General Information

Overview of Lanzhou

Lanzhou, capital city of Northwest China's Gansu Province, is located in the transition zone between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Loess Plateau. At an altitude of about 1520 meters, it is an important central city, industrial base and comprehensive communication hub for Northwest China and the key city of the Silk Road Economic Belt.  It has a temperate continental climate and with an annual average temperature of 10.3℃ the city is an ideal summer resort. The annual average number of sunshine hours is 2,374, the frost free period is 172 days, and annual average precipitation is about 300 mm. For more weather information, click here to visit.

Lanzhou has a history of more than 2,200 years. It has 10 major historical and cultural sites protected at the national level (including the Great Wall), 40 historical and cultural sites protected at the provincial level and 109 historical and cultural sites protected at municipal and county levels. It has 29 museums listed on the National Museum List. The museums and memorial halls directly under municipal and county cultural departments have 18,987 collected artifacts. Lanzhou has many cultural treasures protected as national intangible cultural heritages, such as the Taiping Drum and Yellow River water wheel production skills. For more weather information, click here to visit.

Currency

The unit of currency in China is the Chinese Yuan (CNY). Various notes and coins are used. Notes are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 yuan, while coins come in denominations of 1 jiao, 5 jiao, and 1 yuan. The exchange rate is subject to market fluctuations. Click here to calculate live currency and foreign exchange rates. Calculate live currency and foreign exchange rates by clicking here.

1) Currency exchange: Foreign banknotes can be exchanged at most banks and other authorized money changers. 

2) Banking hours: 09:00am -17:00pm, Monday through Friday only. 

Time Difference

Standard Time in China is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +8) and does not observe daylight savings time.

Business Hours

Government office hours are usually from 9am to 6pm on weekdays and closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Major department stores are open every day from 09:00am to 09:00pm including Sundays.

Electricity

The standard electricity supply is 220-volts AC at 50Hz. Most hotels may provide outlet converters for 110 and 220 volts. It is advised that you check with the hotel beforehand.

Language

Chinese people speak Mandarin in their everyday lives, and knowing a few words of the language can be very beneficial. Fortunately, many Chinese can speak English and are generally eager to assist you.