CN · Gansu · 38.92°N 100.13°E

zhangye danxia

Rainbow-striped mountains that look photoshopped. Best at golden hour.

Best time
June to September is the most comfortable, and the colours look richest after rain and in the late afternoon light. Winters are bitterly cold.
How long
1–2 days
Getting there
Fly from KL to a Chinese hub such as Xi'an or Chengdu, then on to Zhangye or Lanzhou. From Lanzhou, the high-speed train to Zhangye takes about 3 hours. The geopark is under an hour from the city by road.
Save postcard
CN · Gansuzhangye danxia38.92°N 100.13°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Rainbow-striped mountains that look photoshopped. Best at golden hour.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingZhangye DanxiaCN, Gansu
KLzhangye danxia
≈ 3,982 km from KL, as the crow flies
​Zhangye National Geopark

Photo: H2v5o68z · CC0

1 / 5

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Near the city of Zhangye in Gansu, on the old Silk Road, these hills are striped in red, orange, yellow and green from layers of sandstone laid down over millions of years. Boardwalks and viewing platforms take you through the colours, and the area is a UNESCO Global Geopark.

Makan

  1. Beef noodlesHand-pulled noodles in clear beef broth with chilli oil, Gansu's famous bowl.Map ↗
  2. LambGrilled lamb skewers and hand-torn boiled mutton are everywhere in Gansu.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Rainbow MountainsThe main area, with shuttle buses between viewing platforms. Stay for sunset.Map ↗
  2. Binggou DanxiaA separate area of towering, palace-like rock walls, quieter than the main site.Map ↗
  3. Giant Buddha TempleIn Zhangye city, home to one of China's largest indoor reclining Buddhas.Map ↗
  4. Mati TempleBuddhist cave shrines cut into a sandstone cliff in the hills south of the city.Map ↗
  5. JiayuguanThe fortress at the western end of the Ming Great Wall, about an hour west by high-speed train.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Stay on the boardwalks and platforms. Walking on the formations is banned and damages them.
  • Many beef noodle and lamb restaurants in Gansu are run by Hui Muslims and are halal. Look for the qingzhen (清真) signs.
  • The desert sun and wind are strong. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a jacket for the evening.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.