Honpo: Their oden and octopus balls are the most recommended. The above delicacies are really good. After eating them, the fragrance lingers in your mouth and you can’t stop eating.



The Lanzhou Municipal Party Committee and Lanzhou Municipal Government constructed the Lanzhou Ink Danxia Tourist Scenic Area, a major cultural tourist project in Gansu Province. The picturesque region is situated between two counties and two districts (Yongdeng County, Gaolan County, Xigu District, and Anning District) on the Yellow River's bank. Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport is 30 kilometers distant, while Lanzhou City is 13 kilometers away. The Danxia landform group is comparatively close to China's major metropolitan area.The core tourist area of the first phase is 25 square kilometers, while the entire intended area of the scenic location is 400 square kilometers. It is the biggest similar landform landscape found in China. The Hongshan Bay landform, which includes Danxia cliffs, isolated peaks, isolated valleys, a line of sky, wind-moving stones, and other distinctive sceneries, dominates the picturesque area. Magnificent mountains of many kinds and sizes encircle it, as does water. Relevant specialists refer to it as a "golden tourism resource treasure house" on the Silk Road and consider it a masterpiece of the Danxia landform landscape.


Lanzhou Ink Danxia Tourist Scenic Area

In addition to the Silk Road Ancient Road Scenic Gate, Shajing Tribe Cultural Square, Shayun Camel Bell Scenic Avenue, and the 2,550-meter-long Danxia Plank Road, the scenic area, which is based on the Danxia landform, features seven viewing platforms: Silk Road Glow, Silk Road Eagle, Flying Exploration, Nine Colors of Painting, Danxiu Yingtian, Cuifeng Lantian, and Danding Lansheng.

As a key cultural tourism project in the province, Lanzhou Ink Danxia Tourist Scenic Area adheres to the principles of "ecological protection, green development, maintaining original appearance, and moderate development", relying on Lanzhou's unique resource advantages, looking at the domestic tourism market, cultivating a new growth pole for Lanzhou's cultural tourism industry, and creating a new highland for Lanzhou's cultural tourism.


Address: Xinghua Village, Shuping Town, Yongdeng County, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province

Business hours: Open from 08:30 to 17:30 tomorrow

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I like it, it’s amazing, I feel the romance of the Northwest! The weather was great when we went there. It was a sunny day with bright sunshine. The scenery was amazing. The facilities and services were also good. There was an elevator on the observation deck and trams for rent at the walking distance. Although there were many projects in the scenic area, the aesthetics were still good. There were also many service staff so we didn't get lost. Their attitude was also patient and friendly. Thumbs up! There are very few people on the plank road at the end of the scenic spot. I climbed to the highest point under the scorching sun and had a panoramic view of all the other mountains! The colorful Danxia is worthy of its reputation!


On the south bank of the Yellow River in Lanzhou, the Yellow River Mother Sculpture is situated in the center of Binhe Road. Ms. He E, a sculptor, made it. The "Mother" and "Baby Boy" in the Yellow River Mother Sculpture represent the Yellow River Mother, who sustains the Chinese nation's boundless vitality and is unstoppable, as well as the contented, fortunate, and prosperous Chinese offspring. The sculpture's base is etched with fish and water ripple designs that were inspired by Gansu's antique painted ceramics.

Address: Middle section of Binhe Road, Qilihe District, Lanzhou City (north side of Xiaoxihu Park)

Opening hours: 24 hours a day, all year round

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The Yellow River Mother Statue has a beautiful environment and is the best place for weekend leisure and vacation. There are also cruise ships, speedboats and sheepskin rafts at the Yellow River Pier, where you can take a boat tour of the Yellow River and the Waterwheel Park, etc. It is suitable for family fun and taking photos


One of Lanzhou City's major attractions is Baita Mountain Park, which is situated close to the city center on the north bank of the Yellow River. The historic white pagoda atop Baita Mountain is the reason for its fame. The mountain is also home to a large number of palace-like structures. The structures are surrounded by a large number of trees. It is an excellent location for photography, exercise, and mountain climbing. More significantly, ascending Baita Mountain will provide you with an incredibly expansive field of vision and a breathtaking panoramic picture over Lanzhou city.

Address: No. 1 Baitashan, Chengguan District, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province

Business hours: 07:00-20:00 in winter, 06:00-21:30 in summer

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Baita Mountain Park is located at No. 1 Baita Mountain, Chengguan District, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, at 30°05′ north latitude and 119°47′ east longitude, and is located in the center of the Yellow River Scenic Line. The total area is 101.35 hectares, with convenient transportation, 1 km away from Lanzhou Xiguan Metro Station and 6.8 km away from the High-speed Railway West Station. In 1960, Baitashan Park was fully opened. In 1963, Baitashan Park began selling tickets for admission. The spatial feature of Lanzhou City, "two mountains and a river", determines the layout of the mountain parks on both sides of Lanzhou. They are built against the mountains, and scenic spots are built on the high points of the mountain system to form a view of the opposite mountain and a visual corridor. Standing on the top of the mountain and observing the urban landscape, one can see an introverted and bidirectional visual space type. There are many types of buildings in Baitashan Park. There are not only six Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings, including Baita Temple (Ci'en Temple), Sanxing Hall, Sanguan Hall, Fayu Temple, Yunyue Temple and Fenglin Xiangniao Archway, but also the "Jiuqu Anlan" open hall, the second stage archway, the third stage hall, etc., which were relocated and newly built in 1958. It has a temperate continental climate. The annual average temperature is 10.3℃. Located in the transition zone between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Loess Plateau, it has short and hot summers, long and cold winters, and a large temperature difference between day and night. The landform types are rich, and the overall terrain increases from south to north. The altitude is between 2238 and 2513 meters. It belongs to the loess ridge landform with mountains overlapping one another, and it is also a natural barrier to the north of Lanzhou city. In 2013, the Lanzhou Municipal Bureau of Landscape and Greening selected Baitashan Park as a pilot for the star-rated park selection from among the 12 parks in the city.


The Yellow River Iron Bridge, also known as the Zhongshan Bridge, is one of the landmark buildings in Lanzhou and a must-visit place for tourists visiting Lanzhou. This iron bridge was built in the late Qing Dynasty and was the first permanent bridge across the Yellow River at that time. The iron bridge was built by the Germans and all the materials were shipped from Germany. On the north bank of the Yellow River Iron Bridge is the famous Baita Mountain, which has many buildings and historical sites. Many people like to go there to climb mountains and take pictures of the Yellow River Iron Bridge and the panoramic view of Lanzhou.

Address: At the foot of Baita Mountain, north of the middle section of Binhe Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province

Opening hours: 24 hours a day, all year round

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Lanzhou Yellow River Bridge, also known as Zhongshan Bridge, is located in the middle section of Binhe Road at the foot of Baita Mountain in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province. It was built in a collaborative model with a design by an American bridge company, construction by the German firm of Taylor & Co., and construction by Chinese craftsmen. On May 9, 1908, the 34th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, the construction of the Lanzhou Yellow River Iron Bridge officially started. On August 19, 1909, the first year of the Xuantong reign of the Qing Dynasty, the Lanzhou Yellow River Bridge was completed and opened to traffic. In the 17th year of the Republic of China (1928), it was named "Zhongshan Bridge" in memory of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. The Lanzhou Yellow River Bridge is 233.5 meters long and 8.36 meters wide. It has four piers and five holes, and the span of each hole is 45.9 meters. The upper structure is a trapezoidal through-type steel truss. Each span is a truss system composed of an over-static structure and is divided into five rectangles by vertical steel frames. The Lanzhou Yellow River Bridge is the first bridge in the entire northwest region of China in modern history that was built with foreign technology. This special construction background and construction period make the Lanzhou Yellow River Bridge the key to studying modern history and it occupies a unique position in China's architectural history. As a transportation structure project, the Lanzhou Yellow River Bridge embodies the style, school and characteristics of the development of architectural art during the Westernization Movement in modern Chinese history. At the same time, the transportation process of materials needed to build the bridge also created a miracle in modern transportation history. On May 25, 2006, the Lanzhou Yellow River Iron Bridge was announced by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as the sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units. [5] On April 12, 2019, it was selected into the “China Industrial Heritage Protection List (Second Batch)” hosted by the Publicity and Propaganda Department of the China Association for Science and Technology and co-organized by the Innovation Strategy Institute of the China Association for Science and Technology and the China Urban Planning Society. [6]



Lanzhou Yellow River Cruise is a unique water sightseeing experience that takes you to appreciate the magnificent scenery of the Yellow River and the city charm of Lanzhou. As a tourism project that combines natural landscape with urban culture, Lanzhou Yellow River Cruise provides tourists with a comfortable and unique perspective to appreciate the majesty and tranquility of this mother river.

The Lanzhou Yellow River Cruise travels slowly along the Yellow River. Visitors can enjoy the scenery on both sides of the river on the deck and feel the rushing water of the Yellow River and the prosperity of the city. The landmarks we passed along the way, such as Zhongshan Bridge, Baita Mountain, and the Yellow River Iron Bridge, are all the best places for photography and viewing. Professional tour guides will explain historical stories and cultural backgrounds along the way to tourists, allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of Lanzhou's history and development while enjoying the beautiful scenery. Night sailing is even more unique, with the brightly lit city and the tranquil river complementing each other, presenting a charming picture.

Take the Lanzhou Yellow River cruise and sail on the mother river. This is not only a place to appreciate nature and the city, but also an ideal place to experience the Yellow River culture and the charm of Lanzhou.


Address: No. 532, Nanbinhe East Road

Business hours: Open from 19:30-21:00 tomorrow

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Lanzhou is the only provincial capital city where the Yellow River runs through the city! Here, experience the gentleness and peace of the mother river! Here, experience the beautiful and brilliant sunset in Jincheng!



Lanzhou, Gansu's Nanguan Ethnic Flavor Street is the perfect spot to sample the regional food. This street is well-known for its abundance of ethnic snacks, which combine traditional dishes from many different ethnic groups, such as the Tibetan and Hui. Here, tourists can sample hand-pulled lamb, stuffed pig skin, and other regional delicacies, as well as taste real Lanzhou beef noodles.

A lively and welcoming environment is created by the distinctive decorations of the stores on either side of the street, which combine traditional and modern features. The streets are well-lit at night, merchants welcome clients with open arms, and tourists pour in. It is an excellent location to take in Lanzhou's nightlife. Nanguan National Flavor Street is well-located and offers easy access to transit. It is a good spot for visitors to unwind and eat after seeing other sights because it is close to the city center and important landmarks. To avoid the midday heat and take in the energy of the night market, visitors are encouraged to visit in the evening.


Address: No. 234, Jiuquan Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province

Business hours: Open from 07:00 to 21:00 tomorrow

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The Nanguan National Flavor Street includes: Lanzhou Nanguan Grand Mosque, the Eighth Route Army Office in Gansu and the exit of Gansu Anti-Japanese and National Salvation Exhibition Hall, as well as many halal restaurants. It should be related to the existence of the Grand Mosque. 【Scenery】Many antique buildings. 【Value for money】Free tour.





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