Lanzhou New Area was conceived as part of a broader government push to develop China’s west that kicked off near the turn of the century. It is located about 40 miles north of Gansu’s gritty capital, Lanzhou – a smog-choked industrial hub carved in two by the meandering Yellow river. The old city has about 3.6 million residents; 160,000 of whom are are members of the Hui Muslim minority. The region has long been known for its contaminated air, water and soil, although recent years have seen authorities attempting to clean up, with some success. Read more
