Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park

The Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, affectionately known as the “Rainbow Mountains,” can be found in the eastern foothills of the Qilian Mountains within Gansu Province, China. This geological park encompasses a breathtaking Danxia landform area that spans approximately 50 square km. Admired for its dazzling array of colours that grace the hills and rock formations, the Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park has received accolades from Chinese media outlets as one of China’s most exquisite landforms.

These Danxia landforms are truly a masterpiece of nature. The multicoloured mountain ridges appear as if they were a celestial palette that has been tipped over. The Danxia landscape in Zhangye boasts an abundance of steep, vermilion cliffs, many of which reach several hundred metres in height. These cliffs are accompanied by variegated ridges of weathered strata, some stretching to the horizon. These formations, which alternate between smooth and jagged, dramatically contrast with the green or grey plains, presenting a grand and imposing, vigorous and robust visage.

Within the Danxia landscape zone, an array of red rocky outcrops takes on peculiar and captivating shapes resembling castles, cones, towers, and even depictions of humans, animals, birds, and mythical creatures. Their peaks often peek through the mist and clouds, conjuring scenes reminiscent of surreal mountain ranges and pavilions.

The vibrant landscapes owe their existence to the layering of sandstone and minerals over the ages, accompanied by the shifting of tectonic plates that have created slanted, painted layers on the rock formations and rolling sandstone hills. The collaborative forces of rain, wind, and the passage of time have further sculpted these rock formations and undulating hills into a myriad of pillars and ravines, culminating in a captivating display of patterns for all to admire.