▁the ▁Q ing ▁dynast y . ▁When ▁G ans u ▁was ▁made ▁a ▁separate ▁province ▁in ▁ 1 6 6 6 , ▁L anz hou ▁became ▁its ▁capital . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 7 3 9 ▁the ▁seat ▁of ▁L int ao ▁was ▁transferred ▁to ▁L anz hou , ▁which ▁was ▁later ▁made ▁a ▁superior ▁pre fect ure ▁called ▁L anz hou . ▁ ▁L anz hou ▁was ▁badly ▁dam aged ▁during ▁the ▁D ung an ▁revol t ▁in ▁ 1 8 6 4 – 1 8 7 5 . ▁In ▁the ▁ 1 9 2 0 s ▁and ▁ 1 9 3 0 s ▁it ▁became ▁a ▁center ▁of ▁Soviet ▁influence ▁in ▁north western ▁China . ▁ ▁During ▁the ▁Second ▁S ino - J apan ese ▁War ▁( 1 9 3 7 – 1 9 4 5 ) ▁L anz hou , ▁linked ▁with ▁X i ' an ▁by ▁highway ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 5 , ▁became ▁the ▁termin us ▁of ▁the ▁ ▁Chinese – S ov iet ▁highway , ▁used ▁as ▁a ▁route ▁for ▁Soviet ▁supplies ▁dest ined ▁for ▁the ▁X i ' an ▁area . ▁This ▁highway ▁remained ▁the ▁primary ▁traffic ▁route ▁of ▁north western ▁China ▁until ▁the ▁completion ▁of ▁the ▁railway ▁from ▁L anz hou ▁to ▁Ü r ü m qi , ▁X in ji ang . ▁L anz hou ▁and ▁its ▁air port , ▁then ▁located ▁near ▁the ▁city ▁centre , ▁were ▁heavily ▁bom bed ▁by ▁the ▁Imperial ▁Japanese ▁Air ▁Force . ▁The ▁K MT ▁Muslim ▁Gener