Located in the south-central part of Lanzhou, Qilihe district is one of the citys' core urban areas. It is a multi-ethnic district consisting of the Han and other 44 ethnic groups, including the Hui, Mongolian, Tibetan, Dongxiang and Uygur who are spread across 1 township, 5 towns, 9 streets, 59 administrative villages and 78 community neighborhood committees.
Qilihe district borders Chengguan and Yuzhong to the east, Lintao and Yongjing to the south, Xigu to the west and Anning across the Yellow River to the north. The irregular palm-shaped region, with a length of 21 km and a width of 33 km, covers a total area of 397.25 square kilometers, including 25 square kilometers of urban area. The Yellow River also flows through the district for 15 kilometers. The region enjoys a mild climate with an average annual precipitation of 360ml and an average annual temperature of 10.5 ℃.
Not only does Qilihe have a picturesque natural landscape and profound cultural heritage, but it also boasts a unique regional history and rich national and folk culture; owing to this the district has been an important routeway throughout history. Part of the ancient Silk Road, it has played a vital role in promoting economic and cultural exchange between China and the West.
Qilihe district possesses abundant cultural tourism resources, including high-quality specialties such as lilies and peaches, various local delicacies, a time-honored civilization of the Yellow River and Silk Road, as well as mysterious Buddhism. With the combination of prosperous cities and tranquil countryside, vast plains and rolling mountains, the turbulent Yellow River and boundless forests, Qilihe district has a unique cultural, political and economic system.
