The Zhangye Danxia Landscape — Red Rocks and Rainbow Ridges

The Zhangye Danxia Landscape — Red Rocks and Rainbow Ridges

Zhangye's Danxia landscape has lots of precipitous red cliffs, most of which are several hundred meters high, and multicolored ridges of weathered strata, sometimes stretching to the horizon. These formations, sometimes smooth sometimes sharp, stand  out against the greens or grays of the plains , looking grand and magnificent, vigorous and virile.

Across the Danxia landscape zone, a kaleidoscope of numerous red rocky outcrops resemble weird and wonderful shapes like castles, cones, towers ; as well as humans, creatures, birds and beasts. T heir peaks peeping through the mist and clouds, produce mirage-like scenery of fantastic mountains and pavilions.

The Guardian featured Zhangye's Danxia Landforms in pictures, and called this fantastic landscape "China's rainbow mountains".

How Was It Formed?

Zhangye 's Danxia was formed by the erosion of red sandstone, forming isolated peaks and steep stratified outcrops. Its special geological structure, combined with long-term desert conditions , freeze-thaw peeling, and wind and water erosion gave rise to its present appearance.

Geologists believe that Danxia topography is formed by folding of layered oceanic crust. Exposed slanting rock layers have different colors, textures, shapes, sizes, and patterns. The combination of differences in density and erosion create towering peaks, cave holes, and stone halls.

Getting to the Viewing Platforms Inside the Park

The Danxia national park is located close to the city of Zhangye — about 30 minutes west by car, in northwestern China’s Gansu Province.

There are sightseeing cars available within the national park, where other tourist buses are not allowed to go. The distance between the four viewing platforms is around eight kilometers (5 miles), and it takes about 2 hours to finish the whole trip when taking the sightseeing cars.

• The first viewing platform is the nearest and best viewing platform, 10 minutes’ walk from the entrance.
• The second viewing platform has it s base about 10 minutes’ walk from the premier viewing platform, but it takes a lot of effort to get to the top. Being the highest viewing platform, with 666 steps, which require about 30 minutes’ climbing, a panorama of the scenic area can be enjoyed.
• The third viewing platform allows a view of the famous 'seven-color fan'.
• The fourth viewing platform is the largest viewing platform. It is on a ridge which runs from east to west. Standing on the ridge and looking south you can feast your eyes on the variegated colors of Qicai Shan (七彩山 /chee-tseye shan/ 'Seven-Color Mountain'). It is the perfect place for catching pictures of a sunrise or sunset.