From High-End Medical Innovation to Gansu’s Cultural Heritage and Everyday Life: International Experience Ambassadors Explore Lanzhou’s New Development Landscape

On June 22, the 2026 “Silk Road IP, Opportunities in China” International Online Communication Campaign officially launched in Lanzhou, its first stop. The millennia-old Silk Road has long connected East and West, while the momentum of a new era is energizing the city. Over the past decade and more, Lanzhou has leveraged its Silk Road location, rooted itself in Northwest China, connected with the rest of the country, and embraced the world, continuously expanding new channels for international exchange and cooperation. On that day, International Experience Ambassadors from France, Brazil, Russia, Pakistan, Mexico, Uzbekistan, and other countries followed the cultural thread of the Silk Road to explore Lanzhou’s urban development, experience its industrial appeal, record the city’s landscape through their lenses, and truly feel the pulse of growth and the warmth of development in this new-era Silk Road city.
High-End Medical Innovation Showcases Silk Road Openness
The first stop brought the International Experience Ambassadors to the Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center of Gansu Wuwei Tumor Hospital, where they observed advanced precision cancer treatment technologies up close. As a major medical sci-tech innovation platform rooted in the heartland of the Silk Road, the center focuses on precision cancer treatment. Supported by national-level research institutes, it has achieved independent R&D and clinical application of heavy-ion medical equipment, overcoming barriers in related high-end technologies. Its core heavy-ion precision radiotherapy technology is characterized by high precision and fewer side effects, enabling efficient targeting of tumor lesions while protecting patients’ healthy tissue to the greatest extent and significantly improving the region’s standardized and precision cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Medical workers introduce heavy-ion medical equipment to International Experience Ambassadors

During the visit, the International Experience Ambassadors toured key areas including the central control room, treatment hall, and medical physics planning room, gaining a direct understanding of the intelligent and precision operation of high-end medical equipment. They also held in-depth exchanges with on-site staff about the radiotherapy technology system and asked detailed questions about the characteristics and applicable scenarios of different radiotherapy technologies. They expressed admiration for the advanced medical achievements in western China and gained a real sense of the strong innovation momentum and open, inclusive approach to cooperation in China’s medical sector.

Medical workers introduce heavy-ion medical technology to International Experience Ambassadors

Savoring Longyuan Flavors and Discovering Intangible Cultural Heritage in Hand-Pulled Noodles
Drawn by the rich aroma of beef-bone broth, the International Experience Ambassadors visited the Linhegong Lanzhou Beef Noodles Experience Center, beginning a Silk Road culinary journey full of local flavor and everyday warmth. There, they explored the century-old craftsmanship and Silk Road cultural significance behind Lanzhou beef noodles up close. In the educational exhibition area, the guide explained the “one clear, two white, three red, four green, and five yellow” standard of Lanzhou beef noodles—clear broth, white radish, red chili oil, green cilantro and garlic sprouts, and yellow noodles—as well as various noodle types, ingredient selection techniques, and standardized production procedures, showcasing the cultural connotations of this national-level intangible cultural heritage item.
Next, the International Experience Ambassadors entered a hands-on workshop, where they learned a full set of traditional techniques from experienced masters, including kneading, slapping, and pulling dough. They tried pulling classic noodle types such as maoxi (extra-thin), erxi (thin), and jiuye (leek-leaf-shaped noodles), experiencing up close the craftsmanship and subtlety of the traditional craft.

International Experience Ambassadors learn the art of hand-pulled noodles

“I’ve lived in Lanzhou for six years and have eaten beef noodles many times, but this is the first time I’ve made hand-pulled noodles myself. It feels very special!” said Elvira, an International Experience Ambassador from Uzbekistan, with a smile.

Elvira learns the traditional technique of noodle pulling

Amid the lively atmosphere and the rich aroma of wheat, the International Experience Ambassadors filmed, recorded, and interacted with one another. After the experience, they tasted authentic Lanzhou beef noodles together. A steaming bowl of beef noodles carries the everyday warmth of Longyuan, connects Silk Road friendship, and allows the world to appreciate the Chinese craftsmanship behind a bowl of hand-pulled noodles.
A Night Tour Along the Hundred-Li Waterfront Corridor: Songs Echo Along the River in the Golden City
As night fell and the city lights came on, the International Experience Ambassadors began a night tour of Zhongshan Bridge and immersed themselves in the Hundred-Li Yellow River Scenic Belt. In the glittering waterfront nightscape, they experienced the beauty of Lanzhou’s mountains and river, its cultural charm, and its flourishing development. Along both banks of the Yellow River, lights came on one after another. The century-old iron bridge glowed with shifting light and colors, echoing the layered lights of the majestic White Pagoda Mountain.

International Experience Ambassadors stroll across Zhongshan Bridge

Yu Xinke, an International Experience Ambassador from Russia, paused on Zhongshan Bridge and sang My People, My Country. Her melodious voice resonated with the crowd, and tourists and local residents joined the chorus one after another. The singing rose and fell across the bridge, complementing the surging Yellow River. A song of praise built a bridge of hearts, fully demonstrating Lanzhou’s inclusive urban character and adding deep warmth to the night of the Hundred-Li Yellow River Scenic Belt.

Yu Xinke performs My People, My Country on Zhongshan Bridge

High-impact sci-tech innovation demonstrated the city’s development confidence; intangible cultural heritage cuisine conveyed the warmth of everyday life; and singing in unison created emotional resonance. A day of in-depth visits allowed the International Experience Ambassadors to understand up close the development speed, cultural depth, and openness of Lanzhou, the Golden City. As the Silk Road stretches on and hearts connect, this event will use the perspectives of International Experience Ambassadors to carry Lanzhou’s moving urban stories across the world and keep friendly exchanges along the Silk Road flourishing. (Text by Yuan Yihang; Photos by Zhang Xuecheng and Wang Xiong)