Lanzhou has registered a total of 142,993 parking spaces citywide.

Recently, the governments of all counties and districts in Lanzhou, along with relevant departments, have taken proactive measures and coordinated their efforts. In line with the municipal government’s series of directives on strengthening parking management, they have focused on building a metropolitan city and a refined Lanzhou, vigorously advancing parking planning, construction, and administration. As of… On July 18, 106 new parking facilities were registered, adding 12,748 parking spaces. As a result, the city now has a total of 1,276 registered parking facilities, with 142,993 parking spaces in all.

First, standardize and unify the entities engaged in business operations and services.

Previously, the entire city A total of 2,546 on‑street paid parking spaces across 47 locations are operated by six winning bidders, resulting in inconsistent management standards and uneven service quality, which has led to numerous public complaints. In response to these issues and in accordance with relevant municipal government directives, on June 5, following an open tender conducted through the Municipal Public Resources Trading Center’s government procurement process, Lanzhou Transportation Development & Construction Co., Ltd., a municipally‑owned state enterprise, was awarded the exclusive franchise for all on‑street temporary parking spaces citywide. The company subsequently established Lanzhou Smart Parking Co., Ltd. to centrally and uniformly manage the operation and services of all on‑street parking spaces starting July 1. All parking fees collected will be remitted in full to the municipal treasury in compliance with non‑tax revenue management regulations.

Second, standardize and unify the requirements for fee-based services.

In conjunction with Lanzhou Smart Parking Co., Ltd.’s centralized management of on‑street parking spaces across the city, and in line with the requirements of prioritizing safety and enhancing the overall image, a standardized uniform has been designed for patrol inspectors. It is strictly mandated that no cash be collected directly; instead, all payments must be processed using handheld devices. The PDA system issues two separate receipts—one when the vehicle enters a parking space and another when it departs—to verify and confirm the duration of parking. On this basis, all payments are made via QR‑code scanning; cash is prohibited unless the public explicitly requests it, and no deposits may be collected under any circumstances. These measures fundamentally address previous issues such as individual attendants forcibly demanding deposits or charging fees that deviate from established rates. If you encounter patrol officers who fail to use the PDA for payment, issue receipts, scan QR codes, or collect cash directly (except when the public voluntarily requests cash), or who demand deposits, please report such incidents promptly. The public security and traffic police authorities will investigate and take strict disciplinary action.

Third, standardize and unify the fee‑display signage.

In response to previous issues such as the chaotic placement of parking fee notice boards, inconsistent and non-standardized information, and difficulties for the public to exercise oversight, the public security traffic police authorities, in collaboration with price supervision and inspection agencies, have taken steps to… Starting in June, after carefully distinguishing among three pricing categories—government‑set prices, government‑guided prices, and market‑regulated prices—and taking into account various scenarios such as priority versus non‑priority areas, fee‑based versus free parking, time‑limited versus unlimited access, and on‑street versus off‑street parking, we conducted thorough research and developed standardized templates for parking‑fee signage. Adhering to uniform standards for style, size, materials, and content, we made specific arrangements and coordinated with all parking‑facility operators to carry out phased, orderly replacements. This ensures that the public can more accurately and conveniently access detailed parking‑fee information, thereby facilitating greater public oversight. In particular, we have clearly designated the competent authorities and hotline numbers for price complaints, invoice disputes, industry‑related grievances, and service‑quality issues, enabling citizens to lodge targeted complaints directly with the relevant departments and obtain timely, efficient resolutions.

Fourth, standardize and unify relevant signs and road markings.

In conjunction with the handover of operational management rights and the construction of smart parking facilities, and in strict accordance with national standards while taking into account local road traffic conditions, the public security traffic police authorities have carried out phased and batch‑wise standardization, optimization, and comprehensive renewal of on‑street parking space markings and signage throughout the city. To date, this work has been completed. A total of 40 areas comprising 1,967 parking spaces have been marked, including 47 spaces reserved for persons with disabilities and 7 spaces designated for police vehicles in front of police stations. At the same time, we have integrated standardized parking management with optimized traffic organization, balancing parking convenience with safe and smooth traffic flow. To this end, we have formulated the “Work Specifications for the Placement of Temporary Road Parking Markings and Signage and the Optimization of Traffic Organization in Relevant Road Sections in Lanzhou City.” Taking the marking of on‑street parking spaces as an opportunity, we have reinforced the principles of bus priority and non‑motorized‑transport priority. On one‑way streets where conditions permit—such as Gannan Road and Maijishan Road—we have uniformly positioned parking spaces on the left side of the roadway, while concurrently planning and designing dedicated bus lanes and non‑motorized‑vehicle lanes, thereby striving to ensure both bus priority and the safety and convenience of non‑motorized travel.

Fifth, standardize and unify parking in scenic‑area commercial districts.

Targeting The persistent problem of “zombie cars” will be addressed more effectively starting this month. The public security traffic police authorities will further standardize and optimize the management of on‑street parking spaces near tourist attractions and key commercial districts, implementing a policy of time‑limited free parking followed by charges for any excess duration. Specifically, along the Huanghe Mother River section of Nanbinhe Road, vehicles may park free of charge for up to one hour; beyond that, an overtime fee will apply. At other popular sites and shopping areas, parking will remain free for two hours, with charges imposed thereafter. These measures aim to prevent valuable parking resources from being occupied long-term by individual entities or private users, thereby maximizing the utilization rate of available spaces and ensuring that limited public parking is used most efficiently to deliver optimal service—providing out-of-town visitors with greater convenience and a tangible sense of satisfaction. Meanwhile, in response to the widespread issue of “zombie cars” occupying on‑street free parking spaces, which has drawn strong public concern, the traffic police will no longer add new free parking spots. As for the existing 101 locations comprising 4,683 free parking spaces currently in operation throughout the city, these will, beginning immediately, be transferred in phases to Lanzhou Smart Parking Co., Ltd. for fee‑based management, fundamentally addressing the pressing problem of precious public parking resources being monopolized by a small number of users over extended periods.

Sixth, standardize and unify the access of parking information.

At present, the entire city has already Real-time, dynamic network connectivity has been fully implemented for 2,689 on-street parking spaces across 49 locations. Citizens can simply search for the “Lantingxu” WeChat mini-program, enter their destination, and instantly access detailed information—such as which nearby streets allow parking and whether any spaces are currently available—and use the built-in navigation to park with confidence, eliminating the need to waste time and fuel driving around in search of an empty spot. Lanzhou Smart Parking Co., Ltd. is actively advancing its smart‑parking initiatives; once completed, the system will offer a comprehensive suite of enhanced smart‑parking services, including parking space reservation, seamless contactless payment, and integrated automotive services.

In addition, given that the underground parking garage at Lanzhou Central has already been fully opened free of charge to vehicles serving patients at the Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital, the issue of parking difficulties for patients has been resolved. Based on recommendations from the hospital and requests from local residents, the public security traffic police department will remove the previously established temporary on‑street parking spaces on Qilihe North Street (in front of the Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital), prohibiting all vehicles from parking there. Only vehicles transporting patients will be permitted to pick up or drop off passengers in designated areas, with a “stop-and-go” policy. Meanwhile, in light of increased traffic volume and frequent congestion, effective immediately, the public security traffic police department will also completely eliminate the previously designated temporary on‑street parking spaces on Jiangong West Street and Wujiaoyuan Road, in order to ensure safe and smooth road traffic.