Cut 10 hrs With New Shanghai To Lanzhou High Speed Train
Some of the main stops on the train’s journey are at Hangzhou, Shanghai Hongqiao, and Xuzhou. The number of buses going from Yangtze River Delta will also increase to 908, in order to keep up with demand.
The plan is that 4 existing railway lines will also see changes: Xi’an North - Hangzhou East G1876/3 & G1874/5 will get a high-speed train, the Xulan high-speed line between Lanzhou West and Hangzhou East will be extended, Shanghai Hongqiao - Xi’an North G1912/3 & G1930/27 will get a high-speed train, and the line between Shanghai Hongqiao and Lanzhou West will be extended. This means that taking the train from Shanghai to Xianyang, Baoji, Tianshui, Qinan, Lanzhou and various other western cities will take less than half the time of what it does currently.
What to Eat in Hangzhou
牛肉面 niu-rou-mian - Beef noodles
You must have eaten countless bowls of these beef noodles in Shanghai, so why not pop over to Lanzhou and try the authentic dish?
甜醅子 - tian-pei-zi - Sweet grains
These are one of the main raw ingredients used to make numerous Chinese dishes. They’re made from oats or barley and mixed with sweet flavours, hence the name.
酿皮子 - niang-pi-zi - Brewed hide
This is a very traditional Lanzhou snack. In spite of the name, they are just simple, thick noodles made with flour (not hide!). Normally soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, chilli oil, salt and other spices are added to them to give them a bit more punch.
灰豆子 - hui-dou-zi - Grey beans
This is basically a Chinese take on pea soup - the beans are actually peas!
热冬果 - re-dong-guo - Hot winter fruit
This is an infamous snack in Gansu province. Every year in early winter, you’ll see stall after stall lining the streets just selling this ‘hot winter fruit’. It’s a sort of large pear brewed in a hot, flavoursome brew. It smells just as good as it tastes!
牛奶鸡蛋醪糟 - niu-nai-ji-dan-lao-zao - Fermented glutinous rice with egg and milk
First the rice is boiled in the milk, and then eggs, raisins, wolfberries, peanuts, and sugar are added into the mix. It’s refreshing, but slightly sour.
浆水面 - jiang-shui-mian - Thick soup noodles
In the summer, expect to eat a lot of noodles in Lanzhou. They normally contain trotters and ribs, and they’re surprisingly refreshing in the scorching heat.
Zhengning Lu: Street of Food
Where: Zhengning Lu, Chengguan district
What: Street of food and delicacies
When: 18:30 - 02:00
How much: Free
In brief: As night falls, Zhengning Lu is lit up with bright lights and hordes of people gathering to try all food imaginable: snacks, noodles, cold fruit, dried fruit, hot fruit, you name it...
What to Do in Lanzhou
Gansu Provincial Museum
Where: Xijin Xi Lu, Qili He district
What: Exhibition hall
When: 09:00-17:00 (Last entry at 16:00)
How much: Free (with ID card)
A collection of around 350,000 historical relics, modern artifacts, national cultural relics, and fossils.
Zhongshan Bridge (over the Yellow River)
Where: Zhongshan Lu, Chengguan district
What: Bridge
When: All day
How much: Free
Zhongshan Bridge was originally called Lanzhou Yellow River Iron Bridge when it was built in 1907, but has since been renamed Zhongshan Bridge.
Yellow River Mother Sculpture
Where: Nanbinhe Zhong Lu, Qili He district
What: Sculpture
When: All day
How much: Free
This sculpture represents the Yellow River and the Chinese people’s heritage. The Yellow River is considered to be the ‘mother river’ of China, hence the sculpture.
Waterwheel Expo Park
Where: Nanbinhe Dong Lu, Lanzhou
What: Park
When: 08:00-18:00
How much: Free
Waterwheel Expo Park is an exhibition park showing the history and culture of waterwheels. To the east of the park are many other attractions, including Zhongshan Bridge, Lanzhou Port and Baita Mountain Park.
Wuquan Mountain
Where: Wuquan Nan Lu, Chengguan district
What: Park
When: 06:00-18:00
How much: Free
Wuquan Mountain is located in the south of Lanzhou city. It’s covered in lush flowers and trees, as well as a stunning waterfall.
Baita Mountain
Where: Beibinhe Zhong Lu, Lanzhou
When: 06:00-18:00
How much: Free
Baita Mountain is located to the north of Zhongshan Bridge and the north shore of the Yellow River.
Lanzhou Wetland Park
Where: Beibinhe Lu, Anning district, Lanzhou
What: Park
When: All day
How much: Free
The silver beach at Lanzhou Wetland Park extends about 3,000m in length, connecting the east and west ends of the Yellow River.
Tulugou National Forest Park
Where: 301 Provincial Road, Yongdeng county, Lanzhou
What: Park
When: All day
How much: RMB 50
Tulugou National Forest Park has quite a peculiar structure, with a huge boulder in a ditch. There are heaps of verdant trees scattered across the mountains. It’s a natural scenic area of about 15km2, making it the perfect walking location.
Xinglong Mountain
Where: Southwest Yuzhong county
What: Mountain
When: 06:00-21:00
How much: RMB 30
On the mountain is a national nature forest reserve, and there are both east and west peaks. The east peak, Xinglong, is about 2,400m high, while the west peak, Qiyun, is about 2,500m high. Between the two peaks is the Yunlong “flying” Bridge.
Qingcheng Old Town
Where: 90km north of Yuzhong county, Lanzhou
What: Old town
When: All day
How much: RMB 35
Qingcheng is where most inhabitants of Gansu province used to live, and it’s been preserved to look the same as it did back in the day. Most of the scenery consists of ancient buildings and ancient houses. A number of Chinese TV series have even shot scenes here!
Shenchuan Pear Garden
Where: Shenchuan town, Gaolan county
What: Historical monument
When: All day
How much: Free
Shenchuan is a town about 20km northeast of Lanzhou. The Yellow River flows right through its center, where rich fruits and other delicacies are grown.
Zhangye Lu Pedestrian Street
Where: Zhangye Lu, Chengguan district
What: Shopping street
When: All day
How much: Free
Zhangye Lu has been the central business and commercial district of Lanzhou since ancient times. It also boasts some of the oldest cultural and historical heritage in Lanzhou.
PS:The above information is for reference only. The official announcement is yet to come.
Sources: Shanghai Railway Bureau & Lanzhou press release
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