Founded in 1909, the predecessor of Lanzhou University（LZU） was Gansu Law and Politics School, which marked the beginning of modern higher education in Gansu Province and pioneered higher education in the Northwest region.As the national comprehensive university under the direct authority of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University is one of the universities supported by the "Project 985" and “Project 211”.         Guided by the university motto of “Constantly Improving, Blazing Our Own Path”, LZU makes effort to deepen openness, attach importance to academic development and improve the quality of talent cultivation. Besides, it runs in accordance with the strategy of “strengthen LZU with trained personnel”and works hard to build a harmonious, developed campus with more broaden horizon to make great contributions to the socio-economic development in western China and national rejuvenation.                                                      

Relying on its outstanding faculty and discipline construction, LZU aims to enhance talent cultivation, spur scientific innovation and society service, and boost international cooperation, making it a place outstanding personnel assembled, the western China in particular.  Thus, LZU enters a new level characterized by high-level, innovation-oriented, optimized structure and coordination.               

LZU  adheres to open education and actively develops foreign exchanges and cooperation. It has established exchanges and cooperation with 206 universities and scientific research institutions in 44 countries and regions around the world, and has led the establishment of the "Belt and Road" university alliance with a total of 173 members. There are 3 Confucius Institutes in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia. Cooperated with Drexel University in the United States to organize undergraduate education programs in computer science and technology.