Banks and exchange The main Bank of China is on Tianshui Lu, just south of the Lanzhou Legend.

Bookshops The Univeristy Bookshop, on Tianshui Lu, has a few novels in English, while the third floor of the Foreign Languages Bookstore, on Zhangye Lu, has a wide selection. The latter's entrance is not easy to find - it's just west of the officious-looking building.

Internet You can use the computers on the second floor of the telecommunications office on Jinchang Lu for A?10 an hour. The business centre of the Lanzhou Legend Hotel has a computer you can use for A?30 an hour.

Post and telecommunications The Post and Telecommunications Office (Mon-Sat 8am-7pm) stands at the junction of Pingliang Lu and Minzhu Dong Lu. There's also a post office at the West bus station in the western part of the city, and you can make collect calls at the Telephone and Telegram Office on the corner of Qingyang Lu and Jinchang Lu.

PSB Visas can be extended at an office on Wudu Lu, a couple of hundred metres west of Jiuquan Lu.

Shopping Good things to buy in Lanzhou include army surplus clothes - winter coats, waistcoats, hats and boots are all locally produced, tough and cheap. They're made at the local factory at 227 Yanchang Lu, north of the river, the largest such factory in China. You can even visit it if you like and buy direct from them (bus #7 from the train station).

Travel agents There are plenty of travel agencies in and behind the Lanzhou Hotel - the Western Travel Service of Lanzhou Hotel (tel 0931/8416321 ext 8638) is recommended. In the Youyi Hotel, try the Gansu International Hope Travel Agency (tel 0931/2310637). CITS is in the small street behind the Jincheng Hotel. These agencies are useful for purchasing train tickets and for arranging trips to the Bingling Si Caves.