On the Yellow River, this city was a caravan stop as early as the second century BC. Today, Lanzhou is overcoming its notorious air pollution—you can now get a great view from the Baitashan (White Pagoda Mountain Park). We also recommend seeing the Wuquan Shan Gongyuan (city park) and the Provincial Museum. Try to catch a performance of the Gansu Province Dance Ensemble.
But most visitors go to Lanzhou to see Buddhist cave art. About 30 mi/50 km away—by road and boat through dramatic scenery—are the Bingling Si Caves, where more than 180 caves contain statues, stucco sculptures and murals. The largest Buddha statue there is 89 ft/27 m tall. Better, but more distant, are the Maiji Caves, 210 mi/350 km from Lanzhou. The caves at Datong or Dunhuang are better still.
You may want to avoid Lanzhou in winter, when temperatures can dip to -12 F/-25 C. 735 mi/1,200 km southwest of Beijing.
