Lanzhou's Climate
Lanzhou is the capital of Gansu Province, set deep in inland northwest China along the upper Yellow River at roughly 1,500 m elevation, ringed by arid mountains. It has a cold semi-arid climate with a wide temperature swing year-round. Summers (June–August) are warm to hot, usually 28–33°C by day but dry, with cool nights, while winters (December–February) are very cold and dry, dropping below 0°C on many days. Rainfall is scarce and concentrated in late summer, and spring often brings dust and winds off the desert. Air quality tends to be poor because the city sits in an enclosed valley.