About White Pagoda Mountain
White Pagoda Mountain (Baita Shan) is a hill on the north bank of the Yellow River in central Lanzhou, crowned with a white pagoda temple. The mountain offers panoramic views of the city, the river, and the iconic Zhongshan Bridge. The climb takes about 20-30 minutes via stone steps, with rest stops along the way.
The white pagoda at the summit was originally built in the Yuan Dynasty to commemorate a Tibetan Buddhist monk who died in Lanzhou. The current structure dates from the Ming Dynasty. The mountain is a popular park for locals, with trees, pavilions, and temples scattered along the paths. At sunset, the views of the river and bridge are especially beautiful, with the iron bridge illuminated as night falls.
What Not to Miss
The panoramic views — Lanzhou, the Yellow River, and Zhongshan Bridge from above.
The white pagoda — the Yuan Dynasty temple at the summit.
Sunset views — golden light on the river and bridge at dusk.
