Lanzhou has been inhabited since the Neolithic period, and the surrounding area was once home to the Xirong tribes. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, it was a key border area between the Qin State and the Xirong. Due to its strategic location, it became a critical passage linking the northwest to the Central Plains. During the Western Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu established Jincheng Commandery (modern Lanzhou), officially bringing Lanzhou under the jurisdiction of the central government, which marked the beginning of its agricultural, handicraft, and commercial development. Lanzhou also became an important node on the Silk Road, connecting the Central Plains with the Western Regions.

In modern times, with the development of the northwest, Lanzhou's significance grew. During the Republican period, Lanzhou gradually modernized, constructing the Yellow River Iron Bridge and developing railways, machinery manufacturing, and the chemical industry. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Lanzhou became the capital of Gansu Province and gradually developed into an important industrial city and transportation hub in the northwest, achieving notable success, especially in the fields of petrochemicals and heavy industry. Today, Lanzhou is a key economic, cultural, and transportation center in northwest China. Below is a history of water management in Lanzhou:

Water Management in the Han Dynasty  

In the Western Han period, Lanzhou, as an agricultural development area, began to use Yellow River water for irrigation. The Han Dynasty constructed some simple embankments and irrigation channels to ensure grain production. Agricultural fields along the Yellow River in Lanzhou began to form, gradually establishing the area as an important agricultural production zone.

River Management During the Sui and Tang Dynasties  

During the Sui and Tang periods, Lanzhou's water management measures gradually advanced. The Tang Dynasty established flood prevention works along the Yellow River to protect against floods. More systematic flood control facilities were developed along the riverbanks in Lanzhou, ensuring the irrigation of farmland and the safety of the city. During this period, the river defense infrastructure in Lanzhou was gradually improved.

Irrigation and Flood Control in the Ming and Qing Dynasties 

During the Ming Dynasty, Lanzhou developed traditional irrigation methods, with villages and fields relying on Yellow River water to support agriculture. In the Qing Dynasty, as the population grew and agriculture developed, the demand for water management and irrigation increased. More water channels and diversion projects were built along parts of the Yellow River. However, due to the lack of advanced water infrastructure, Yellow River floods occurred frequently, affecting both farmland and residential areas in Lanzhou.

Water Management Reforms in the Republic of China  

In the Republican period, Lanzhou faced many challenges in Yellow River management. Wars damaged irrigation facilities, but during this time, Lanzhou began to build some modern water diversion projects and gradually attempted to reinforce the dikes along both banks of the Yellow River. In the 1930s, the Yellow River Iron Bridge was completed, which not only served as an important transportation route but also strengthened Lanzhou's flood control capacity along the Yellow River.

Yellow River Management After the Founding of the People's Republic of China  

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Yellow River management became a key national strategy. Lanzhou’s water management underwent large-scale reforms. Since the 1950s, Lanzhou has further strengthened its flood control system along the Yellow River by building reservoirs, embankments, and diversion works. Significant achievements were made in the management of the Yellow River section through Lanzhou, which not only addressed some flood risks but also ensured the sustainable use of Yellow River water resources, earning Lanzhou the title of the "Pearl of the Upper Yellow River.

Modern Water Resource Management and Environmental Protection  

In recent years, with urbanization and industrial development, Lanzhou's demand for water resources has increased, and challenges such as water pollution and silt accumulation have emerged. Lanzhou has gradually introduced modern water resource management measures and strengthened the protection of Yellow River water resources. In recent years, Lanzhou has implemented a number of water management projects to improve water quality, reduce silt deposition, and control pollution discharge. Today, water management in Lanzhou is no longer limited to flood control and irrigation but has gradually shifted towards the sustainable use of water resources and ecological protection.