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• Lanzhou

Area: 14,620 km²

Elevation: 1,600 m above sea level

China's northwest geographical center

More than 20 km of urbanisation along the southern banks of the Yellow River.

Zonary basin

Location of mountains, located on the south and north sides of the city: Qilian Ranges, Mt. Pingliang and Mt. Kongtong (the most famous in Taoism)
Rivers: The Yellow River flows through from west to east.

Lanzhou is situated on the upper course of the Yellow River, where the river emerges from the mountains. It has been a center since early times, being at the southern end of the route leading via the Hexi Corridor across Central Asia. It also commands the approaches to the ancient capital area of Chang'an (modern Xi'an) in Shaanxi province from both the west and the northwest, as well as from the area of Qinghai Lake via the upper waters of the Yellow River and its tributaries.