Lanzhou and the Zhongshan Bridge under construction in 1909 taken by Robert Sterling ClarkThe West Gate (Template:Lang-zh) of the old city wall in 1875. It has been demolished, although its busy neighborhood still bears its name.
Originally in the territory of the ancient Western Qiangs, Lanzhou became part of the territory of the State of Qin in the 6th century BC.
After the fall of the Han dynasty, Lanzhou became the capital of a succession of tribal states. In the 4th century it was briefly the capital of the independent state of Liang. The Northern Wei dynasty (386–534) reestablished Jincheng commandery, renaming the county Jincheng. Mixed with different cultural heritages, the area at present-day Gansu province, from the 5th to the 11th century, became a center for Buddhist study. Under the Sui dynasty (581–618) the city became the seat of Lanzhou prefecture for the first time, retaining this name under the Tang dynasty (618–907). In 763 the area was overrun by the Tibetan Empire and in 843 was conquered by the Tang. Later it fell into the hands of the Western Xia dynasty (which flourished in Qinghai from the 11th to 13th century) and was subsequently absorbed by the Song dynasty (960–1126) in 1081. The name Lanzhou was reestablished, and the county renamed Lanzhuan.
After 1127 it fell into the hands of the Jin dynasty, and after 1235 it came into the possession of the Mongol Empire.
Under the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) the prefecture was demoted to a county and placed under the administration of Lintao superior prefecture, but in 1477 Lanzhou was reestablished as a political unit.
The city acquired its current name in 1656, during the Qing dynasty. When Gansu was made a separate province in 1666, Lanzhou became its capital.
In 1739 the seat of Lintao was transferred to Lanzhou, which was later made a superior prefecture called Lanzhou.
Lanzhou was badly damaged during the Dungan revolt in 1864–1875. In the 1920s and 1930s it became a center of Soviet influence in northwestern China.
During the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) Lanzhou, linked with Xi'an by highway in 1935, became the terminus of the Template:Convert Chinese–Soviet highway, used as a route for Soviet supplies destined for the Xi'an area. This highway remained the primary traffic route of northwestern China until the completion of the railway from Lanzhou to Ürümqi, Xinjiang.
The Battle of Lanzhou
Lanzhou's old Donggang Airport, located near the city centre, was the primary entry point for combat aircraft provided to China under the Sino-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, and along with other targets around Lanzhou, including civilian centers, were heavily bombed by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force and Navy Air Force.<ref name=hoplite>Template:Cite web</ref> Many air battles were fought between the Chinese Air Force and the Imperial Japanese air forces over Lanzhou and surrounding regions from 1937 to 1945, particularly from 1938 to 1941 when the influx of Soviet war materials formed the primary support in China's War of Resistance against the Imperial Japanese invasion. Instances of major air-battles include an IJAAF raid consisting of 30 BR.20 and Ki-21 bombers against civilian targets in Lanzhou on 20 February 1939; 17th PS, 5th PG commander Capt. Cen Zeliu and his deputy commander Capt. Ma Guolian (Ma Kwok-Lim), a Canadian-Chinese volunteer for the Chinese Air Force,<ref>Cheung, 2015, p. 63. Cen (Zeliu) and Ma Kwok-Lim, from Canada, were able to make it back to base with badly damaged planes</ref> shot down the first two bombers in the battle, followed by two more downed as Capt. Cen led another attack on the third formation. They would be joined by pilots of the Soviet Volunteer Group led by Nikolay Garilov and the 15th PS led by Li Debiao, who would all shoot down five more of the Japanese bombers; the northern Chinese air-raid early-warning net headquarters in Xi'an observed 21 of the original 30 IJAAF bombers returning from Lanzhou.
As the Imperial Japanese forces were preparing for Operation Z against the United States and other allies in Southeast Asia and the Pacific by mid-1941, the IJANF were busy training new aircrews in live combat action across China for the upcoming war in the Pacific; on 22 May 1941, Lt. Gao Youxin of the 21st PS, 4th PG engaged an IJNAF raid on Lanzhou in an I-16 fighter aircraft, while avoiding confrontation against the Zero fighters, he shot down a Mitsubishi G3M bomber north of Lanzhou. On the ground, the KMTMuslim Generals Ma Hongkui and Ma Bufang protected Lanzhou with their cavalry troops, putting up such resistance that the Japanese never captured Lanzhou.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Lanzhou is situated on the upper reaches of the Yellow River where it emerges from the mountains and has been a center since early times, being at the southern end of the route leading via the Hexi Corridor across Central Asia. It commands the approaches to the ancient capital area of Chang'an (modern Xi'an) in Shaanxi province from both the west and the northwest, as well as the area of Qinghai Lake via the upper waters of the Yellow River and its tributaries.
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Climate
Lanzhou is situated in the temperate zone and has a semi-arid climate (KöppenBSk) with hot summers and cold and very dry winters. In the urban core, based on 1971–2000 normals,<ref name=WCN/> the monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from Template:Convert in January to Template:Convert in July. The mean annual temperature is Template:Convert, while annual rainfall is Template:Convert,<ref name=WCN/> almost all of which falls from May to October. The winters are so dry that snowfall is sometimes restricted to fall and spring. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 47 percent in September to 57 percent in April, sunshine is generous but not abundant, as the city receives 2,350 hours of bright sunshine annually.<ref name="cma new">Template:Cite web</ref>
The city is located in a narrow and curved river valley with surrounding mountains causing it to be hemmed in blocking a free flow of air. According to the National Environmental Analysis released by Tsinghua University and The Asian Development Bank in January 2013, Lanzhou was among the ten most air-polluted cities in the world.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Air quality reportedly was so poor that at times one could not see Lanshan, the mountain rising up along the south side of the city.<ref name="Xinhua 2014"/> Lanzhou is also the home of many factories, including some involved in petroleum processing, and suffers from large dust storms kicked up from the Gobi Desert, especially in the winter and spring. In 2011, using Chinese statistics, the World Health Organization reported that Lanzhou had the worst air quality among eleven western Chinese cities. Its annual mean PM10 μg/m3 of 150 is 7 times the safe level established by the World Health Organization. It was worse than Beijing with its reading of 121.<ref>WHO report OAP_database_8_2011.xls</ref>
Since then, authorities have taken measures to improve air quality, which have largely been successful. "Thirteen polluting enterprises with excessive capacity have been closed, more than 200 highly polluting enterprises were suspended in winter, and 78 industrial enterprises have moved to an industrial park outside the city."<ref name="Xinhua 2014">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2015 it was awarded China's climate progress title. As a city once unable to be spotted from satellites, Lanzhou has taken various measures to combat air pollution in recent years, having reduced its Air Pollution Index at the fastest speed across China.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to the 2018 WHO database,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> of 2700 towns listed, Lanzhou has the 158th highest level of PM 2.5 pollution, with an average of 54 micrograms per cubic meter (twice that of Milan). The large particle PM10 remains high, at 132 micrograms per cubic meter, in part as a result of sand storms.
The reach of the Yellow River at Lanzhou carries a high load of silt, giving the river its characteristic muddy appearance; however water quality in this reach is better than the "fetid outflow that barely passes for water two hours downstream" (2008).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In recent years, several specimens of the endangered Chinese giant salamander have been found in and near the Yellow River in Lanzhou.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On April 11, 2014, Lanzhou officials advised residents not to drink tap water, because benzene levels were 20 times the national limit of 10 micrograms per liter.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The city water supply suspected industrial chemical production to be the culprit, similar to what happened in the 2005 Jilin chemical plant explosions.<ref name=WSJ>Template:Cite news</ref>
Lanzhou experiences earthquakes regularly, although usually at low intensities. In 1920 a large earthquake was experienced killing more than 100,000 people in Ningxia and Eastern Gansu province, although only 42 were killed in Lanzhou itself, the low number being attributed to the strong yet flexible nature of the wooden buildings in the city.<ref>"The Earthquake," E. J. Mann in Links with China and Other Lands, No. 31, April 1921, Lanzhou: China Inland Mission (quarterly) Bound volume in MS 380302, Papers of Ebenezer and Mabel Mann, SOAS, 331.[1]Template:Webarchive</ref> Lanzhou was also affected by 2008 Sichuan earthquake in 2008.
Demographics
As of the 2020 Chinese census, Lanzhou surpassed 4 million population for the first time, with a total population of 4,359,446 inhabitants and 3,042,863 in the built-up (or metro) area of 1,112.9 square kilometres (429.7 sq mi) made of the 4 central urban districts (Chengguan, Qilihe, Anning and Xigu District). Lanzhou New Area, near the airport and Honggu Districts are not yet conurbated. The growth increased significantly after a period of slower growth. The strong growth has been attributed to parents seeking better education opportunities for their children, retired migrant workers returning to Gansu, improved services in the city and government policies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sport
The 14,000-capacity Northwest Minzu University Stadium<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is one of the main sports venues in the city. It is mostly used for football games. A new sports center complex, including a stadium with a capacity of 60,000 spectators and a swimming hall, is under development.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Note labelOn August 20, 2012, Lanzhou New Area was approved by the State Council of China's Central Government.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2019, Lanzhou New Area was formally established as a county-level division of Lanzhou, its area being split off from Yongdeng and Gaolan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The updated area and population of Yongdeng and Gaolan are not yet reflected in the table.
The Five Spring Mountain Park (Template:Lang), located on the northern side of Gaolan Mountain, is renowned for its five springs and numerous Buddhist temples, featuring many ancient architectural sites.
Baita Mountain Park (Template:Lang) was built close to the mountains at an elevation of Template:Convert and opened in 1958 across Zhongshan Bridge.
Lanzhou Botanical Garden PondThe Lanzhou Botanical Garden (Template:Lang), located in the Anning District, has a large variety of trees, flowers and other plants.
Lanzhou Museum (Template:Lang), is an important cultural unit on the Silk Road. As of October 2017, the collection contains more than 13,000 pieces of collections, including pottery, porcelain, bronze, calligraphy, coins, jade, stoneware, etc. There are 52 national first-class cultural relics, 78 national second-level cultural relics and 682 national third-level cultural relics.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Since 1949 Lanzhou has been transformed from the capital of a poverty-stricken province into the center of a major industrial area. It was one of the first cities in China to industrialize, as a focus of the First and Second Five-Year Plans.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The GDP per capita of Lanzhou was 25,566 (RMB) (US$3,681) in 2008, ranking it at number 134 among 659 Chinese cities.Template:Citation needed In 2015, the GDP per capita had grown to 57,191 RMB (US$9,182.28)<ref name=srssn>Template:Cite web</ref> and the city ranked at place 100 for total GDP of Chinese cities.<ref name=tj-xinhuanet>Template:Cite web</ref>
Institutions
The International Solar Energy Center (UNIDO-ISEC) is located in Lanzhou's Chengguan district.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Gansu has one of the largest oil refineries in the country and Lanzhou itself is the center of the province's petrochemical industry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The refinery is linked to the fields at Yumen by pipeline. It also manufactures equipment for the oil industry.
Lanzhou has a large textile industry, particularly noted for the production of woolen and leather goods. In addition, Lanzhou produces locomotives and rolling stock for the northwestern railways, as well as machine tools and mining equipment. Aluminum products, industrial chemicals, and fertilizers are produced on a large scale, and there is a large rubber industry. Copper is mined in nearby Gaolan.
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Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport is the main airport serving Lanzhou, it is located Template:Convert north of Lanzhou. It opened for public service in 1970.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The airport offers direct connections to over 70 international and domestic destinations.
Railway
Lanzhou Railway StationLanzhou West Railway Station
Subway
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Lanzhou was the second city in northwest China to announce the construction of a subway line, in August 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The urban railway network, Lanzhou Metro, is planned to consist of six subway lines running Template:Convert. The first line, which is completely underground, opened in June 2019. Lanzhou Metro Line 2 (First-stage project), opened in June 2023. Passengers can transfer between Line 1 and Line 2 at Dongfanghong Square Station and Wulipu Station.<ref name=lanzhou1>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Lanxin Railway to the west and northwest (with direct trains to western Gansu and Ürümqi, and further connections to other points in Xinjiang and to Kazakhstan)
In 2016, Lanzhou was ranked 4th of Chinese cities with the worst rush hour traffic jams;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> however, by 2017, after completion of an urban ring road, it dropped to 33rd place.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
For long-distance buses, there are three major bus stations in the urban area, West Bus Station<ref>keyunzhan.com/jieshao-9314/</ref> in Xiaoxihu neighbourhood, East Bus Station<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> near Lanzhou Station and South Bus Station<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> near G75 Lanzhou–Haikou Expressway terminus. Furthermore, there are a total of 132 local city bus lines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These have their main node station at Xiguan.
The city is the cultural centre of Gansu. It is home to many different ethnic groups and their respective cultures, but the most prominent three groups are the Han, Hui, and Zang.
Cuisine: Lanzhou beef noodles are well known throughout China. The city of Lanzhou is home to over 1,000 beef noodle restaurants.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The root of the lily, and many different kinds of mutton are important elements of Lanzhou's food culture.
Cheung, Raymond. OSPREY AIRCRAFT OF THE ACES 126: Aces of the Republic of China Air Force. Oxford: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2015. Template:ISBN.
徐 (Xú), 露梅 (Lùméi). 隕落 (Fallen): 682位空军英烈的生死档案 - 抗战空军英烈档案大解密 (A Decryption of 682 Air Force Heroes of The War of Resistance-WWII and Their Martyrdom). 东城区, 北京， 中国: 团结出版社, 2016. Template:ISBN.
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