China's Rainbow Mountains Look Like Another Planet – Zhangye Danxia

In northwestern China, there is a city where colorful mountains, vast canyons, ancient temples, grasslands, horse farms, and the snow-capped Qilian Mountains all come together in a single journey. Zhangye is truly one of the most remarkable destinations in this part of China. Located along the Hexi Corridor, Zhangye was once an important stop on the ancient Silk Road. But today, what makes this city memorable is perhaps not only its history, but also the astonishing diversity of its landscapes. From the vibrant Danxia Hills to the green valleys beneath the Qilian Mountains, from ancient Buddhist grottoes to grasslands where horses roam freely, Zhangye feels like a vast natural museum unfolding across northwestern China. Let's begin our journey to discover the landmarks that have made Zhangye famous. The first destination is undoubtedly the most iconic attraction in Zhangye, the Zhangye Danxia Landform. This is the landscape that has made Zhangye one of the most famous natural destinations in China. Stretching across the horizon, the mountains feature layers of red, orange, yellow, brown, and countless shades in between, creating a scene that looks like ribbons of colour have been painted across the surface of the earth. Zhangye Danxia is particularly remarkable for the combination of Danxia landforms and colourful hills, creating a landscape with striking contrasts. The area is now part of the Zhangye Danxia National Geopark and has been recognised as a National 5A Rated Tourist Attraction as well as a World Geopark. What makes it even more fascinating is that this landscape never truly looks the same. As the sun moves across the sky, the colours of the mountain slopes change as well. The morning light creates softer tones while the afternoon sun highlights the geological layers and contours of each hill. So if you have the time, don't simply stop by to take a few photos, walk through the different viewing areas, stay a little longer, and take in the endless layers of mountains stretching all the way to the horizon. This is when you realise that Zhangye is not only beautiful in photographs, the actual scale of the landscape is even more impressive. Leaving the colourful hills behind, the journey continues toward the Qilian Mountains where Matisi Temple lies among forests and mountains. Matisi Temple, also known as the Matisi Grottoes, is a rare combination of Buddhist architecture, grotto art and high mountain scenery. The grottoes were first created during the Northern Liang period, more than 1,600 years ago. The complex includes several groups of grottoes and religious structures spread across a vast mountainous area. What makes Matisi special is not only its age, it is the way these religious structures blend naturally into the surrounding landscape. The grottoes were carved directly into the cliffs while pathways wind along the mountain slopes, surrounded by forests and valleys. Together, they create the feeling of stepping into another world. This is a place best explored at a leisurely pace, allowing you to discover each area and observe how people in ancient times created spaces of worship in the heart of the mountains. Matisi also reveals another side of Zhangye. The city was not only an important stop on the Silk Road for trade, but also a place where religions and artistic traditions were spread and developed over many centuries. After the mountain landscapes, let's return to the heart of Zhangye to explore Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple. Built during the Western Xia period, this is one of the city's most important historical landmarks and a symbol of ancient Zhangye. The site is now a national key cultural relic protection unit. As you step into the temple grounds, you will immediately feel a change in atmosphere. Outside, there is the modern city, but inside, you will find peaceful temple courtyards, wooden structures, ancient trees, and religious architecture that has survived through many historical periods. The most remarkable highlight is the enormous reclining Buddha preserved inside the Giant Buddha Hall, say. The vast interior of the hall makes the experience especially impressive. This is not simply a place to admire historical architecture. It also offers a glimpse into Zhangye's important role in the history of Buddhism and cultural exchange along the Silk Road. If Danxia reveals the power of nature, then the Giant Buddha Temple reveals the lasting imprint of human civilization across thousands of years of history. If Zhangye Danxia is famous for its vibrant colors, then Binggu Danxia Scenic Area makes an impression with its remarkable shapes and formations. Located within the Zhangye Danxia National Geopark, Binggu is home to cliffs, stone pillars, sharp peaks, rock walls, and landforms with incredibly distinctive shapes. Some rock formations may remind you of grand palaces, others look like enormous walls, and then there are towering rock peaks rising dramatically from the valleys, creating the feeling of a stone city built by nature itself. This is also an excellent destination for photography. If Zhangye Danxia captivates you with its vast expanses of color, Binggu draws your attention to every shape and contour of the landscape. Venture deeper along the sightseeing trails, observe how the scenery changes, and let these natural rock formations create stories shaped by your imagination. This is a stronger, wilder, and somewhat more mysterious side of Zhangye. After the rocky mountains, Zhangye surprises visitors once again with a completely different landscape. This is Zhangye National Wetland Park. With its waterways, vegetation, reeds, and expansive ecological spaces, the park creates a remarkable green oasis amid a northwestern landscape more commonly associated with deserts and dry land. It is an ideal place to walk, take photos, and enjoy a slower pace. You can watch birds stroll along the paths beside the water, or simply sit down and watch the landscape change with the light. Interestingly, the wetlands help explain why Zhangye once developed into an important oasis along the Hexi Corridor. This region is not only about mountains and deserts. Water from the Qilian Mountains and the surrounding river system has created fertile areas, allowing people to live and thrive in an otherwise arid environment. Next is Yanji Mountain, a destination that combines both natural beauty and historical significance in Zhangye. It is an ideal place for those who want to leave the crowded tourist attractions behind and experience nature in a more intimate way. You can hike along the mountain trails, enjoy the cool air, and watch the landscape gradually change as you make your way from the foothills to higher elevations. Yanji Mountain is also connected to the history of the region. Today, it forms part of a travel route linking Shandan, Yanji Mountain, and Shandan Horse Farm, combining natural scenery with traces of the area's past. Therefore, Yanji Mountain is more than just a scenic viewpoint. It is also a place where you can experience the connection between the landscape, history, and everyday life of northwestern China. If you enjoy more adventurous experiences, make sure to set aside some time for Pingshanhu Grand Canyon. This place has a completely different character from Zhangye Dangxia. Instead of vast, colorful hills stretching across the landscape, Pingshanhu impresses visitors with its deep canyons, steep cliffs, and heavily weathered terrain. Here, you can more clearly appreciate the power of wind, water, and time in shaping the landscapes of northwestern China. The experience is ideal for those who enjoy hiking, exploring rugged terrain, and looking for expansive views from higher vantage points. One of the most fascinating aspects is the sheer sense of scale. Standing on a high ridge and looking down into the narrow canyons, you suddenly realize how small human beings are compared with these enormous cliffs. And that is exactly what makes Pingshanhu so appealing. It may not be as colorful or dazzling, but it is powerful, vast, and full of adventure. Leaving the canyons behind, the journey moves into a completely different landscape at Shandan Horse Farm. Located between Yanji Mountain and the Qilian Mountains, this area is known for its vast grasslands and long-standing tradition of horse breeding. Shandan Horse Farm was established during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, with a history closely connected to raising horses across these expansive grasslands. Here, the experience is no longer simply about standing back and admiring the scenery. If conditions allow, visitors can take part in horse-related activities and experience life on the grasslands. But even when simply watching from a distance, the sight of horses running across the wide grasslands with mountain ranges rising in the background is enough to create a scene that feels quintessentially northwestern China. Shandan Horse Farm gives you the feeling of stepping into a land where people and horses have shared a close connection for centuries. And to conclude the journey, let's head toward Qilian Mountain Grassland. If Danxia represents Zhangye's dry and vibrant beauty, then Qilian Grassland represents a greener, wider, and more dynamic side of the region. Vast grasslands stretch beneath the mountains while towering peaks and snow-covered landscapes rise in the distance, creating a scene that seems to extend endlessly. This is an ideal place for walking, photography, experiencing highland life, or simply standing in the middle of the grassland and enjoying the feeling of open space stretching all the way to the horizon. Zhangye's tourist routes also connect many of the landscapes around the Qilian Mountains, from snow-capped peaks, forests, and grasslands, to canyons, wetlands, and danxia formations. Especially during the green grass season, the contrast between the grasslands, the sky, and the distant mountains creates one of the most memorable landscapes of the entire journey. If you enjoy discovering new cities and want to explore more exciting destinations, don't forget to subscribe to our channel, like this video, and turn on notifications so you can join us on our next adventures.