Yellow River Mother Statue

The Yellow River Mother Statue (黄河母亲雕像) stands on the northern bank of the Yellow River in the western section of Binhe Park. It depicts a reclining woman — representing the Yellow River — cradling an infant — representing the Chinese people she sustains — and has become one of the most recognized images of Lanzhou. The stone base carries inscriptions about the river's role in Chinese civilization.

The statue is among the most photographed spots in the city and the approach along Binhe Road offers good views of the river and the hills across the water. In the early morning, the riverbank here is quiet and atmospheric. In the afternoon it gets busy with families and tourists. There is no admission fee and the surrounding Binhe Park path continues in both directions along the river.

things to do sight
A story
The Yellow River is the second longest river in China and has been called "the cradle of Chinese civilization" for the agricultural communities that developed along its banks five thousand years ago. The sculptor He E designed the mother figure to embody this dual role: a protective woman holding an infant, the river nurturing the people who depend on it. The child in her arms gazes upward, away from the river — toward whatever comes next.