UNESCO World Heritage site
Zhangye Dania is famous for its rainbow-colored mountains located in Zhangye, Gansu China. Zangye was an important city on the ancient Silk Road and one of four counties in Hexi Corridor.
This unique geological formation has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2010. We traveled 40 km away from Zhangye City early morning to reach the best spot to see the rainbow mountains. We arrived in the late morning, about 10 am and the crowd was still manageable.
Souvenirs Stalls
Before approaching the visitor center for the ticket, there are plenty of stalls selling scarfs, hats and other souvenirs. We don’t have enough time to shop at the stalls here as we are rushing in to get the tickets and trying to avoid more crowds coming in later. Things sold here aren’t that expensive, so if you need a hat or a scarf, you can get it here.
Visitor Center for Tickets
Use the clean toilets at the visitor center before exploring Danxia is the right move.
- Location: Nantaizi Village, Nijiaying County, Zhangye Prefecture
- Opening hours: 5:30am–8:30pm in summer time, 8am–6pm in winter time.
- Ticket price: 60¥ (SGD 12)
Danxia Internal Bus
Once you gotten your ticket, the Danxia bus will bring you in to the scenic points. No private vehicle can drive in this area. There are in total 4 viewing points.
Total 4 Scenic Point
- The first scenic point is the nearest and best viewing platform, just 10 minutes’ walk from the entrance. Don’t walk, use the bus. You cannot walk on the street for buses, only designated wooden path by pedestrian. You get “scream” from the security guard if you walk at the wrong path. You will get a shock from their scream I can assure you that 🙂
- The second scenic point takes a lot of effort to get to the top. It has the highest viewing platform, with 666 steps, a minimum of 30 mins of climbing to check out the panorama view of the multicoloured danxia.
- The third scenic point allow a view of the famous “seven color fan”.
- The fourth scenic point is the largest viewing point. It is also the prefect place for catching pictures of sunrise or sunset. You will see the ‘Seven-Color Mountain’ here.
Best Time to Visit
Best time to visit Zhangye Danxia is sunrise or sunset, that way the multi-colored can be seen even better.
Best Month To Visit
The best month to visit is from June to September when the weather is not as harsh compared to winter. The rest of the timing is very dry & cold and not suitable for visit. The bright sunshine will bring out the multi-color of the mountains so if it is cloudy or raining day, you won’t be able to see the colors.
Plenty of walking & Climbing
Be prepared to walk and climb the stairs. It took us about 2 hours to finish all the climbing. A pair of good comfy shoes is vital.
When you are at the top, you can feel the strong wind and hear the strong breeze. I stay a little at the top to enjoy the panorama view of Danxia and see the multi-color mountains and listen to the breeze. It is the good opportunities to notice differences in environments and climates. Also one of the reason why we travel.
What to Wear to Danxi Zhangye
Even in summer, the wind can be very strong when you climb to the top. Bring along a scarf or a jacket. Apply sunscreen, wear a sunglasses and a hat.
Some other formation
A Turtle Look Up The Sky
Rest Area
There are sheltered in each scenic point. People who are not able to make it to the top or can’t walk that well, stay at the shelter to enjoy Danxia.
Good Luck Charm
Good luck charm were seen hanging at the sheltered. It can be purchased at the nearby stall. Inside Danxia Geopark, there are not many stalls selling souvenirs for the tourists.
The stones here look more like pork belly to me, rather than Danxia Geopark.
Final thoughts :
The several hundred meters tall Danxi in Zhangye are the result of deposits of sandstone and other minerals that occurred over many thousand years ago. The wind, rain and time has sculpted these incredible shape, pillars and ravines with different colors, pattern and sizes. The sand and silt was deposited with iron and trace minerals that provided it with the key ingredient to form the colors we see today.
I am glad to have make it up to the top of the viewing point as the view at the top is totally different. You get a better view and able to see the mountain ranges with multi-colored. A good 2 hours is enough to see this amazing landscape.
Looks like an excellent day trip. I would try to get there either close to sunrise or sunset.
Dear Nancie,
Sunrise and sunset is the perfect timing to see the multi color in Danxi rainbow mountain. Too bad I was not able to be there during these perfect timing. Luckily the sunshine is bright enough to see the colorful mountain.
I have seen these amazing rainbow formations online before – what a fantastic experience to actually be able to go there!
Dear Sarah,
Wow, glad you did see the rainbow formations. It should be even clearer at dusk and dawn when the sun is closer to earth.
What an awesome exploration! I would ABSOLUTELY love to do this!
Dear Gigi,
This is one of the must stop when you do Silk Road China. Located at Zhangye, just 40 km away from Zhangye City in Gansu province. Don’t miss out this magnificient Unesco Heritage Site.
The photos you took on your day trip are absolutely incredible! If we ever make it to this area of the world we will definitely make this trip. Amazing!
Dear Nicole,
Thanks for your comment. I am glad you like the pictures, the colorful mountains are really stunning if you go early morning during sunrise or late evening, at sunset, that way the multi-colored can be seen even better.
amazing article, I will try to make to the top of view point if I get a chance to visit this place 🙂
Dear Divya,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, it is a must to go to the top to check out the view and listen to the wind 🙂
What an awesome adventure! I would love to go through this experience, moreover that it has so much thing behind it…
Dear Corina,
It is really an awesome adventure. Plenty of climbing and walking but all are pretty safe. A pair of good shoes is needed for this trip.
Just wow! I love all the little trinkets. I’d surely buy them all 🙂 This looks like it would be an incredible experience!
Dear Monice,
Thanks for your comment. The Danxia mountain is really a wonderful experience. Yes, you can get those little trinkets at the souveniers stalls 🙂
sounds like you had a memorable experience, a breathtaking place, indeed. there is plenty of walking and climbing ahaha
Dear Nina,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, plenty of walking and climbing so a good pair of shoes is needed. The weather at the top is also quite windy so a light jacket is needed even in summer. In winter the weather in Danxia would be more harsh with cold wind, so thicker Jacket to combat the cold wind.
I love UNESCO World Heritage Sites! And this one looks oh so lovely to visit with the views and fun things to do. So interesting!
Dear Hillcitybride,
To be included on the World Heritage List, Danxia Zhange sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria. It suits all four natural criteria in Unesco world heritage list, so Danxia Zhangye China is full of tourist and I am not surprise to know why.
Wow! That landscape looks amazing! I would love to see this for myself one day!
Dear Missy,
Some people believe that God overturned his palette, and the out-of-a-fairy-tail Zhangye Danxia Landform formed. You need to see this for yourself 🙂
Oh how fun…it looks like you had a great time. This is definitely a neat place to visit.
Dear Holly,
The unusual colours of the rocks are the result of red sandstone and mineral deposits being laid down over 24 million years. So really an increadible place to visit.
Definitely adding this to my travel bucket list. One of my life goals is to visit as many UNESCO World Heritage Sites as possible, starting with the ones here in Asia. 🙂
Dear Czjai,
UNESCO World Heritage sites are recognizing important sites around the world. Zhangye Danxia is one of them among the 53 from the China list. 🙂
UNESCO World Heritage Site is now one of my top of the list place that I need to visit. The place and those natural landscape are so beautiful!
Dear Geraline,
Thanks for your comment. Zhangye Danxia is very famous among tourists, and it has been listed among the ‘most beautiful’ places in China and the world, numerous times.
The photos you took are amazing! It seems like such an amazing place to visit. I’d love to visit here some day, thanks for sharing!
Dear Nicole,
The Zhangye Danxia landform is known as “the eye candy of Zhangye”. Many artists admire this masterpiece as it is unbelievably colorful, like an imaginative oil painting. It consisting of large formations of distinctly rainbow coloured rock which make it so amazing.
I feel like I would probably spend more than a couple of hours at this amazing place. I’ve always known silk roads as something you describe in general but I think this is THE Silk Road people have been talking about. Just wow!
Dear Esme,
Thanks for your comment. The landform in colorful Danxia is just stunning. Words can’t describe and you need to see it yourself.
Would you believe that I’ve not heard of this place before. I’m definitely adding it to my bucket list now!
Dear Jojo,
Thanks for your comment. You can also combine visiting both Binggou and Danxia Scenic areas in one day. Visit Binggou first, which is about one hour from Zhangye City.
What an amazing place to visit! Zhangye Danxia looks like grand canyon! I don’t wonder why, it belongs in Unesco World Heritage.
Dear Jenn,
You are absolutely right, it look similar to Grand canyon as I just visited Grand Canyon last winter, except Danxia landform is smaller compared to Grand Canyon.