Our Mysterious Silk Road Oriental Express Train’s now approaching Lanzhou Train Station in Northwestern Gasu Province in China :

Here’s a Map of Gansu Province (where Lanzhou is its Capital) Intersected by The Silk Road in Northwestern China :

We travel past Lanzhou University which is the Best University in Northwestern China :

Now arriving at the White Pagoda Hill Park (or “Baita Shan Gong Yuan” in Chinese) - located at the Northern Bank of Yellow River (Huanghe) at Lanzhou - Capital of Gansu - Intersected by The Silk Road in Northwestern China :

Established in 1958, & named after the White Pagoda Temple that crowns the summit of its steeply terraced slopes, the White Pagoda Hill Park occupies an area of more than 8000 square metres : 

Here’s my Addmission Ticket to the White Pagoda Hill Park :

From the main Entrance of the White Pagoda Hill Park we see the muddy Yellow River (Huanghe)  - heheh I finally get to see the famous Yellow River…………

Right infront of the White Pagoda Hill Park across the Yellow River (Huanghe) stands Zhongshan Bridge which was the old crossing point for Travellers & Merchants heading North on the Ancient Silk Road here in China………….

Before Zhongshan Bridge was built, there were many Floating Bridges over the Yellow River (Huanghe), but only one existed for over 500 years - Zhen Yuan Floating Bridge which was made up of more than 20 Boats, tied up by ropes & chains.

It floated on the River to help people pass over, but it was not solid or safe enough, & almost every year floods destroyed the Bridge killing people. During Winter, when ice built up on the River, the Bridge had to undergo costly process of being disassembled & then rebuilt again in the Spring.

In 1909, during the reign of Emperor Guangxu during Qing Dynasty, the Iron Zhongshan Bridge was built (with materials transported from Germany) in Lanzhou City infront of Jin Cheng Pass (or “Golden City Pass” cos Lanzhou used to be called the Golden City).

Zhongshan Bridge was innitially named “Lanzhou Iron Bridge over Yellow River“, & later renamed “Zhongshan Bridge” in 1942 after the Chinese name of Dr Sun Yat-Sen to commemorate the foremost Pioneer of Republic of China - Father of the Nation.

We’re now inside the tranquil White Pagoda Hill Park which consists of lovely Pavilions & green forests :

And it’s visiting the Ladies Toilet first before we ascend the White Pagoda Hill………….OH MY GOD I’m not quite prepared for what I’m about to be seeing ahahhaha!!!

WHEW!! I did get a shock upon seeing the OPEN Ladies Toilet!! Yeah Yeah I’ve actually heard tons of stories about the Chinese Toilets in China from Mom & Dad but to be actually seeing one such “Toilet” with my own eyes is indeed a true Cultural Shock experience!!

For a far cry from the ugly Toilet scene - here’s a beautiful Chinese Sculpture carved on the wall at the White Pagoda Hill Park :

And below’s a large poster featuring Places of Interests in Lanzhou here at Northwestern China - spread out at the foot of the White Pagoda Hill, lined with beautiful colored fresh flowers………….

And here’s another large poster that reads ”White Pagoda Hill Park Welcomes You“ (which means ”Baita Shan Gong Yuan Huan Ying Ni” in Chinese) with pic of the grand Park located infront of Zhongshan Bridge over the Yellow River (Huanghe) :

Most of our Tour Mates have decided not to climb up the White Pagoda Hill except for a couple of us from the Green A Team of our Mysterious Silk Road with Deluxe Express Train Tour…………

Here’s Me standing on the steep slope leading up the White Pagoda Hill - weather’s pretty cold today here at Lanzhou in Northwestern China……………

Views of Zhongshan Bridge over the very muddy Yellow River (Huanghe) as we climb up the Hill………..

Ahahahah here’s when my height phobia kicks in as I hold on tightly onto the metal railing………….

Hahah I finally reach the “top” of the White Pagoda Hill - well, almost………but not quite cos the highest point is at the peak where the White Pagoda Temple stands - which I’ve decided I shall not visit due to exhaustion…………

Well, the White Pagoda Temple was built in honor of a famous Tibetan Lama, who died from sever illness on his way to meet Genghis Khan who was the Founder & Emperor of Yuan Dynasty at Lanzhou City - here below shows the White Pagoda Temple up at the hilltop :

Here’s Me seated at the White Pagoda Hill Park Pavilion (at the foot of long staircases leading to the White Pagoda Temple at the hilltop) overlooking the real muddy Yellow River (Huanghe) here at Lanzhou in Northwestern China :

There’s also view of the Iron Zhongshan Bridge across the very muddy Yellow River (Huanghe) down at the foot of the Pagoda Hill Park :

And if you’ve noticed, I’m actually sitting far from the Pavilion edge cos due to my fear of heights - I’m feeling so afraid of falling over down the steep & very high Hill from up here!! Aahahah timid timid Me!!!

Back at the foot of the White Pagoda Hill Park, we see a large White Goat Statue leading the Chinese Animal Zodiac, cos the year 2006 is the Goat Year according to the Chinese calender :

Here’re the rest of the Chinese Animal Zodiac Statues :

There’re 12 Animals in the Chinese Zodiac - each Animal representing a Year in a 12-year cycle. Each month has an Animal attributed to it (eg. Dec being the Pig etc), as well as each Hour of the Day.

In these, Chinese Astrology draws on the Position & Interaction of Natural Phenomena which is grouped into 5 Elements : Water, Wood, Fire, Metal & Earth.

Taken together, these factors make for 8640 combinations (5 elements, 12 animals, 12 months, 12 times of day).  

And according to Chinese Astrology, it’s the Position of these 5 Elements & the Zodiac Sign at the time of one’s birth that determines one’s destiny in life…………..

Well, I’ve now come to the end of my Visiting the White Pagoda Hill Park located infront of Zhongshan Bridge at Northern Bank of Yellow River (Huanghe) at Lanzhou - Capital of Gansu - Intersected by The Silk Road in Northwestern China………..

For those travelling to Lanzhou - this’s got to be one cool Place of Interest that you’ve got to check it out!!