Geographic
Location
Northwest University for Nationalities is situated in Lanzhou, the capital city of Gansu Province on the
ancient Silk Road. Lanzhou, a famous historic city endowed with the grandeur
of Northern China and the elegance of Southern China, is an industrial boom
city and also one of 50 best cities of comprehensive strength in China, with
a population of more than 3.1 million. The Mother River of the Chinese nation—the
Yellow River—passes through its middle. Geographically centered in China,
Lanzhou occupies a region where the northern temperate zone changes from a
wet climate to a dry climate, has an average temperature of 22.7?C
in the summer months and of -7?C in the winter, thus
neither frigidly cold nor scorchingly hot. Favorable natural conditions are
advantagous for the growth of melons, fruits and vegetables, which have won
the city a wide reputation as the “City of Melons and Fruits”. The following
world-famous scenic spots surround Lanzhou: Mogao Grottoes at Duhuang—“A Treasure-House
of the Arts of the World”—with a history of over 1600 years; Mt Maiji Grottoes
in Tianshui featuring their “Oriental Sculpture Museum”; Jiayuguan Pass—“Grand
Pass of the World”—at the westernmost end of the Great Wall; Labuleng Lamasery—one
of six chief temples of the Gelu Sect of Lamaism, etc. As is known to all,
Gansu is a multi-ethnic province where more than 10 nationalities live in
harmonious, compact communities. Dongxiang、Bao’an
and Yugu are nationalities found only in Gansu Province.
