[2025 Lanzhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Lanzhou Forest of Steles (Updated May)

#discoverchina Lanzhou is a city defined by a river, a bowl of noodles, and a book. The Yellow River flows through its heart, the breeze along the riverbank seems to whisper "slow down," and a warm bowl of beef noodles has the power to heal any weary traveler. From this city, the beloved Reader magazine made its way across the world. You’ve got to experience Lanzhou at least once 🌄🍜📖 Start the Day Right with a Bowl of Lanzhou Beef Noodles Nothing beats the ritual of asking the chef for a specific noodle cut and spice level. Even in the airport, a simple bowl with rich chili oil sets the tone for the day. Dive into the City’s History at the Gansu Provincial Museum This museum offers a full view of Lanzhou’s past and culture. Key highlights include: The iconic “Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow” Exhibits on ancient Yellow River fauna Gansu’s painted pottery traditions Buddhist art from across dynasties Fossil displays and Silk Road history Special rotating exhibits (like murals and ancient ceramics during my visit) Lunch with Local Flavor at a Traditional Lamb Restaurant Instead of waiting in line at the hyped-up spots, I opted for a more low-key place that served hand-pulled lamb — juicy, tender, and packed with spices. A perfect taste of northwestern China. Slow Life Along the Yellow River A walk through a peaceful city park (once a royal garden) leads to the famous Yellow River Mother sculpture — a massive granite work symbolizing the lifeblood of the region. The riverside vibe is calm and poetic, perfect for unwinding. Crossing the Historic Zhongshan Bridge This landmark iron bridge spans the Yellow River and offers stunning views. On the way, I grabbed a local-style yogurt milk tea and watched two brave souls paddleboarding across the river — seriously impressive! Across the bridge are more hidden gems: White Pagoda Hill and the Lanzhou Stele Forest — perfect for history lovers and those who enjoy a scenic climb. #thingstodo #travel

In Lanzhou, there is a cultural holy place surrounded by the fragrance of ink - the Lanzhou Stele Forest. This is not only a palace of calligraphy art, but also a history book engraved on stone. If you are passionate about traditional culture and love the art of calligraphy, then this guide will take you on a journey through the Forest of Steles full of charm. Don’t miss it! 🚶‍♂️ 1. Travel recommendations🚗 🚗Transportation - Bus: You can take bus No. 20, No. 35, etc. in the city and get off at Lanzhou Beilin Station. The fare is 1-2 yuan, which is economical, but you must pay attention to the operating hours to avoid missing the last bus. - Taxi: From the city center, the taxi fare is about 20-30 yuan and the journey takes 20-30 minutes. It is convenient and can reach the destination directly. ⌚Best time to visit - In spring and autumn, the weather is cool and comfortable, the scenery around the Forest of Steles is pleasant, the trees are lush and green, or the autumn is getting deeper and the forest is full of colors, which is very suitable for sightseeing. The sun is strong in summer, so be sure to protect yourself from the sun; it is relatively cold in winter, so you can choose according to your personal preference. 2. Classic scenery📜 🌟Grass Saint Pavilion - This is the landmark building of Lanzhou Stele Forest, 33 meters high, 7 floors, and magnificent. The pavilion houses a large number of inscriptions on cursive script by famous ancient calligraphers, such as Huaisu, Zhang Zhi and other masters, allowing you to experience the boldness and elegance of cursive script up close and appreciate the unique charm of calligraphy art. Climbing up the Grass Saint Pavilion, you can overlook the magnificent scenery of Lanzhou City and have a panoramic view of the Yellow River Scenic Line. 🌟Lin Zexu Memorial Hall - The museum displays Lin Zexu's handwritten couplets, letters and other inscriptions, showing the calligraphy style of this national hero. Wandering through it, you can appreciate the art of calligraphy, gain a deeper understanding of Lin Zexu's life and his historical footprints in Lanzhou, and feel that turbulent period of history. 🌟Calligraphy and stele carving area for celebrities from past dynasties - Here are gathered the calligraphy inscriptions of famous people from the Qin and Han Dynasties to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, including seal script, official script, regular script, running script, cursive script and other scripts. The works of calligraphy masters such as Yan Zhenqing, Liu Gongquan, and Mi Fu are presented here one by one, like a calligraphy feast across time and space, allowing you to immerse yourself in the profoundness of calligraphy art. 3. Notes⚠️ 📋Protect cultural relics - The inscriptions on the steles in the Forest of Steles are all precious cultural relics. Please do not touch or carve on them. Do not use flash when taking photos to avoid damaging the inscriptions. 📋Civilized visit - Please keep quiet, avoid making loud noises and respect other visitors and staff. 📋Weather protection - Check the weather forecast before traveling and bring rain gear, sunscreen or warm clothing according to weather conditions. The Lanzhou Forest of Steles is waiting for you to unveil its mysterious veil and feel the unique charm of traditional culture in the fusion of ink fragrance and history. Pack your bags and start this cultural journey! 💖

Lanzhou is a prefecture-level city and the provincial capital of Gansu Province, China. It is abbreviated as "Lan" and "Gao", and is also known as Jincheng. It is the geometric center of China's land territory and has famous attractions such as the Yellow River Iron Bridge, Baita Mountain, Lanzhou Ink Danxia Tourist Area, Xinglong Mountain, Wuquan Mountain, Qingcheng Ancient Town, and Jintian Temple! Historically, Lanzhou City was called Jincheng in ancient times because gold was dug out when the city was first built here. Another saying is that it was named after the allusion of "Golden City and Hot Springs", which is a metaphor for its solidity. In the third year of Kaihuang (583 AD) during the reign of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, Jincheng County was renamed Lanzhou and a general administration office was established. Because there is Gaolan Mountain in the south of the city, it is named Lanzhou. So the question is, how many districts will Lanzhou have in 2025? How to plan a day trip? Don’t be impatient, read on! First, how many districts will Lanzhou have in 2025? Lanzhou City currently administers five districts, namely Chengguan, Qilihe, Xigu, Anning and Honggu, and three counties, namely Yongdeng, Yuzhong and Gaolan. It has one national-level new area - Lanzhou New Area, and two national-level development zones - Lanzhou High-tech Development Zone and Lanzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone. The airport is: Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport. The high-speed railways are: Lanzhou Station/Lanzhou West Station. Second, how to plan a one-day trip to Lanzhou? After arriving in Lanzhou, how should I plan a one-day trip? I recommend you take a city walk! The route is: ①Gansu Provincial Museum→②Mother Yellow River Statue→③Lanzhou Waterwheel Park→④Yellow River Cableway→⑤Lanzhou Forest of Steles→⑥Baita Temple→⑦Zhongshan Bridge→⑧Dazhong Lane. It is important to note that: 1. The entire route can be completed in less than a day. 2. Lanzhou’s subways and buses support transportation union cards and mobile phone payments. 3. Please note that the Gansu Provincial Museum is closed on Mondays other than holidays, so please pay attention to it in advance. 4. The section from the Yellow River Cableway to the Lanzhou Forest of Steles and then to the White Pagoda Temple is particularly arduous. Although the time is not long, it requires going up and down the mountain. 5. There are many well-known Lanzhou beef noodle chain stores near Zhongshan Bridge (South Bank). The prices are relatively affordable and you can pick any one of them. After a tour, I believe you will have a very good "first impression" of Lanzhou! Third, things to note when visiting Lanzhou 1. Lanzhou has a relatively dry climate. Friends in humid areas should be prepared for humidification, as the climate may be so dry that it may cause nosebleeds or rhinitis. 2. The temperature difference between morning and evening in Lanzhou is quite large. Even in midsummer, it is recommended that you bring a thin long-sleeved shirt and long pants. If you arrive in Lanzhou at night, it is recommended that children wear long pants. 3. The airport is far away from the city, and you need to take an intercity train or bus to get to the city! 4. Keep an eye on your children and don’t let them enter the Yellow River as it is full of mud and sand, which can easily lead to infection. Moreover, the water of the Yellow River is quite turbulent, so please pay attention to safety when you are playing and do not go near the river. 5. Traffic in Lanzhou is prone to congestion, so the subway is recommended. 6. If you stay in Lanzhou for two days, you can also go to Liujia Gorge to see the confluence of Huangtao River or go to Bingling Temple Grottoes. 7. It is recommended to arrange accommodation at Zhangye Road Pedestrian Street or Lanzhou West Railway Station. How about it? After this introduction, do you know how many districts there are in Lanzhou and how to plan a one-day trip? Welcome to leave a message to discuss!

Address: 460 m northeast of the intersection of Beibinhe Middle Road and Jincheng Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou Opening hours: 9:00–16:30 (last entry at 16:30) Tickets: Free Lanzhou Stele Forest is the last attraction of Baita Mountain. After wandering around Baita Mountain for a whole day, I didn't expect to find such a quiet and pleasant place when I was about to go down the mountain! The whole scene is to commemorate Zhang Zhi, the Sage of Cursive Script, from the Eastern Han Dynasty, Liang Hu from the late Eastern Han Dynasty to the Cao Wei period, Suo Jing from the Western Jin Dynasty, Li Shimin and Li Bai from the Tang Dynasty, and Hu Zunzong, Zou Yinglong, Xing Shu, Zhang Shu, An Weijun, Liu Erxin, Ma Fuxiang, Liang Qichao, Fan Zhenxu, and other works from the Ming and Qing Dynasties and later are all re-engraved and displayed. In the main building, there is a special exhibition room for the Chairman's poetry and calligraphy works! The Sage of Cursive Script Pavilion: The main building is 30 meters high and has 6 floors. You can overlook the panoramic view of Lanzhou, and there are many calligraphy treasures on display. East and West Stele Gallery: The East Gallery displays works by famous people from Gansu, and the West Gallery has hand scrolls by famous people from all dynasties, showing the development of calligraphy in Gansu. Zhang Zhi Statue: Located at the entrance of the Stele Forest, it is designed by He E and shows the style of Zhang Zhi, the Sage of Cursive Script. Museum collection of steles. Ancient famous steles: There are Xixia steles with Han and Xixia characters, Dachongjiao Temple steles with Han and Tibetan characters, etc. Looks good! So excellent!

So beautiful place, on the top of Zhongshan mountain. Free entrance during day.

The Lanzhou Stele Forest was a bit unexpected for me. I originally thought that the Lanzhou Stele Forest would be similar to the Xi'an Stele Forest, where one could see collections of ancient steles. However, I found that the steles in the Lanzhou Stele Forest are basically 'reproductions' of calligraphy works by famous calligraphers from ancient to modern times, as well as 'reproductions' of famous ancient steles. Interestingly, I even saw a complete reproduction of the 'Chunhua Pavilion Collection' (one of the treasures of the Gansu Provincial Museum, with only three steles on display), as well as reproductions of Li Bai's 'Shangyangtai Tie' and Li Shimin's 'Wenquan Ming'. This mix of ancient and modern calligraphy steles really feels like visiting a 'Window of the World', featuring a 'whatever you want to see, I have it all' theme. Honestly, it makes one laugh and cry at the same time. Address: No. 452, North Binhe Road. It is recommended to take a taxi from the city center, as the car can drive directly to the entrance of the Stele Forest scenic area. 🌈 Overall, the environment of the Lanzhou Stele Forest scenic area is quite good, with good greenery and beautiful buildings. It's nice to take photos in the Stele Forest Park. Climbing the pavilions allows you to overlook the main urban area and the Yellow River, and taking aerial photos of the Yellow River is also good. It can be a good place to climb high and look far.

| A treasure spot with few people and beautiful scenery.🎫Tickets: Free net, need to bring ID card ⏰Opening hours: 9:00-16:30, closed on Monday 🚗Transportation 🚡Cable car: You can take the Yellow River cable car to get there, one way 45💰, round trip 55💰, the cable car takes about five or six minutes to the top 🏃‍♂️Walking: Walk up the mountain from Baita Mountain Park, and play with Baita Mountain Park, walk more, you can enjoy the park while walking ⭕tips: 1⃣️Go to the top of the tower in the Caosheng Pavilion, you can overlook the beautiful city of Lanzhou, you can see Zhongshan Bridge and the Yellow River, the view is very good 2⃣️It is recommended to take the cable car down, turn left to the stele forest, turn right to Baita Temple, you can go to the stele forest first, then it will be much easier to go down the mountain, if you walk from Baita Mountain Park, the whole way is uphill, it will be more tired, you can wear a pair of comfortable shoes👟 3⃣️The plants here, the pine trees🌲 are well taken care of 4⃣️There are also various ✍️ calligraphy inscriptions in the stele forest, which are very self-cultivating One Day Tour Lanzhou Travel Check-in Strategy Check-in Travel Surrounding Tour History Culture