Many cities throughout China have walking streets - places set apart just for pedestrians. Most walking streets have numerous shops and are essentially outdoor shopping malls. This one in Lanzhou is a short walk from Zhongshan Bridge and Binhe Park, and is close to both the Gansu Government Building (which is more of a campus with several buildings, but the entrance itself is worth seeing) and Lanzhou Xiguan Mosque. Just off the walking street is a former temple complex that is now home to various antique, calligraphy, and picture-framing shops. Some of the side streets off the walking street are themselves worth exploring (I found a great beef noodle place on one of them). If you're an urban explorer like I am, this is a must-see, must-do.

I wandered up and down ZhangYe Pedestrian Street in December 2020. I had no choice as my hotel was near the end of the pedestrian section. The street is only one block from the Yellow River and riverside parks. Having visited many cities in China, I think there are 3 different types of ‘pedestrian streets’. The first is mid-to-high end shopping streets, the second is a mixture of shopping and eating with an emphasis on arts and crafts, and the third is the traditional, no-frills eating street. ZhangYe Pedestrian Street in my opinion fits into the first category. If you want to buy clothes, electronic goods, bags and hats, sports gear etc, this is the street for you. I found it valuable as I needed to buy a new power pack for my phone and a backpack. After that, I was bored. However, radiating from this street are many alleys with traditional foods and even a few bars, one with craft beers. At one end is a Starbucks when you hanker for familiar coffee and a raisin scone. All-in-all, I used the street a lot if you count the side alleys. In warmer seasons, it might be a lot more lively.