The history of Lanzhou — capital of China's Northwest Gansu province — can be traced back to 86 BC and according to the ancient record, gold was found there, so it was originally called "Jincheng" which means golden city in Chinese. 

Another tradition has it that the city was unbreachable with its defenses erected, when it was just as stable as gold — and so it was named the golden city. 

During the Emperor Wen Period of the Sui Dynasty (581-618), in the third year of his reign, a Lanzhou general administration office was established, which was the official source of the name Lanzhou in the annals of history.  

After Qin Shihuang (259 – 210 BC), the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) unified China, the country was divided into 36 prefectures — ancient administrative divisions — and Lanzhou belonged to Longxi prefecture. 

During the early Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 24), Lanzhou still belonged to Longxi prefecture. In the first year of the reign of Emperor Liu Fuling (86 BC), Jincheng (or golden city) county was established in Lanzhou under the administration of Tianshui prefecture. 

In 81 BC, the sixth year of the reign of Emperor Liu Fuling, the county was upgraded to Jincheng prefecture. In the 12th year of Jianwu, the reign of Emperor Liu Xiu of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), Jincheng prefecture came under the administration of Longxi prefecture. 

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Jincheng prefecture was divided and Xiping prefecture came into existence.

In 583, Emperor Wen renamed Jincheng prefecture as Lanzhou and set up a Lanzhou general administration office close to Gaolan Mountain, which lies to the south of the city. In 607, Lanzhou was renamed Jincheng prefecture and administered Jincheng and Didao counties. 

After the unification of China in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Lanzhou experienced several name changes and finally the name Lanzhou was firmly established in 759.

In the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Lanzhou belonged to Lintao prefecture. In the fifth year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi (1666) founded Gansu province with Lanzhou as its capital city. From then on, Lanzhou has always been the political center of Gansu. 

At the initial stages of the Republic of China, Lanzhou went through several more administrative changes.

In 1941, Lanzhou was reorganized with a downtown area covering over 16 square kilometers and a population of over 172,000. In 1944, its downtown area was enlarged to 146 sq km. 

On Aug 26, 1949, Lanzhou was liberated. From then on, Lanzhou began a new historical era. 

Since the establishment of the People's Republic of China, Lanzhou's administrative structure has changed a couple of times. Nowadays, Lanzhou administers the five districts of Chengguan, Qilihe, Anning, Xigu and Honggu and also the three counties of Yuzhong, Gaolan and Yongdeng.