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My Hometown Lanzhou is the Best Place Ever!
Hi there! My name is Xiaoming and I'm 10 years old. I live in an awesome city called Lanzhou in northwest China. Lanzhou is the capital of Gansu Province and sits along the Yellow River. It has such a rich history and incredible scenery. I really think you should visit my hometown - it's one of the coolest places on Earth! Let me tell you all about it.
First up, Lanzhou has the most delicious food you'll ever taste. Our local specialties are hand-pulled noodles and beef noodle soup. The noodles are stretchy and chewy, and the soup is rich and hearty. My favorite place is this little hole-in-the-wall shop near my school. The owner has been making noodles for over 50 years! He does this crazy pulling and slapping with the dough to get the noodles really long and bouncy. Then he drops them into a huge pot of bubbling broth with beef, vegetables and secret spices. One
bite and you'll be hooked!
Lanzhou is famous for its breathtaking natural scenery too. Right in the heart of downtown is Binhe Road, a long park that follows along the Yellow River. You can walk or bike for miles, looking out at the swift waters and towering mountains on both sides. In the evenings, there are musicians, dancers and street food vendors along the path. It's such a lively atmosphere!
If you really want to experience nature though, you have to go to the Waterwheel Garden. This is an old park filled with gorgeous flower gardens, trees, ponds and streams. The coolest part is the huge overshot waterwheels that have been turning for centuries, powered solely by the little streams. You can watch the wheels spin round and round - it's hypnotizing! I love packing a picnic and spending lazy summer days here with my family.
For some amazing mountain scenery, take a short bus ride to Bingling Thousand Buddha Caves. This is an archaeological site with thousands of Buddhist statues and murals carved into a towering canyon cliff, dating all the way back to the 4th century! The carvings are so intricate and colorful. My mind was blown imagining how long it took monks to chip away at that solid rock face. You can wander through the grottoe
s, marvel at the Buddhist art and take in panoramic views of the craggy peaks and deep valleys. Definitely bring snacks though, because there's lots of climbing involved!
We've got to discuss the Zhongshan Iron Bridge too. This bright yellow suspension bridge was built in the 1900s and stretches more than 600 feet across the Yellow River. It's one of Lanzhou's most iconic landmarks. I always feel like a tiny ant scurrying across! From the bridge you get a fantastic vista of the city skyline backed by craggy mountains. Sunrise and sunset are spectacular times to visit and watch the whole scene light up in golden hues. Just try not to look straight down - it's a loooong way to the rushing waters below!
I've saved the coolest spot for last though. Head about 60 miles west of Lanzhou and you'll find the ancient Silk Road outpost of Xiahe. It's this teeny little town clustered at the base of huge craggy mountains. But the real showstopper is Labrang Monastery, one of the most important Buddhist sites in the world outside of Tibet. This massive monastic complex was founded in the 1700s and is home to thousands of Buddhist monks and scholars. You can wander through courtyard after courtyard, checking out the shrines, temples and living quarters decorated with incredible woodcarvings, statues, murals and painted beams. The architecture is out of this world!
My favorite area is the Great Buddha Hall. Inside is a towering 80-foot Buddha statue made of thousands of little Buddha figures. It's completely covered in gold and has the most peaceful, gentle expression. Surrounding it are rows and rows of smaller Buddha figures too. I think it's the most beautiful, serene place I've ever seen. When the sun filters in through the windows and makes everything glow, it feels magical.
Sometimes you can watch the monks do their daily rituals like morning mantras, prayer ceremonies or debate sessions. They'll be endlessly chanting, hitting gongs or having these lively philosophical debates where they use special hand movements. Even though I can't understand it, I find it really fascinating to observe their ancient traditions. Plus the monks are always happy to chat with visitors and let you peek inside their quarters.
Definitely don't miss the Gelug School of Buddhism when you're at Labrang too. Here you can see rows of monks seated on the floor, intensely studying sacred texts and doing Buddhist practices like tantric meditation and butter sculpture art. The artworks they create from yak butter are utterly amazing - so colorful and detailed! The monks will let you watch them sculpt, and sometimes you can even take a lesson.
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