Silk Road: Lanzhou

Posted in Lifestyle

In 2005, as part of our Silk Road tour, Lanzhou, Gansu was one of our stops.

“Lanzhou (Chinese: 兰州) is the capital and largest city of Gansu Province in Northwest China. Located on the banks of the Yellow River, it is a key regional transportation hub, connecting areas further west by rail to the eastern half of the country. Historically, it has been a major link on the Northern Silk Road and it stands to become a major hub on the New Eurasian Land Bridge.” — Wikipedia

Waterwheel Expo Garden

As Lanzhou was the only city that the Yellow flowed through, irrigation machines were an important part of their history. The two water wheels in the photo were built to work like the historical water wheels.

Yellow River Mother Sculpture

“Traditionally, it is believed that the Chinese civilization originated in the Yellow River basin. The Chinese refer to the river as “the Mother River” and “the cradle of the Chinese civilization”. During the long history of China, the Yellow River has been considered a blessing as well as a curse and has been nicknamed both “China’s Pride” and “China’s Sorrow”.“—- Wikipedia

So, the Yellow River was symbolized by the Mother of the sculpture.

Baitashan Park

White Pagoda Mountain Park got its name from the white pagoda at the top of the mountain. You could see it at the very top in my photos.

Zhongshan Bridge

This bridge was the first permanent bridge to be built over the Yellow River. It was completed in 1909.

Gansu Provincial Museum

The Flying Horse of Gansu, also known as the Bronze Running Horse (銅奔馬) or the Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow (馬踏飛燕), is a Chinese bronze sculpture from circa the 2nd century CE. Discovered in 1969 near the city of Wuwei, in the province of Gansu, it is now in the Gansu Provincial Museum. “Perfectly balanced,” says one authority, “on the one hoof which rests without pressure on a flying swallow, it is a remarkable example of three-dimensional form and of animal portraiture with the head vividly expressing mettlesome vigor.”—- Wikipedia

Dafo (Wofo) Temple

The translation of the name would be Big Buddha Temple or Sleeping Buddha Temple. This temple was build during Western Xia dynasty in 1098, it housed the biggest sleeping Buddha statue in China.

Unfortunately, the statue was being repaired so I didn’t get a decent photo of it. Please see the image from Wikipedia.

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia
White Clay Stupa at the background

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20 thoughts on “Silk Road: Lanzhou”

  4. Oh, thanks for sharing this trip. It made me miss travel a lot and remembered how fun it was. The flying horses looks amazing. It must have been nice to see all these history and culture.

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  5. Pingback: Outstanding Blogger Award – Purple Butterflies and Winter Dragonflies

  6. After you publish each collection, Vivian, it seems you’ve shown us everything there is to see. Then, when you introduce the next set of pictures, I’m delighted to be wrong. Nice!

    Obviously, you agree, as these memories still motivate you after 15 years. Indeed, they’re yours to cherish forever.

    Thanks for giving us a peek!

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  8. Wow, thanks for sharing your cool pictures and the history snippets! I had seen the Yellow River referenced in a number of Chinese texts and myths, but I hadn’t known why it was so important. And that Flying Horse sculpture is fascinating!

    Liked by 1 person

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