Founded in 1909, the university provides programs for undergraduate, graduate students on four campuses—three in Lanzhou city centre and one in Yuzhong County, about 30 miles away from the main campus.

Lanzhou University's history traces back to 1909 when its predecessor, the Gansu School of Law and Politics, was founded.

[8] Lanzhou University maintains one of China's top ten Ph.D. programs in physics, chemistry, atmospheric sciences and geography and highly ranked programs in information science, biology, botany, mathematics, history, media, ecology and Chinese literature.

[8] The landing system of China's Chang'e 4 lunar lander was thanks to a Lanzhou University developed gamma shutdown sensor.

[8] Lanzhou University has three primary laboratories and analytical testing facility sanctioned by the Chinese Ministry of Education and deemed as high importance to the state.

The laboratory was founded in 1991 under ratification of the Planning Commission of China and engaged in arid agriculture ecology research.

The lab has been highly developed on the basis of the authorization to confer bachelor, masters, doctorate and post-doctoral degrees through the financial aid of the World Bank loan.

Created in 1993 by the Chinese Ministry of Education, this is an open laboratory conducting research in the field of Applied Magnetism.

The laboratory is equipped with major facilities including a vibrating sample magnetometer, high pressure mossbauer spectroscope and magnetron sputtering system, along with many others.

Established by the State Technology Superintendency in 1992, it is the approved lab for the inspection of imported and exported chemical and mining products.