Zhangye Danxia Landform

七彩丹霞

China’s most famous multicolored hills, where red, yellow, orange and green rock layers look like a spilled paint palette, and the most photogenic landscape on the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop.

The Zhangye Qicai Danxia Scenic Area is located in Nijiaying Town, Linze County, and is part of the Zhangye Danxia National Geopark. Its colorful hills formed from Cretaceous red sandstone and conglomerate, shaped over hundreds of millions of years by sedimentation, uplift and weathering. Its range of colors is unique in China. The area was rated a 5A scenic spot in 2020 and has served as a filming location for works such as the film “Sanqiang Pai’an Jingqi.” The scenic area has four viewing platforms, reached in sequence by shuttle bus from the North Gate: Platform 1, Qicai Xianyuan (Seven-Color Fairy Terrace), overlooking large expanses of colorful hills; Platform 2, Qicai Yunhai (Seven-Color Cloud Sea Terrace); Platform 3, Qicai Jinxiu (Seven-Color Brocade Terrace); and the most important, Platform 4, Qicai Hongxia (Seven-Color Rainbow Glow Terrace), with the classic “Great Scallop” and “Sword Mountain and Sea of Fire” viewpoints, most beautiful at sunset. The full circuit takes about 2.5 to 3 hours, and hot-air balloon or helicopter rides are available for an extra fee. Entry costs about RMB 75, and the shuttle about RMB 20, which can be ridden multiple times in a day. The best time is 1 to 2 hours before sunset at Platform 4 for the light. Sunset is around 20:30 in summer and around 18:00 in winter. Colors are most saturated right after rain clears. A tourist shuttle bus runs from the city center (about 1 hour), and a private car round trip costs about RMB 200. Note: visitors must stay on the boardwalks and may not step on the rock formations. The viewing platforms are windy, and temperatures drop sharply after sunset. Platform 4 gets very crowded in peak season, so arrive early to secure a spot.

Zhangye Danxia Landform

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