Zhangye Danxia Geopark
Zhangye Danxia Geopark
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Stephen C
Singapore, Singapore1,125 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
This is a UNESCO Geopark. Like most of the national parks, you will gather at a central point and take a bus into the park.
There are four stops in all. You should make it a point to alight and walk around at each of the stops as they offer different views of the park.
The biggest stop is the second one. There is the largest platform from which you can walk around and have a true panoramic view of the surrounding area.
The fourth stop offers the best photo opportunities. It brings you closest to the multi colored rocks and this is a must visit stop for all visitors. Just be warned that there will be plenty of tourists and they’ll be crowding around looking for a photo opportunity as well.
While some say that the best time to visit is at sunrise or sunset, we found the view in the afternoon to be good as well.
There are four stops in all. You should make it a point to alight and walk around at each of the stops as they offer different views of the park.
The biggest stop is the second one. There is the largest platform from which you can walk around and have a true panoramic view of the surrounding area.
The fourth stop offers the best photo opportunities. It brings you closest to the multi colored rocks and this is a must visit stop for all visitors. Just be warned that there will be plenty of tourists and they’ll be crowding around looking for a photo opportunity as well.
While some say that the best time to visit is at sunrise or sunset, we found the view in the afternoon to be good as well.
Written October 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kim buay p
Singapore, Singapore12,825 contributions
Sep 2021
I did a guided live-stream tour with Jenny's China Tour on Heygo. The location seems to be quite remote. So I was very happy with this live-stream tour especially since travelling is so restricted nowadays. The guide spoke good English and explained how these layered coloured mountains come about. The tour was about 35-40 mins long. We could take wonderful postcard shots of the views.
Written September 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Madison C
Sydney, Australia5 contributions
Sep 2020
After approx. an hour from Zhangye you finally get your ticket to this wonder of the world, there would be buses that will take you close to four platforms offering the best viewing of that particular area, basically the higher you climb the better view you get, so you have to be prepared for some good hike so it's a little challenging, it's impressive and breathtaking how the colors of the mountains are beyond description and amazing - I have never seen something like that before.
Definitely a place worthy of visiting.
Definitely a place worthy of visiting.
Written June 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HKHomers
Hong Kong, China22 contributions
Aug 2023
Again this whole Chinese Mass tourism setup, highly regulated, tightly organized. Good or bad? In this case good; contrary to e.g. Yellowstone USA it is great being allowed to hop on/hop off along a fixed route getting the best views.
Some areas underwhelmed e.g. looking into the sun, but other areas were fantastic with the right sunlight enhancing the multi-colored rocks experience.
Overall it's a must-see, famous in China.
Some areas underwhelmed e.g. looking into the sun, but other areas were fantastic with the right sunlight enhancing the multi-colored rocks experience.
Overall it's a must-see, famous in China.
Written August 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe
Budapest, Hungary4,844 contributions
Nov 2021 • Friends
The rainbow mountains. An UNESCO heritage sight and one of my absolute best memories from China.
It is a geographic marvel of astonishing beauty. When the sun hits the mountains they really do have a rainbow pattern. You can't actually hike on or climb on the mountains but you do get several viewing platforms which allow you too see different views and perspectives of the scenery.
It's less busy here than you may think, it's a well known spot but it's in remote Gansu province so it's really quite far away. It could be combined onto your 'Silk Road' trip.
If you're in China these really are a must visit
It is a geographic marvel of astonishing beauty. When the sun hits the mountains they really do have a rainbow pattern. You can't actually hike on or climb on the mountains but you do get several viewing platforms which allow you too see different views and perspectives of the scenery.
It's less busy here than you may think, it's a well known spot but it's in remote Gansu province so it's really quite far away. It could be combined onto your 'Silk Road' trip.
If you're in China these really are a must visit
Written October 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KodoDrummer
Buenos Aires, Argentina70,548 contributions
Oct 2019
The magnificent blended seven-colours flowing through the landscape created over millions of years of earthly evolution.
Written October 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
michaelp1945
canberra5 contributions
Sep 2013 • Couples
It is quite easy to travel to Zhangye with the train and plane services that China has. We arrive in Guangzhou and took a connecting flight to Lanzhou. We stayed in Nongken hotel which is a walking distance to the train station. Accommodation wise is okay but the staff is not very helpful. They will not receive parcels or mail even if you have booked to stay in the hotel. We spend a night in Lanzhou and did a half day tour of the sights along the Yellow River there. The next morning we took a train (soft seat) to Zhangye at around 7am. The trains were punctual and we arrive after a 5 hour journey. Took a taxi to Huachen international hotel. Setback is people there do not understand English. There was a travel agency in the hotel and we booked a trip to Zhangye Danxia Geopark the afternoon we arrived. We were taken to Geopark the same evening.
The place is spectular and the local Chinese have learnt about the beauty of the area too. There were lots of Chinese from different parts of China. We chatted with them with our limited Mandarin knowledge. The area is very well managed and there are 4 viewing stations. The park mans the buses and it is a hop on hop off route which gives you control of time you want to spend in each viewing station. The place is great and we cant believe the colours of the hills. It closes at 7pm. We are glad we visited this place before it gets to be as popular as the nine villages. We went in September 2013.
The next day we went to Matisi, a temple in the cave. It is unusual but quite expensive to visit compared to Geopark. We tried the local foods and I like the hotpot. Beef and lamb is the meat they used. You can have a spicey hotpot ar a non spicey one. As we had 2 nights in Zhangye we saw the local tourist attractions like the big Buddha etc.
We took a train back to Lanzhou and flew off to our next destination. I appreciate the efficient transport system in China. It is so convenient to take airport shuttle buses to and from airports and it is so much cheaper than taxis.
The place is spectular and the local Chinese have learnt about the beauty of the area too. There were lots of Chinese from different parts of China. We chatted with them with our limited Mandarin knowledge. The area is very well managed and there are 4 viewing stations. The park mans the buses and it is a hop on hop off route which gives you control of time you want to spend in each viewing station. The place is great and we cant believe the colours of the hills. It closes at 7pm. We are glad we visited this place before it gets to be as popular as the nine villages. We went in September 2013.
The next day we went to Matisi, a temple in the cave. It is unusual but quite expensive to visit compared to Geopark. We tried the local foods and I like the hotpot. Beef and lamb is the meat they used. You can have a spicey hotpot ar a non spicey one. As we had 2 nights in Zhangye we saw the local tourist attractions like the big Buddha etc.
We took a train back to Lanzhou and flew off to our next destination. I appreciate the efficient transport system in China. It is so convenient to take airport shuttle buses to and from airports and it is so much cheaper than taxis.
Written October 23, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tsandweg
Manama, Bahrain35 contributions
Dec 2013 • Couples
I want to start this off by saying that we went during the off season, so that might be why it was a little more difficult. We started in Chongqing, but really wanted to go see the rainbow mountains because of everything we heard about it! However, it would have been nearly impossible to do this if we weren't with someone who spoke some Chinese. Even with him, it was difficult. The mountains were cool, but I'm not sure that they were worth us going out of our way to see them. My best piece of advice is to buy train tickets in advanced to insure a seat. Our way there we bought them in person a few minutes before the train left and had seats to ourselves, but on the way back, we had to buy them on the train and ended up standing up on an already really packed train for 5 hours.
Written December 15, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jack H.
Boston, MA11 contributions
Jun 2013 • Couples
I went to Danxia on a cloudy day, and only hesitantly, after a couple of Xining acquaintances downplayed its scenic beauty. Don't let anyone talk you out of visiting Danxia. Even on overcast days, the bands of color (from red to yellow to blue to black) in the rock formations are quite the sight. A rainburst threatened to cut our entire experience short after a scant 45 minutes in the park, but we were greeted by a rainbow that shone through the cloud cover for a few minutes just as we arrived at the "Seven-Color Formation," the third of the four predetermined stops on the standard hop-on hop-off shuttle tour of the park. For those hiking through the park, be aware that park guards will firmly tell you to stay on paved paths if you venture near the shuttle bus route.
Bring your own food and water. There is literally nothing for sale in the geopark itself. On overcast days, bring a rain jacket, because precipitation is unpredictable, and Danxia's winds tend to wreak havoc on umbrellas. On sunny days, wear plenty of sunblock or sun-protective clothing, and bring a rain jacket anyway, just in case.
If you're visiting the Qinghai-Gansu region, do not skip Danxia. Having been to Yosemite, the Tetons, Niagara Falls, California's Pacific Coast Highway, the Grand Canyon, Chichen Itza, Wutai Mountain, Guilin, the Badaling section of the Great Wall, Mount Tai, and a few other world-renowned scenic places, Danxia is honestly one of the three most unbelievable sights I've ever seen.
Bring your own food and water. There is literally nothing for sale in the geopark itself. On overcast days, bring a rain jacket, because precipitation is unpredictable, and Danxia's winds tend to wreak havoc on umbrellas. On sunny days, wear plenty of sunblock or sun-protective clothing, and bring a rain jacket anyway, just in case.
If you're visiting the Qinghai-Gansu region, do not skip Danxia. Having been to Yosemite, the Tetons, Niagara Falls, California's Pacific Coast Highway, the Grand Canyon, Chichen Itza, Wutai Mountain, Guilin, the Badaling section of the Great Wall, Mount Tai, and a few other world-renowned scenic places, Danxia is honestly one of the three most unbelievable sights I've ever seen.
Written July 15, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shanghyper
Shanghai, China439 contributions
May 2014 • Friends
The painted mountains of Zhangye are really worth the trip to the far-flung province of Gansu in northwestern China. It can be a bit of a hassle to get there, but it is well worth the trouble.
I recommend staying overnight in Zhangye rather than making a day trip of it from Lanzhou -- it's a lengthy drive even from Zhangye (about an hour) and you'll want to have time to walk around and really explore some. The colors of the mountains change with the light of the day and the weather conditions (they are especially vibrant right after a rainstorm, and also at sunrise or sunset).
I also recommend going to see the danxia landforms at Bingguo, which is not far away (maybe 20 - 30 minutes down the road), but sees far fewer tourists. The landscape is entirely different from the better-known Zhangye Danxia, but it is equally beautiful. (It is hard to find much info on Bingguo -- it's not even listed on Tripadvisor, that I can see. You'll have to have a local driver/tour guide to get you there, but it is also well worth it.)
When you arrive at the geopark, your driver will let you off in the parking lot and, after purchasing your tickets, you will take the buses to the various viewing platforms within the park. You'll have time to get out and explore at each spot, and I encourage you to check out each one fully, as each offers unique views. If you're a photography buff, you will go nuts here!
Along the bus route inside the park you will see the remains of the movie set for "San Qiang Pai An Jing Qi" (its English title was "A Woman, A Gun and a Noodleshop"), but I don't believe you can actually walk around it. And at the final viewing platform, which is just past the movie set, there are vendors offering camel rides. It's actually kinda cool, though admittedly pretty touristy. Still, how often do you get to get up close and personal with a camel? If you don't wish to ride them, you can still pet them and take their pictures for around 20 kuai (about $3 US).
At Bingguo it is a similar set up, though on a much smaller scale. You park out front and then a tram will take you inside to the viewing platforms. You can do much more hiking and climbing here. The hiking paths and viewing platforms are quite new, and very impressive. There is one very tall viewing platform with wonderful views from the top -- if it's clear you can see the snow-capped Qilian mountains in the distance.
Not including the drive times to and from, I would budget a few hours for both places. The cost is very reasonable, and you'll see landscapes that you won't find anywhere else. You won't find a lot of English spoken in this neck of the woods, so I would advise enlisting a tour guide if you don't think your Chinese skills are up to par. But regardless of how you do it, you won't be disappointed in the amazing landscapes you'll see.
I recommend staying overnight in Zhangye rather than making a day trip of it from Lanzhou -- it's a lengthy drive even from Zhangye (about an hour) and you'll want to have time to walk around and really explore some. The colors of the mountains change with the light of the day and the weather conditions (they are especially vibrant right after a rainstorm, and also at sunrise or sunset).
I also recommend going to see the danxia landforms at Bingguo, which is not far away (maybe 20 - 30 minutes down the road), but sees far fewer tourists. The landscape is entirely different from the better-known Zhangye Danxia, but it is equally beautiful. (It is hard to find much info on Bingguo -- it's not even listed on Tripadvisor, that I can see. You'll have to have a local driver/tour guide to get you there, but it is also well worth it.)
When you arrive at the geopark, your driver will let you off in the parking lot and, after purchasing your tickets, you will take the buses to the various viewing platforms within the park. You'll have time to get out and explore at each spot, and I encourage you to check out each one fully, as each offers unique views. If you're a photography buff, you will go nuts here!
Along the bus route inside the park you will see the remains of the movie set for "San Qiang Pai An Jing Qi" (its English title was "A Woman, A Gun and a Noodleshop"), but I don't believe you can actually walk around it. And at the final viewing platform, which is just past the movie set, there are vendors offering camel rides. It's actually kinda cool, though admittedly pretty touristy. Still, how often do you get to get up close and personal with a camel? If you don't wish to ride them, you can still pet them and take their pictures for around 20 kuai (about $3 US).
At Bingguo it is a similar set up, though on a much smaller scale. You park out front and then a tram will take you inside to the viewing platforms. You can do much more hiking and climbing here. The hiking paths and viewing platforms are quite new, and very impressive. There is one very tall viewing platform with wonderful views from the top -- if it's clear you can see the snow-capped Qilian mountains in the distance.
Not including the drive times to and from, I would budget a few hours for both places. The cost is very reasonable, and you'll see landscapes that you won't find anywhere else. You won't find a lot of English spoken in this neck of the woods, so I would advise enlisting a tour guide if you don't think your Chinese skills are up to par. But regardless of how you do it, you won't be disappointed in the amazing landscapes you'll see.
Written September 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is language an issue? I don't speak or understand Mandarin. Only Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Should I use a tour company, or can I just go there?
Paula Natthaporn
Trondheim, Norway9 contributions
Hi, I saw some review that the ticket is good for 2 days. Can we enter the Geopark twice with the cheaper one ticket for No.1-4 spots for sunset today and sunrise tomorrow morning? Do we need to do anything specially to get the 2 days ticket except paying bus ticket on the next day?
Thanks a lot.
602allac
5 contributions
Меня интересует, есть ли на входах в парк камера хранения багажа. Мы из парка едем в аэропорт. Если есть, то на каком входе?
reis73
Sydney, Australia16 contributions
Will it be possible to visit in December? Between Dec 25-27? We don't mind the cold. And will be taking the high speed train from Xian. Thanks
Adventurous Hermit
10 contributions
Hi reis73. It is likely to be freezing (below zero) and windy in December so it’s not recommended but it should be possible. I was there in April and it was cold. You could ask them on their Facebook page - Danxia-Landform-Park-Zhangye-Gansu-China
galeung
Toronto, Canada32 contributions
Best time to visit with regards to weather and crowds of people.
Shim Szabo
Tel Aviv, Israel294 contributions
Best time is early as it opens but also late before the sun goes down. The colors become incredible.
galeung
Toronto, Canada32 contributions
What is the best month to go there, not too hot, not too wet or cold? How much time should we prepare to spend there? Are the shuttle buses operating there all year round?
Unstoppable Wanderer
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia96 contributions
Recommended is during summer times but will be full crowded with local tourists. For cooling weather will be Apr-May or Sept-Oct months. No idea about shuttle bus service but recommend engage local taxi for returns trip. Need at least 3-4 hours to enjoy and walk around the park.
itzsa
Haifa, Israel
Hello. How do I get from the airport (Zhangye Ganzhou Airport - YZY) to zhangye itself, or better to the Danxia Geopark?
Are there any shuttle buses? Trains?
Thank you.
Unstoppable Wanderer
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia96 contributions
Hi, I have no idea about shuttle bus from Ganzhou airport. But there is no train service within Zhangye town centre, you need take cab to Danxia Geopark about 1 hour journey.
LORENZO C
Brescia, Italy37 contributions
Visto i colore c'è della ferrite nella loro composizione?
Sue F
99 contributions
Could you please tell me the name of the hotel close to the park & whether you recommend it?
Thanks
Michael C
Singapore, Singapore363 contributions
i dont recall there being a hotel remotely near the place.. its really out of the way. Like the others, i stayed in the city of Zhangye and tripped out from there.
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