Unit 6 At one with natureSurrounded by mountains to its south and north, with the Yellow River running across it from west to east, Lanzhou, the old city, has a breathtaking and amazing view
Early back to 5,000 years ago, people settled here
During the Western Han dynasty (202 BC—AD 8), it was named as a “Golden City” because its walls were “as strong as hard gold”
The name was changed to Lanzhou during the early Sui dynasty (AD 581—618) and it has been called so ever since
Now, Lanzhou is the capital of Gansu Province, and a key city in the Silk Road Economic Belt
Historically, Lanzhou was an important communication centre along the ancient Silk Road that witnessed its rise and fall
Since the two Han dynasties—Western and Eastern Han (202 BC—AD 220), different people have come and gone