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Zhangye Danxia Guide: Exploring China's Rainbow Mountains

Zoella20 Oct 2026

Rows of red, orange, yellow, and green stripes run across the hills of northwest China, and most visitors see them first in photos they assume are edited. They are not. Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, China, is a real place in Gansu Province, and the colors are written into the rock itself.

This guide covers what the park is, how the Danxia landform in Zhangye formed, how to get to Zhangye Danxia from the nearest airport and train station, when to go, and what to expect at each viewing platform. I've also noted the points where sources disagree, so you know what to confirm before you travel.

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What Is Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park?

Zhangye Danxia Geopark, Gansu, China, is the name you'll see on many maps and booking pages, and it sits in the northern foothills of the Qilian Mountains, within the Linze and Sunan county areas of Zhangye city. The part most visitors see is the Linze Danxia scenic area, which lies roughly 30 kilometers west of downtown Zhangye.

Detail	Information
Province	Gansu, northwest China
Main scenic area	Linze Danxia, roughly 30 km west of downtown Zhangye
Status	National geopark (2016); UNESCO Global Geopark (2020)
Getting around inside	Park sightseeing shuttle to four viewing platforms
Time needed	2 to 4 hours for the platform loop
Best months	June to September for comfortable weather
Best time of day	Early morning or the hours before sunset

The geopark has gone through several official stages. It became a provincial geopark in 2005, was formally designated Zhangye National Geopark in 2016, and was approved as a UNESCO Global Geopark on July 7, 2020, according to the park's official site. The UNESCO-listed area is far larger than the scenic area you walk through. It covers 1,289.71 square kilometers and includes other geological features, such as an ancient ophiolite suite and the Heihe River valley.

Zhangye Danxia Geopark, China, is also easy to place on a route. Zhangye sits along the Hexi Corridor, the historic passage between central China and the Gobi, so many travelers add it to a trip that includes Jiayuguan or Dunhuang.

How the Danxia Landform in Zhangye Formed

"Danxia" is a Chinese term meaning rosy clouds, and it now names a type of landscape: red sandstone and conglomerate shaped by uplift and erosion. Zhangye is the best-known example in northern China.
The short version of the geology runs like this:

Layers of sandstone and mineral-rich sediment built up over a very long period.
Tectonic uplift linked to the rise of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau tilted and folded those layers.
Wind and rain then cut the tilted rock into ridges, pillars, and ravines.

The stripes come from the different minerals in each layer. Because the layers were tipped on their sides, you see them as vertical bands running across the hills. Color also changes with the light, so the same slope can look dull at noon and glowing at sunset.

How to Get to Zhangye Danxia

The route has two parts: reaching Zhangye city, then getting from the city to the park.

Reaching Zhangye

By train. Zhangye West Railway Station is the one to use for high-speed trains. China Highlights lists these approximate journey times:

From	High-speed train time
Jiayuguan	About 1.5 hours
Xining	About 2 hours
Lanzhou	About 3.5 to 4.5 hours, depending on the train
Dunhuang	About 4 to 4.5 hours
Xi'an or Urumqi	About 7.5 hours

Zhangye also has an older Zhangye Railway Station, which handles slower trains from distant cities. Check which station your ticket uses.

By air. Zhangye Ganzhou Airport (YZY) is a small regional airport with flights from Lanzhou, Xi'an, Beijing, and Shanghai. It has no international flights, so most overseas travelers connect through a major Chinese city first. The airport is about 25 kilometers from downtown.

From Zhangye to the Park

The park is a short drive from the city, and the road distances from the main arrival points are:

From	Distance	Drive time
Zhangye West Railway Station	About 36 km	About 50 minutes
Zhangye Railway Station	About 50 km	About 1 hour
Zhangye Ganzhou Airport	About 62 km	About 1 hour

Your realistic options are a taxi or a private driver, or a day tour with transport included. Sources disagree on public buses. One reports a direct service from the Xiguan bus station with limited departures, while another says no public bus goes to the park. If you want to rely on a bus, confirm the schedule locally, and make sure you know when the last return service leaves. Taxis can be scarce after dark, so arrange a return ride before you head to a sunset viewpoint.

Getting Around Inside the Park

Private cars and tour coaches don't drive between the viewing areas. You ride the park's sightseeing shuttle, which runs a loop between the gate and the platforms. The platforms are too far apart to walk between, so the shuttle is part of any visit.

Tickets and Opening Hours

Adult admission to the Zhangye Danxia Scenic Area is 70 yuan per person (including the sightseeing bus and scenic area insurance). The park operates on a seasonal schedule:

• April 28 – August 31: Opens at 5:30 a.m., closes at 7:00 p.m. (Last admission for the in-depth tour is at 6:00 p.m)

• September 1 – October 31: Opens at 6:30 a.m., closes at 6:00 p.m. (last entry for the in-depth tour at 5:00 p.m)

• Fall/Winter and Spring: Hours are generally adjusted to approximately 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (subject to real-time announcements from the scenic area)

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The Four Viewing Platforms

The shuttle stops at four main platforms. Names vary between sources, so use the numbers as your guide.

Platform	What to expect
1	Closest to the entrance, with a short, nearly level walk. The largest platform, and good for wide views
2	The highest viewpoint, reached by a staircase climb of 20 to 30 minutes. Best for the layered, panoramic view
3	Striped ridges and some of the reddest slopes. Good for close-up textures
4	Widely used for sunrise and sunset light. It is also the most crowded in the evening

Each platform involves some walking on wooden boardwalks and steps. Stay on the marked paths, since stepping off them can draw fines. The full loop usually takes 2 to 3 hours by shuttle, and 3 to 4 hours if you stop for photos at every platform.

Best Time to Visit Zhangye Danxia

Most sources recommend June to September, when the weather is comfortable and the landscape looks its most colorful. Winter is very cold and windy, and I wouldn't schedule a first visit then.

Factor	Advice
Season	June to September for comfort. Spring and autumn also work, with cooler evenings
Time of day	Early morning or the two hours before sunset. Midday light washes out the colors
Weather	Clear skies show the strongest contrast. Overcast days look flatter, though some visitors report that rain deepens the reds
Crowds	Evening is busiest at the sunset platforms, so arrive early

Carry a jacket even in summer. The temperature drops quickly after sunset, and the wind in the open hills can be sharp.

Sample Schedule for One Day at Zhangye Danxia

For most visitors, a half day is enough. This schedule builds the visit around the evening light.

Early afternoon: Travel from Zhangye city and buy your ticket. Confirm the last shuttle time before you go in.
Mid-afternoon: Start at Platform 1 and Platform 2 while the sun is still high, and climb to the top viewpoint.
Late afternoon: Move on to Platform 3 for close-ups of the striped ridges.
Golden hour: Finish at Platform 4 and wait for the light to deepen.
After the last shots: Take the shuttle back and ride to your hotel, with your return transport already arranged.

If you prefer fewer people, reverse the order and go at opening time, when the early light is soft and the crowds are thin.

Other Danxia Areas Near Zhangye

The Linze scenic area is the most visited, but it's not the only Danxia landscape in the region. The official geopark also covers areas in Sunan County, and Binggou Danxia, north of the Liyuan River, opened to visitors in 2014. If you have an extra day, these give you a quieter look at the same type of landscape. Check access and ticketing for each area separately, since they are managed as separate scenic areas.

Combining Zhangye with the Hexi Corridor

Zhangye works well as a stop on a longer route across Gansu. From Zhangye West, Jiayuguan is about 1.5 hours by high-speed train and Dunhuang is about 4 to 4.5 hours. A common pattern is to start in Lanzhou, stop at Zhangye for the rainbow mountains, continue to Jiayuguan for the western end of the Great Wall, and finish in Dunhuang.

If you'd rather have transport and timing handled for you, look at Zhangye vacation packages, which can fit the park into a wider northwest China route.

Practical Tips

Bring water and food. There are no restaurants inside the scenic area, according to visitor reports.
Protect yourself from the sun. There is very little shade, so pack a hat and sunscreen.
Wear sturdy shoes. The platforms involve steps and boardwalks.
Avoid red and orange clothing. It blends into the hills in photos.
Check the drone rules. Visitor reports disagree on whether drones are allowed, so ask at the gate.
Arrange your ride back. Book your return ride before sunset, not after.

The Danxia landform in Zhangye is one of the most photogenic landscapes in northwest China, and it's easy to reach by high-speed train. Go in summer; time your visit for early or late light, confirm the ticket price and shuttle hours before you travel, and give yourself a few hours on the platforms.

FAQ

Where is Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park?

The park is in Zhangye, Gansu Province, in the northern foothills of the Qilian Mountains. The best-known scenic area, Linze Danxia, lies roughly 30 kilometers west of downtown Zhangye.

How do I get to Zhangye Danxia from Zhangye city?

Take a taxi, a private driver, or a tour with transport. Public bus information is inconsistent, so confirm any bus schedule locally. Inside the park, you move between platforms on the sightseeing shuttle.

How long do I need at Zhangye Danxia?

Allow 2 to 4 hours. The platform loop takes 2 to 3 hours by shuttle, and photo stops add time.

What is the best time to visit Zhangye Danxia?

June to September is the most comfortable period, and early morning or late afternoon gives the strongest color. Winter is cold and windy.

Can I visit Zhangye Danxia as a day trip from Jiayuguan?

The train from Jiayuguan to Zhangye West takes about 1.5 hours, so a long day trip is possible. Most travelers stay a night in Zhangye to avoid rushing the sunset visit.