Lanzhou
Capital of Gansu, historic Silk Road hub, and major industrial center.
Lanzhou, formerly known as Lanchow, serves as the capital and largest city of Gansu province in northwestern China. Situated along the banks of the Yellow River, it functions as a critical regional transportation hub, with railways linking the western reaches of the country to the eastern half. Historically, the city was a major link on the Northern Silk Road and is positioned to become a significant hub on the New Eurasian Land Bridge. It is also a center for heavy industry and the petrochemical sector. Geographically, Lanzhou marks the center of China’s land territory and ranks as the third largest city in Northwestern China, following Xi’an and Ürümqi. Beyond its industrial role, it is an important center for scientific research and education in the region, ranking among the top 50 major cities worldwide for scientific research output according to the Nature Index. The city hosts numerous research institutions, including Lanzhou University, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou University of Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, and Lanzhou Jiaotong University.
Originally part of the territory of the ancient Western Qiangs, the area came under the State of Qin in the 6th century BC. During the Han dynasty, it was taken from the Huns and made the seat of Jincheng commandery. From at least the first millennium BC, it was a key crossing point on the Yellow River and a vital stop on the Northern Silk Road. The Great Wall of China was extended to Yumen to protect the city, and remnants of the Wall remain within the modern built-up area. After the Han dynasty, Lanzhou served as the capital of several tribal states, briefly becoming the capital of the independent state of Liang in the 4th century. The Northern Wei dynasty reestablished Jincheng commandery, and from the 5th to the 11th century, the region became a center for Buddhist study. Under the Sui dynasty, the city was first designated the seat of Lanzhou prefecture, a name retained during the Tang dynasty. It was later overrun by the Tibetan Empire, conquered by the Tang, and subsequently fell to the Western Xia dynasty before being absorbed by the Song dynasty in 1081. After 1127, it came under the Jin dynasty, and after 1235, the Mongol Empire. During the Ming dynasty, the prefecture was demoted to a county, but Lanzhou was reestablished as a political unit in
Lore & Background
Originally in the territory of the ancient Western Qiangs, Lanzhou became part of the State of Qin in the 6th century BC. In 81 BC, under the Han dynasty, it was taken from the Xiongnu and made the seat of Jincheng commandery. From at least the first millennium BC it was a major link on the ancient Northern Silk Road and an important historic Yellow River crossing site. Sections of the Han dynasty Great Wall exist in Gansu province, though no established evidence places Qin dynasty Great Wall sections within the modern built-up area of Lanzhou; the Qin wall is located further east and north. After the fall of the Han dynasty, Lanzhou became the capital of a succession of tribal states, and in the 4th century it was briefly the capital of the independent state of Liang. Under the Sui dynasty the city became the seat of Lanzhou prefecture for the first time, retaining this name under the Tang dynasty. The name Lanzhou was reestablished, and the county renamed Lanzhou.
Reader's Guide
Lanzhou's significance stems from its long history as a strategic crossroads on the Northern Silk Road and its role as a gateway between eastern and western China. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, it became the terminus of the Chinese–Soviet highway, a vital route for Soviet supplies, and its Donggang Airport was the primary entry point for combat aircraft provided under the Sino-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact. On the ground, KMT Muslim Generals Ma Hongkui and Ma Bufang protected Lanzhou with their cavalry, preventing Japanese capture. In modern times, Lanzhou is a center for heavy industry, petrochemicals, and scientific research, ranking among the top 50 major cities in the world by scientific research output as tracked by the Nature Index.
Did You Know?
- Lanzhou is the geographical center of China’s land territory.
- During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Lanzhou's Donggang Airport was the primary entry point for combat aircraft provided under the Sino-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lanzhou?
Lanzhou serves as both the provincial capital and the most populous city in Gansu, situated in northwestern China along the Yellow River.
What role does Lanzhou play historically and economically?
The city has long functioned as a critical junction on the Northern Silk Road and a regional transportation crossroads. Today it also anchors heavy manufacturing and petrochemical production for the area.
Where exactly is Lanzhou in relation to the rest of China?
It sits at the geographical midpoint of China's landmass, making it a natural crossroads between the country's eastern and western regions.
How does Lanzhou rank in size among northwestern Chinese cities?
By urban population it is the second-largest city in the northwest, trailing only Xi'an, and it has overtaken Urumqi in overall size.
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