The foods in Lanzhou is quite unique compared to that of central China, having been influenced by ethnic groups - especially the Hui people. Besides the beef noodles, there are so many local delicacies that cannot be tasted in other places, as well as Sichuan cuisines, hotpot, potterypot and western food.
Lanzhou dishes are representative of Gansu cuisine which features the roasting,steaming, and braising of beef and mutton. Lanzhou people enjoy many flavors including salty, fresh, tart, and spicy. Gansu cuisine can be sampled at various hotels in Lanzhou.

Lanzhou Beef Noodles (Stretched Noodles)
The most popular local dish is  beef noodle  (Lanzhou niurou mian).The noodles are always hand made, and the broth served hot and spicy with as muchbeef as you care to pay for.

It was first created by a Hui person whose name was called Ma Baobao during the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1875 - 1908), Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) and it is now popular all over China, and even introduced to the world. This dish has five main features: clear soup, white radish, red chili pepper, green corander and yellow noodles. The noodles can be stretched into wide or slim sizes to serve different people. Boys like er xi (a little wider) while girls like slim ones,the middle-aged and the old like jiuyezi (leek leaf) and maoxi (slimmer) and scholars prefer slim and jiuyezi. Farmers, soldiers and workers prefer wide or even wider. If a girl or an old man asks for wider noodles or a boy asks for maoxi noodles, it would be rather strange. The noodles have gone beyond food to become a culture.
Street food at the Hezheng Road Night Market and Zhengning Road Food Market
Mazilu. Chain of restaurants specialising in Lanzhou niurou mian

Tian Peizi

It is made of fermented wheat and barley.It tastes a little bit sweet,which is very popular in hot summer.

Niangpizi

It can be the starch production from wheat flour or potatoes. It looks yellow and tastes very well with the flavor of the mixture of vinegar,soy sauce,mustard oil,garlic sauce.

  

             Beef noodles                                               Tianpeizi                                             Niangpizi

Laozao with milk and egg (fermented glutinous rice with milk and egg)

Laozao can be a must local flavor for four seasons. It tastes sour and sweet a little bit . It is suitable for men,women and children. It is of great nutritions,especially good for the digestion of children and helpful to rise up the appetite.

(For reference: Laomajia Laozao at Zhengning Road food market is very popular)

Chao Mian Pian(stir- fried noodle pieces)

It is one popular dish from noodles in northwest of China. In different regions, the cooking ways are a little different. In Lanzhou the chef normally cook the noodle pieces with potato shreds,onion,green pepper,carrot and diced meats .

Jiang Shui mian( the noodles with soup from fermented celery or cabbage)

It is one special kind of pure noodles soup,especially very popular in hot summer. It is a good flavor to relieve summer heat. Local people normally order extra roasted pettitoes if they feel too vegetarian as they have Jiangshui noodles.

  

    Laozao with milk and egg                         Chaomianpian                                    Jiangshui noodles