Brief Introduction: Lanzhou Water wheel garden is located in the west section of Nan binhe Road in the city, adjacent to the Yellow River Iron Bridge in the east, the Yellow River Mother Statue and Green Hope Sculpture in the west,facing to the Baitagshan Park in the north and to the BaiyunGuan Taoism temple in the south. It is an important scene on Binhe Road tourist line.It is one of the attractions with most Lanzhou local characteristics along the hundred miles Yellow River Scenery Line .The water wheel garden was completed in 1994 under the construction of Lanzhou tourism bureau.

The water wheel has a long history with a strange appearance. It originated in the Ming Dynasty and is the oldest irrigation tool along the Yellow River in Lanzhou. The water wheel was created by Duan Xu, a Jin scholar during the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1522--1566). It is called Tianche( overhead crane),Fanche(overturned crane),Guanche(irrigation crane) and Huche (tiger crane) as well. The water wheel garden consists of water wheel with a double wheels, cofferdam, water mill service room and amusement area,which stands on the south bank of the Yellow River. With a history of nearly 500 years, Lanzhou water wheel is a water conservancy facility that utilizes the natural impact force of the Yellow River flow.The diameter of the water wheel is 16.5 meters, and a scraper blade is installed at the end of the spoke, and a rectangular water hopper is installed as well between the scraper blades. In the high water season, natural water flow is used to boost rotation of water wheel. In the dry season, the cofferdam is diverted to gather water,and  through the small channel between the weirs, the river is boosted by artesian flow. When the water naturally impulse wheel blades and push the wheel to turn, the bucket will be filled with water. After it reaches the top space, it pours into the wood chute and then flows into the garden for irrigation. This kind of water conservancy facility, which automatically carries water to irrigate the farmland through the rotation ofthe water wheel, can be the ancient "tap water project”. The water wheel garden reproducing this ancient water conservancy machinery, can make visitors at home and abroad to appreciate it very well.

The Level: 4A tourists attraction

Admission Fee : for free

Opening Time: 8:00 a.m.—6:00 p.m.

Visiting Time : 30 minutes –1 hour

Better Seasons to Visit: all seasons

Travel Tips:1, Do not  be so close to the bank of the yellow river when you take photos. Please pay attention to safety. 

2, You may have chance to experience the sheep skinraft floating and speed boat ride to the opposite bank.(Price for reference:80-100yuan/person for sheepskin raft floating; 50 yuan/person for speed boat ride)

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