Lanzhou, leave your worries behind.

It's not my first time in Lanzhou, but I always come and go in a hurry. This time, I set aside two days to explore the city and enjoy its culinary delights.

☀️Must-visit: Shaanxi History Museum
I originally planned to visit the museum in the last few days, but I received a notice that it was about to close. Luckily, the first day I arrived in Lanzhou was the last day it was open, so I quickly booked a ticket online and headed straight to the museum with my suitcase. There are lockers and a storage room at the entrance. The storage room can store large suitcases, but it closes at 4:30 pm, so you need to leave early. If you're short on time, head straight to the second floor. The famous ugly doll souvenirs are sold on several floors, but the largest store is on the first floor, and it closes the latest.

🏠Zhongshan Bridge - Baita Mountain Park
Zhongshan Bridge is located in the city center, and flocks of pigeons often rest on its top. Across the bridge is Baita Mountain Park, which has an ancient temple on the mountain. Many locals climb the mountain, and you can also take a cable car. Afterward, you can enjoy tea by the riverbank. There is a street with snacks nearby, and Xiaoxihu Park is not far away. Xiaoxihu Park is famous for the Yellow River Mother Sculpture, and you can try riding a sheepskin raft nearby if you've never done it before.

🌃Must-see night view: Lanshan Park
After dinner, you can climb to the viewing platform. There is a paifang (archway) halfway up the mountain, and beyond it are the Ertai Pavilion and Santai Pavilion. We stopped at Ertai Pavilion, which already offered a great view, and didn't go further up because we were worried about not finding a ride back at night. However, we still had to wait a while for a ride back. At night, Lanzhou transforms into "Lanhattan," but I don't know if it was the wrong time or something else, but it seemed like the lights weren't fully on.

What to eat in Lanzhou:
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🐑Hand-pulled lamb: It's actually boiled lamb, very tender, served with dipping sauce. The lamb here is delicious no matter where you go.

🍝Beef noodles: Recommended by a Didi driver, "Bai Lao Qi" is located in a small alley. We ordered two bowls of thin noodles and half a pound of beef, overestimating our appetite. The portions were large, and we couldn't finish them. It's a very local restaurant with halal ingredients, popular with both tourists and locals. The cold-cut beef in the noodles miraculously melts in your mouth.

🍲Axiya Northwest Cuisine: A restaurant with a great ambiance and many branches, popular with locals. The service is fast. We ordered stewed lamb, beef tendon, stir-fried shallots with eggs, and milk rice. The lamb was tender, the beef tendon was mildly spicy, and the shallots were a first for me, but I liked the taste. The milk rice had a unique flavor, not as sweet as I expected, but rather mild and delicious. This place is great for groups, so you can try more dishes.

Post by AUSTIN RICE | Nov 22, 2024