兰州(Lanzhou)英语简介
Brief introduction to Lanzhou:
Lanzhou is the capital and largest city of Gansu Province in Northwest China. The prefecture-level city, located on the banks of the Yellow River,
is a key regional transportation hub, connecting areas further west by
rail to the eastern half of the country. Historically, it has been a
major link on the Northern Silk Road. The city is also a center for heavy industry and petrochemical industry. Lanzhou was previously ranked as one of the cities with the worst air quality in the world, due to industrial pollution and its situation in a narrow river valley. However, as of 2015 it was awarded China's climate progress title.
Geography of Lanzhou:
Area: 13,300 km2 (5,100 sq mi)
Elevation: 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) above sea level
China's northwest geographical center
More than 20 square kilometres (7.7 sq mi) of urbanisation along the southern banks of the Yellow River.
Zonary basin
Mountains are located on the south and north sides of the city:
Qilian Ranges, Mt. Pingliang and Mt. Kongtong (the most noted in Taoism)
River:
The Yellow River flows through from west to east.
Lanzhou is situated on the upper reaches of the Yellow River
where it emerges from the mountains and has been a center since early
times, being at the southern end of the route leading via the Hexi Corridor across Central Asia. It 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 the area of Qinghai Lake via the upper waters of the Yellow River and its tributaries.
Climate and environment of Lanzhou:
Lanzhou is situated in the temperate zone and enjoys a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold and very dry winters. The monthly 24-hour
average temperature ranges from −5.3 °C (22.5 °F) in January to 22.4 °C
(72.3 °F) in July. The mean annual temperature is 9.75 °C (49.5 °F),
while annual rainfall
is 315 millimetres (12.4 in), almost all of which falls from May to
October. The winters are so dry that snow is extremely rare. With
monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 50 percent in December to
59 percent in February, sunshine is generous but not abundant, as the
city receives 2,424 hours of bright sunshine annually.
Panoramic view of Lanzhou city centre: