Yellow River City · Gansu, Northwest China
Lanzhou for travel agents
Lanzhou destination guide for agents: Yellow River, Zhongshan bridge, Gansu Provincial Museum, beef noodles and its place on a halal Silk Road route.
What to sell in Lanzhou
Zhongshan Bridge
The first iron bridge across the Yellow River, at the centre of the riverside promenade.
Gansu Provincial Museum
Home of the Bronze Galloping Horse and Silk Road finds.
Baita Mountain
Park on the north bank with the best view over the river and city.
Lanzhou beef noodles
A Hui Muslim dish and the city's signature breakfast.
How we plan Lanzhou
What we arrange
We use Lanzhou as the bridge between Xi'an and the desert west, with two nights for the river and museum. Flights onward to Dunhuang are fixed early because they are less frequent.
Getting there
High-speed trains from Xi'an take about 3 hours. Flights connect to Dunhuang in about 2 hours.
When to go
May–October. Winters are cold and dry.
Halal, veg and Jain
Excellent. Lanzhou has a large Hui Muslim population and halal restaurants are everywhere.
Routes that include Lanzhou
Questions about Lanzhou
Is Lanzhou worth an overnight?
On a Silk Road route, yes: it breaks the journey west and the food alone justifies it. On a short trip it can be a single night.
How do clients get from Lanzhou to Dunhuang?
By domestic flight, about 2 hours. There is also an overnight train, which suits groups wanting the experience.
Updated 2 November 2026. Best for: Silk Road routes · Muslim-friendly programmes.