Formerly known as Ganzhou, the town was part of the Western Xia dynasty until it was conquered by Kublai Khan in 1227.
Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park (Qicai Danxia) is a small park about 40 km from Zhangye where you can see a unique geological landscape, a painting I would say.
The Danxia National Park is about 30 minutes west by car, in the northwestern portion of Gansu Province, China.
Erosion of red sandstone conducted at forming isolated peaks and steep stratified outcrops that conducted at forming this amazing rainbow mountains.
Its particular geological structure, combined with long-term desert conditions, freeze-thaw peeling, and wind and water erosion gave rise to its present appearance.
It took over 24 million years to form the Zhangye Danxia National Geopark and can be dated back to the Cretaceous age. Formed from red-colored sandstones and conglomerates, the entire area is a unique illustration of petrographic geomorphology.
Imagine a layered cake and the effect is similar. Rain, wind and eons of time sculpted exceptional shapes, that include pillars, ravines and towers with endless patterns and sizes.
The colorful Zhangye Danxia National Geopark, known for its vivid kaleidoscope of rock formations, is one of the most beautiful landforms in all of China, comprising some 322 square kilometers (124 square miles).
It’s amazing to think that it is a naturally formed landscape with shades of blue, emerald, green, orange, red and yellow. There is a full seven differentiations of color, a feature for which is called China’s Rainbow Mountains.
Imagine this vast area of colour in the endless valleys punctuated by a number of waterfalls, that continue for miles and miles. It’s definitely like seeing a painting.
In 2010 six of the landscapes in the park were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site and today Zhangye Danxia Geopark has become a major tourist attraction.
By bus from Zhangye to the park which is quite reasonable, or hire a taxi.
The best time to visit Zhangye National Park is from June to September, when the weather is comfortable and the combination of a strong sun and a little rain, brings out the colors even more.
Don’t recommend to go when it is raining or cloudy, as sunshine is needed for the best viewing of the color gradations.
The rest of the year is quite dry. The Park is well below freezing and windy in the winter and visiting is not recommended.
The best time to visit is in the morning and especially in the evening, where the color variation changes continuously. Sunset is at 7:30 pm local time in the spring and autumn and 8:00 pm in the summer.
As usual, expect to be crowded in July and August and on Chinese holidays. During the peak season, some 20,000 tourists visit daily.
It is available in the nearby community of Zhangye but if you’re feeling adventurous can also stay in the nearby yurts, known as KaoShan Luxury Tents, just 600 meters from the entrance.
Another wonderful place to visit 🙂
wonderful…good choice …amazing place….good one…nice post…thanks for share
Thank you very much 😊
How have I never heard of this? Looks incredible!
Yes, I think is an amazing place to see 😊 Thank you for stopping by 😊
Wonderful mountains!⛰⛰⛰
I hope you go there someday!😁😁🌸🌸
Thank you Betty! I hope so 😉🌸🌸
How amazing
Wonderful nature 😉
Quite stunning – looks unreal
True! Seems like a painting 😊
Damn from where you discover these places 😳😳 look at these amazing colors! It’s really astonishing that it’s naturally formed landscape with shades of multiple colors 👌👌 I’m packing hahaa since now it’s a great time to visit 😁😁
loved the accommodation as well, what a great place! Thank you for sharing and hope you will visit it very soon of course 🤗🤗💕💕
Ahahaha…not difficult to find them as our world is so so beautiful 😍 I’ve told you that one life is not enough to see all these wonders 🤪 Hope one day 😉🌸💕
Oh yes I agree, not even 2 lives! Have a great day as well 🤗💕
🤗🤗🤗💕💕💕
Omg😯them mountains are stunning, definitely on my bucket list. Thanks❤for sharing, they really are a sight to behold🙂
Thank you for reading 😊 Indeed, beautiful nature 😍
Wowowow!!! I’ve never even heard of them! They’re so gorgeous!
Our world is so beautiful! If we could just have the possibility to see all these stunning places 😉🤪
Dang, got to add another another stop to my cat in the hat world tour…
😊 beautiful place to see indeed 😊 Thank you for stopping by 😊🌸
So pretty. My bucket list also.
Very pretty 😉 Thank you for stopping by 😊🌸
How beautiful!!! If I went there I’d probably spend days just staring at those mountains! 💕
Stunning indeed! And it looks so peaceful 😊 thank you for stopping by Michelle! 🌸🌸
Wow! Rainbow Mountains….now that is onmy bucket list
😊 yes, I think is a great place for a bucket list 😉 thank you for stopping by 🌸🌸
Amazing place – thanks so much for sharing
Thank you for reading 😊
My absolute pleasure
That’s incredible! I initially thought you had photoshopped the images – I can’t believe they are real! Isn’t nature wonderful… 😊
We have such a beautiful world! Yes, the colors are incredible 😊😊 Thank you for stopping by! Have a great week!
You too 😊
Amazing image and very informative post!
Thank you 😊