Zhuo'er Mountain
卓尔山
A red Danxia mountain just north of Qilian County town. From the summit, a 360-degree panorama takes in Niuxin Mountain's snowy peak, farmland and grassland in the Babao River valley, and the Qilian ranges. It's the postcard view of the 'Switzerland of the East.'
Zhuo'er Mountain lies on the north side of Babao Town in Qilian County. Its Tibetan name is Zongmu Mayouma. Rising to about 3,100 m, the mountain is made of red sandstone Danxia rock. Across the river stands Niuxin Mountain (4,667 m, Amidongsuo in Tibetan), and the two together form Qilian's most famous scenic pairing.
From the visitor center at the foot of the mountain, a sightseeing shuttle (about 20 minutes) takes you to the summit parking lot. From there, a wooden boardwalk leads to several lookout platforms with 360-degree views. To the south are Niuxin Mountain's snowy summit and its forested, meadowy slopes. Below lie the patchwork of rapeseed fields, highland barley fields and Qilian county town in the Babao River valley. To the west, the layered ridges of the Qilian Mountains stretch into the distance.
From mid to late July, when the rapeseed is in bloom, yellow, green, red and white appear side by side, making this one of the most popular photo stops on the Qinghai Grand Loop. Tickets cost about CNY 60, the shuttle about CNY 20, and walking the full boardwalk takes about 1.5 hours. The summit also has the ruins of a beacon tower and a Tibetan-style white stupa.
The best times are early morning, when the light falls on Niuxin Mountain, or evening, when the red cliffs glow deeper. Midday light is harsh.
Please note: the summit is very windy and at least 5°C colder than the county town. In peak season the shuttle queues are long, so arrive early. The boardwalk has inclines, so older visitors should take it at their own pace. Mountain roads get slippery in the rain.
The mountain is only 3 km from the county town, a short taxi ride away.
Opening hours
Peak season 07:00–19:00; off-season 08:30–17:30; often closed in winter