The Rainbow Mountains of China within the Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park are a geological wonder of the world.
Location
Zhangye Danxia landform is mainly divided into two the north and south groups echoing each other. The north group is located in the north part of Zhangye City on the Heli Mountains, about 25 km away from the downtown. The north mountain form is low and flat, mainly in red and white and red ocher tones. South group takes the Sunan Yugurs Autonomous County as the centre, away from the Zhangye urban area of about 40 to 50 km. South Mountains landform is relatively steep and is amazing for its bedding stretches, clear texture, and colors. Zhangye Danxia Landform is concentrated in Linze and Sunan County, covering an area of over 300 square kilometres. It is one of the largest and best China Danxia landform with richest landscape modelling.
Brief History of Zhangye
In 121BC, Emperor Wu set up Zhangye County. In West Wei od the Northern Dynasty, it was renamed Gan Zhou (Zhou means an autonomous prefecture). From then on, until the late Qing Dynasty, it was all name Ganzhou. In 1927, it was renamed Zhangye County again and became Zhangye City in 1985.
Brief History of Zhangye
Zhangye is one of the Hexi Four Counties with Dunhuang, Jiuquan and Wuwei. It had been the political, economic, cultural and diplomatic activities centre in northwest China for each dynasty. Zhangye used to be the capital of North Liang Kingdom, the provincial capital of Gansu. In the city, there are many historical sites such as Ming Great Wall, grottoes and ancient city.
Zhangqian, Banchao, Faxian Master all had passed Zhangye to the Western Regions. Emperor Yangdi of Sui Dynasty was held “the Western Regions” in Zhangye with 27 kings of the Western Regions in 609. Xuanzang passed Zhangye to go to India to obtain Buddhist scriptures. Marco Polo lived in zhangye for a year.
Geomorphological features
The Danxia landform here was developed in about 200 million years ago before the Jurassic to Tertiary. Zhangye Qilian Danxia is mainly constituted by red gravel, sandstone and mudstone, with the imprint of a clear arid, semi-arid climate. It is a natural scenic spot perfect combining the sheer cliffs and steep mountains, strange, dangerous, beautiful of peaks pillars and the color of Xinjiang’s Colorful City.
The landscape is appraised and elected by Chinese National Geography in "Beauty China" campaign as the No. 6 "China's most beautiful seven Danxia". Comparing with the Yadan landform in Dunhuang "Ghost City", Zhangye Danxi Landform is broader, more magnificent, and spectacular.
This is just one example where geology catches our attention and begs the question: What causes the Rainbow Mountains to be colored the way they are? Here I will discuss the diagenetic and mineralogical processes that make up the reds, greens, yellows, and blues.
How Did The Rainbow Mountains Form?
The Rainbow Mountains are Cretaceous sandstones and siltstones that were deposited in China before the Himalayan Mountains were formed. The sand and silt were deposited with iron and trace minerals that provided it with the key ingredient to form the colours we see today.
Research shows that about 100 million years ago, there used to be a huge inland basin here. Water carried silt from the surrounding mountains to the basin. As the result of global high temperatures the basin dried up and in these arid conditions the sediment oxidized and turned a rust colour. Then some 70 million years ago a 3,700-meter-thick red-coloured layer formed on the basin, known as the chalk bed. On the top, there was a 1,300-meter-thick solid layer, i.e., a layer of the Cretaceous system, from which the peaks of Danxia Mountain gradually took shape.
The primary colour is a deep red sandstone, not unlike the Fountain Formation that outcrops in the Flatirons, Red Rocks Park, and the Garden of the Gods all in Colorado. The red colouring is due to an iron oxide coating and cementation, also known as hematite (Fe2O3), between the sandstone grains. This is the exact same process that takes place when a piece of metal is left out in the rain and forms a red layer of rust around the outside.
The swirling orange, yellow, white and brown lunar landscape of this national park is the result of sandstone and mineral deposits that have eroded into odd shapes over the course of millennia. These 'rainbow mountains' have been quietly drawing photographers for the last few years.
There’s a similar formation in British Columbia called The Rainbow Range formed from a mixture of volcanic rock and various minerals.
While the photos are certainly incredible, there could be some slight photo manipulation going on to make the colours pop a bit more than they would naturally.
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| The Rainbow Range |
While the photos are certainly incredible, there could be some slight photo manipulation going on to make the colours pop a bit more than they would naturally.
Transportation Tips
Danxia Landform Park has a distance from Zhangye city. So rent a vehicle or take the shuttle bus will be the first consideration.
For rent vehicle: renting a vehicle to Danxia park from Zhangye is the most convenient way.
➤ For the small group: a Zhangye taxi to Danxia park round way trip may usually charge about CNY150 - 200. For a group of 2 - 3 people, it will be a great choice. 1 hour’s driving one way.
➤ For middle/large size group: you can also choose taxi renting. Another recommended way will be booking a transfer service from a travel agent. Transfer service from agents can offer you a better vehicle choice and more flexible sightseeing time for visiting the park.
➤ For the small group: a Zhangye taxi to Danxia park round way trip may usually charge about CNY150 - 200. For a group of 2 - 3 people, it will be a great choice. 1 hour’s driving one way.
➤ For middle/large size group: you can also choose taxi renting. Another recommended way will be booking a transfer service from a travel agent. Transfer service from agents can offer you a better vehicle choice and more flexible sightseeing time for visiting the park.
➤ For shuttle bus: shuttle bus is the cheapest but most inconvenient way public shuttle bus to Danxia park is served in Xiguan Bus Station, the cost for each person may be CNY 10 - 20 one way.
Bus Station: Zhangye Xiguan Bus Station
Bus Station: Zhangye Xiguan Bus Station
Chinese Name: 西关汽车站
1. The staff of bus station may not understand English and communicate in English.
2. The shuttle bus is mainly served for domestic passengers so you may take the bus together with Chinese people and locals. The bus condition is not comfortable and clean enough.
3. Shuttle bus is not particularly convenient and may run more in the morning than the afternoon. Expect to waste some time waiting around for it, especially on the way back.
4. Since most of these local village bus services taper off or end after mid-afternoon, it's likely you'll have to schedule the visit for morning or midday, thereby missing the best of the geology colouration in the late afternoon sun. You can't have it all ways.
5. Better to learn some mandarin or ask help from who can understand English because no English notice on the shuttle bus to ensure you have a clear idea which station you need to get.
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Photography Tips
The best period to see Danxia Rainbow Mountain: Danxia Rainbow Mountain is located in Linze County Zhangye City, the best period to see the rainbow mountain will be in the sunrise or sunset time.
Recommended time to take a picture of that: late in the afternoon (maybe 2-4 hours before sunset) on a clear day. For taking a photo like that on the internet is not a hard work, but the good weather is eagerly needed. Most of the dramatic ones are taken late in the afternoon (maybe 2-4 hours before sunset) on a clear day. If you are lucky enough, the ideal period will be a fine day after raining, the fine weather after raining brings stronger light to make the colour of Danxia mountain more fantastic!
The best period to see Danxia Rainbow Mountain: Danxia Rainbow Mountain is located in Linze County Zhangye City, the best period to see the rainbow mountain will be in the sunrise or sunset time.
Recommended time to take a picture of that: late in the afternoon (maybe 2-4 hours before sunset) on a clear day. For taking a photo like that on the internet is not a hard work, but the good weather is eagerly needed. Most of the dramatic ones are taken late in the afternoon (maybe 2-4 hours before sunset) on a clear day. If you are lucky enough, the ideal period will be a fine day after raining, the fine weather after raining brings stronger light to make the colour of Danxia mountain more fantastic!
Transferring inside: Eco-shuttle bus is served inside the park to transfer you from one site to another. There is also need some walking but not as hard as doing a hiking. The roads to the viewing platform may include lateral walking and stair climbing up to a ridge or viewpoint.
Dining & Accommodation
Dining: there are restaurants around the entrance of this Geopark for travelers to have meals.
Accommodation: we recommend foreign travelers to accommodate in Zhangye rather than near this park because of the rough condition of the guesthouse there and not as safe as in Zhangye city.
Dining: there are restaurants around the entrance of this Geopark for travelers to have meals.
Accommodation: we recommend foreign travelers to accommodate in Zhangye rather than near this park because of the rough condition of the guesthouse there and not as safe as in Zhangye city.
Northwest Folkways Inn
Zhangye Liangmao Hotel
KaoShan Luxury Tent
Danxia Jiemei Homestay
Bean Sprout Hostel
Climate
Zhangye belongs to a continental climate, featured by the dry climate. The annual average temperature is 6℃. It is coldest in Jan., and hottest in September. The best time to visit Zhangye is from June to September.
Best Time to Visit
■ Summer (June to August): Each year July and August is the best time to travel to Zhangye. Zhangye is a continental climate, dry and rainless, the annual average temperature of 6 ℃, the coldest month is January, the hottest in July. Travel to Zhangye in summer, indisputably visiting two big attractions of Mati Temple and Shandan Military Horse Ranch first, whether riding to stroll Mati Hill (horseshoe hill), or riding swiftly in the grassland, take a broad view of Zhangye, you can see green grassland and the beauty of the golden flower everywhere.
■ Autumn (September to October): Going to Zhangye in autumn, the best choice is to visit Danxia landform located in Linze and Sunan County. This palatial danxia landform ranked first in the country and its coloured hills are the most beautiful in the country.
■ Winter (November to next February): Zhangye has a continental climate, dry and rainless, the annual average temperature of 6 ℃, the coldest month is January, the hottest is in July. Zhangye is located in the middle of Hexi corridor. In winter the wind is quite strong, and it is cold and dry in winter so do not recommended travelling Zhangye in winter.
Dressing Tips
■ Spring (March to May): March and April alternate cold and heat are quick, when it is cold the temperature might be 5 degrees below zero and when it is hot the temperature might be 20 degrees. And it is windy during March and April, suggest wearing a light sweater with the coat.
■ Summer (June -August): Zhangye located in the hinterland of China mainland, it has long sunshine time, and day and night temperature difference is bigger, so travel Zhangye in summer, besides short sleeve and shorts, you also need to prepare a light coat and pullover, etc. Of course, there is also very strong ultraviolet ray, so sunglasses, hat and scarf are also necessary.
■ Winter (November to February): Due to it is located in the deep mainland hinterland, Zhangye is a typical temperate continental arid climate, sunshine time is long, and solar-thermal resource is abundant. Its winter is cold and summer is heat, the four seasons is distinct, and rainfall is concentrated. Recommended to wear a thick cotton-padded jacket, winter coat, leather jacket, coat, hat, glove, and down jacket, such as thick warm clothes.
Hopping
Zhangye has rich products, and it has Wujiang River rice which had been for the royal tribute, exquisite sweet Linze jujube, apple pears, they are representatives of Zhangye specialities, enjoys a good reputation both at home and abroad. In Zhangye, the woman at an early age to learn paper cutting, embroidery and other craft production, exquisite paper-cut, chic pillow, Chinese-style chest covering, embroidering shoe, sheets in the hands of the ingenuity of the woman presents all kinds of things, is popular with tourists from everywhere.
Zhangye area shopping place more focus on people's south road, near people's road west, zhang ye stores, hex shopping malls and other large shopping malls, goods variety, good quality, good service, is an ideal place for leisure and shopping.
Activities
Zhangye is the ideal place to take in the natural beauty of China, and what better way to start than with a horseback ride? Take a hike up to the Mati Si Temple then take a horseback ride around the mountain. Along the way, you'll find caves carved into the rock and countless other naturally beautiful sights.
If you prefer something even more adventurous, head to Desert Park Sha Mo Gong Yuan. Here, you'll find shifting dunes to climb and beautiful landscapes to view. Just make sure you have plenty of sunscreen and water with you! After a hot day in the desert, take a cool swim in the Hei River.
If you prefer something even more adventurous, head to Desert Park Sha Mo Gong Yuan. Here, you'll find shifting dunes to climb and beautiful landscapes to view. Just make sure you have plenty of sunscreen and water with you! After a hot day in the desert, take a cool swim in the Hei River.
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