Zhangye

Qicai Danxia (the Rainbow Mountains), Pingshanhu Grand Canyon and Mati Temple: the most photogenic landforms on the Qinghai–Gansu Grand Loop.

Zhangye lies in the middle of the Hexi Corridor in Gansu Province, with the Qilian Mountains to the south and the Heli Mountains to the north. The Heihe River flows through the city, forming large areas of oasis and wetland. Known anciently as "Ganzhou," it earned the nickname "Golden Zhangye" for its prosperity, and the ancients described it as "a city of mountain light and pagoda shadows, ringed by reed-lined streams." Sights lie in three directions. To the west are Qicai Danxia in Linze County (about 40 km from the city) and Bingou Danxia in Sunan County (about 12 km apart, often combined in one day). Next to the north gate of Qicai Danxia is Danxiakou, a small town where you can stay overnight and see the show Back to Zhangye. To the south are the Mati Temple Grottoes in Sunan County (about 65 km, including Jinta Temple Grottoes). To the north is Pingshanhu Grand Canyon in Ganzhou District (about 56 km). In the city itself are the Great Buddha Temple, Wooden Pagoda Temple, Drum Tower (Zhenyuan Tower), Ganzhou Market (Zhangye's night market for local snacks) and the Zhangye National Wetland Park north of town, all doable in half a day. Best season: June–October. The Danxia colors are most saturated after rain once the sky clears, or just before sunset; September–October has crisp air and slightly fewer visitors. Winter is cold, and Danxia under snow has its own appeal, but some scenic areas shorten their hours. Getting there: Zhangye Ganzhou Airport has flights from Xi'an, Lanzhou, Chengdu and more. Zhangye West is a station on the Lanzhou–Xinjiang high-speed line: about 3 hours from Lanzhou, 2 hours from Xining, 1 hour from Jiayuguan and 3.5 hours from Dunhuang, making it a key node on the Qinghai–Gansu Grand Loop. There is no convenient public transport from the city to the scenic areas (Qicai Danxia has a tourist line), so most people charter a car, share a ride or join a day tour. Suggested stay: 2 days (one day for the two Danxia sites plus sunset, the other for the Great Buddha Temple and wetland in the morning and Mati Temple or Pingshanhu in the afternoon). Tips: Climbing on the Danxia rock formations is prohibited, and drones require a permit. The ride back to town after sunset takes about 1 hour, and summer sunset is around 8:30 pm. Zhangye is at about 1,500 m, while Mati Temple is above 2,500 m, so mornings and evenings are cool. UV is strong along the Hexi Corridor, so bring sun protection. The July rapeseed blooms at Biandukou are on the Qinghai side of Qilian; see the "Qilian" destination.

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