City profile Lanzhou

The article summarizes the historical development of Lanzhou, especially during the last 60 years. Two thousand years ago it located just off the Silk Road, which contributed greatly in promoting Lanzhou's economic and cultural exchanges. Now its urban competitive strength has become the second of the five capital cities of northwestern China. While striving to become the new economic power house of western China, Lanzhou is undergoing a profound restructuring of its economic and, more importantly, its physical form and appearance. To face the challenges, Lanzhou has taken a number of planning and infrastructure development initiatively to enhance the competitive strength in the future. This profile outlines the historical development, administrative organizations, urban and economic development, housing provision, spatial planning, critical issues and recent strategy and future development. Field reconnaissance surveys, interviews and secondary sources are used in the presentation and discussion.