Gansu Provincial Museum

Make a visit to the Gansu Provincial Museum either a stand-alone tour, or as part of a day tour of Lanzhou’s top attractions. You can join a guided tour in the morning or afternoon. You can also rent an audio guide to explore at your leisure, or a private guide to take you through the exhibits you choose to see. Day tours of Lanzhou also usually include stops at Xiguan Mosque, White Pagoda Mountain, Zhongshan Bridge, and provide a cruise along the Yellow River.

• Make sure to bring your passport with you, since you need it to enter the museum.

• A limited number of visitors are allowed each day, so book your Gansu Provincial Museum admission tickets in advance to secure a spot.

• Cell phones and photos aren’t allowed in the museum, so be prepared to part with your device.

When you’re in Lanzhou, there are several public buses that can take you to the Gansu Provincial Museum. If that seems a little daunting, then just hail a taxi to take you over to the museum. You can’t miss this formidable 3-story building, just opposite to the Friendship Hotel on West Xijin Road.

Head to the Gansu Provincial Museum on weekday mornings to avoid crowds, but it’s open every other day of the week except Mondays, from around 9am to 5pm, with the last entry at 4pm. It’s also closed on national holidays, so make sure to check before you go, especially if you’re not sure if it’s a national holiday or not.

Don’t miss this local delight, which seems so simple, but packs flavor for days. Lanzhou Lamien, or hand-pulled noodle soup with thin slices of beef and cilantro sprinkled on top, is just the ticket for a filling meal. Spike it with chili paste if you want, then with your chopsticks ready, get your head close to your bowl and slurp the noodles down. See if you can resist leaving anything in your bowl.