Gansu comprises a vast territory stretching from central to northwest China, even sharing a short border with Mongolia in the northwest.
The region, known since antiquity as Gansu or Hexi (west of the Yellow River). The most populated area is situated along the middle reaches of the Yellow River, where it emerges from the high plateaus of western China. These loess areas are among the cradles of Chinese civilization.
A significant portion of the province lies above 1000 meters above sea level. The western part of Gansu is dominated by the Qilian Mountains, rising up to 5500 meters, while to the east stretch the Gobi and Alashan deserts. Overall, about 70% of the territory consists of mountains or plateaus. The snow line is at 4000 meters, and the tree line at 3300 meters.
During the Han Dynasty, the region received its first developmental impetus as trade along the Silk Road reached an initial peak, engaging neighboring Central Asian peoples and even the Romans.
In the year 2000, Gansu had a population of 25.62 million people, with 91.7% being Han Chinese and 1.856 million belonging to ethnic minority groups (8.3%). Among the ethnic minorities, the Hui, Tibetans, Dongxiang, Tu, Manchus, Yugur, Baoan, Mongols, Salar, and Kazakhs each had populations exceeding one thousand people.
Lanzhou is the capital city of Gansu Province in the northwest of the People's Republic of China, located at the geometric center of the Chinese mainland. Since at least the first millennium BCE, the city has been a significant junction on the historical northern Silk Road and a crucial crossing point over the Yellow River.
It served as a border crossing between the Chinese heartland in the southeast and the warring tribes to the north and west. To protect the city, the Great Wall was extended westward to Yumen. Lanzhou sits on the upper reaches of the Yellow River at an elevation of 1518 meters.
It is unique as the only city in China through which the Yellow River flows, dividing the city for a length of 50 kilometers. The narrowest width of the city is 1 kilometer.
The largest airport in Gansu, located about 67 kilometers north of the city of Lanzhou, connects the city with all major Chinese metropolises, such as Beijing, Shanghai Guangzhou and more. The airport is continuously being expanded and has had a connection with the Lanzhou-Zhongchuan Airport train since 2015. Shuttle buses and taxis are also available.
