Lanzhou was an important station on the Silk Road, an ancient trade route connecting Xi'an, then capital of China, with Central Asia and even Europe. Lanzhou is also the only provincial capital on the Yellow River. Considered by travelers as an off-the-beaten-track location, Lanzhou nevertheless offers the visitor a wealth of interesting historical and natural attractions.

Built in the early 20th century, Zhongshan Bridge was the first iron bridge to span the Yellow River. In the vicinity is the ancient Waterwheel Park built during the Ming Dynasty, and the Mother Yellow River Sculpture, constructed in honor of the "cradle of Chinese civilization".

Located in the White Pagoda Hill Park, the White Pagoda is said to have been built by Genghis Khan, in honor of a Tibetan Lama. Meanwhile, a chair lift up the side of the Five Spring Mountain Park offers excellent views of the city and the hills below.

There is plenty for the visitor to see and do in the outskirts of Lanzhou. The Bingling Temple in Yongjing County is often referred to as Thousand Buddha Cave. Also in the outskirts are the ancient Labrang Monastery and the pristine Sangke Prairie.

As an important station on the old Silk Road, Lanzhou's museums are filled with ancient artifacts and historical relics. Gansu Provincial Museum boasts a famous Bronze Galloping Horse and many other artifacts from the Tang Dynasty. The Lanzhou Museum has pottery, porcelains, bronzes, jades, and stones, while the Gansu Museum of Geology reflects the local region's natural mineral resources, fossils and rock formations. Finally, the Lanzhou Earthquake Museum has artifacts that date back to the Song Dynasty, when the first recorded earthquake hit the city.

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