Lanzhou is the capital city of Gansu Province, in the north-central part of China. It is located on the upper reaches of the Yellow River. Lanzhou is the geometric center of Gansu Province, especially in economic, political and transportation fields.
Lanzhou is a typical northwestern city. Its cuisine is quite unique when compared with other places in China. As there are many different ethnic groups residing in Lanzhou, the Local cuisine has been influenced a great variety of ethnic customs and cultures. Generally speaking, local Lanzhou dishes are roasted, steamed or braised, with the taste being either salty, tart or spicy. Typical local dishes include Lanzhou hand-pulled beef noodles, stuffed honeydew melon, and roasted suckling pig.
The Hui minority are Muslim, so much of the local food is pork free. And resultantly, mutton and beef are highly emphasized in local cuisine. Besides the famous beef noodles, there are many other famous local delicacies that can only be tasted in Lanzhou.
Local Lanzhou people like to have these foods at the city's many night markets, where a range of local handicrafts can also be found.
Lanzhou was a key point on the old Silk Road, which was the ancient trade route that linking Xi'an, then capital of China, with Central Asia and Europe. This area has diverse cultures, resulting from the influences of the Hui, Mongols, Tibetans and Kazakhs living in the city and its surrounding areas.