Tao River
Starting from the south of Lanzhou, the expressway enters the New Qidaoliang tunnel (length ) through the Xinglongshan mountains, from where it follows the Tao River parallel to G212. Past Lintao, the route diverges from the Tao river valley and passes through hilly landscape through a couple of tunnels until exiting in the Wei River valley. From there it continues through the long Muzhailing Tunnel. In Min County, the expressway parallels G212 again until Longnan, exiting Gansu through a mountainous valley by numerous tunnels and viaducts.