Gansu Provincial Museum

This museum has an intriguing collection of Silk Road artifacts with English descriptions, including inscribed Han-dynasty wooden tablets used to relay messages along the Silk Road, and dinosaur skeletons. The graceful Eastern Han (25 BCE–CE 220) bronze horse galloping upon the back of a swallow is known as the "Flying Horse of Wuwei." Unearthed at Leitai near Wuwei, it has been proudly reproduced across northwestern China. Take your passport. Bus 1 (¥1, 40 minutes) runs here from Lanzhou train station.

Lonely Planet may earn a commission from affiliate links on our site. All recommendations and reviews reflect our own independent opinions.


Must-see attractions