Atlas of China
Zhangye Danxia (Rainbow Mountains) 张掖七彩丹霞Zhāngyè Qīcǎi Dānxiá
Mountains striped red, orange and yellow like the layers of a painted cake
- Best time
- Jun–Oct
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Days to budget
- 1 day
- Stay in
- Zhangye
- Region
- Gansu
- Type
- Nature
- Listed as
- 5A scenic area
Why go to Zhangye Danxia (Rainbow Mountains)
About 40 km west of Zhangye, the Qicai (Seven-Colour) Danxia scenic area is a landscape of sandstone ridges banded in rust, ochre, cream and pink. Shuttle buses link boardwalks and viewing platforms, and in the low evening light the colours deepen dramatically.
The story
Danxia means 'rosy clouds', a name geologists borrowed from Mount Danxia in Guangdong for red sandstone landscapes like this one. The stripes are ancient layers of sediment, each tinted by a different mix of iron and other minerals, later tilted and folded as the rise of the Tibetan Plateau squeezed the land.
What to see at Zhangye Danxia (Rainbow Mountains)
- Qicai Yunhai Platform 七彩云海台: The first viewing platform on the loop, with a broad outlook over rows of banded ridges.
- Qicai Xianyuan Platform 七彩仙缘台: A platform with a wide panorama over the folded, stripy hills and the rock formations below.
- Qicai Jinxiu Platform 七彩锦绣台: A viewing platform with long views across the reddest, most densely coloured stripes.
- Qicai Hongxia Platform 七彩虹霞台: Most guides name it the best sunset spot in the park.
How to visit Zhangye Danxia (Rainbow Mountains)
A sightseeing shuttle is usually described as a one-way loop between four stops, one for each platform, so decide before you board where to linger. The loop takes one to two hours depending on how long you stay; a common order is Yunhai, Xianyuan, Jinxiu, then Hongxia for the sunset, and it is worth securing a spot there well ahead of sunset. Check the last return shuttle before you stay late.
How to get to Zhangye Danxia (Rainbow Mountains)
The scenic area is around 45 minutes west of Zhangye by taxi or tourist bus; Zhangye itself is on the high-speed line between Lanzhou and Ürümqi.
Where to stay
Stay in Zhangye city for the rail station and the food streets; the park is a morning or afternoon trip from there.
What to eat
- Boyuzi 拨鱼子: Fish-shaped noodles made by pushing flour batter off a chopstick into boiling water, served stir-fried with vegetables or in soup.
- Sao noodles 臊面: Noodles under a savoury minced-meat topping, a fixture on lists of Zhangye's best-known snacks.
- Beef xiaofan 牛肉小饭: A beef dish with small square noodle pieces, one of the most popular things to eat in Zhangye.
Tips for visiting Zhangye Danxia (Rainbow Mountains)
- Come in the late afternoon and stay for sunset, when the colours glow.
- The bands look richest after rain, while the rock is still damp.
- There's little shade on the platforms, so bring water, a hat and sunscreen.
Nearby
Also within 30 km: Danxiakou Tourist Town 丹霞口文旅小镇 (under 10 km), Yugur Culture Corridor 裕固风情走廊 (10 km), Binggou Danxia 冰沟丹霞 (20 km), Liushahe Scenic Area, Linze 流沙河景区 (20 km), Heishuiguo Ruins 黑水国遗址 (20 km), Lushuiwan Scenic Area 芦水湾 (30 km).
Trips with Zhangye Danxia (Rainbow Mountains)
- The Silk Road by train: Xi’an to Dunhuang, Turpan and Ürümqi 11 days · Xi'an, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Turpan and Ürümqi
On the map
Open Zhangye Danxia (Rainbow Mountains) on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.
Open Zhangye Danxia (Rainbow Mountains) on the map