Gansu has never lacked breathtaking scenery. Here you will find the desert miracle of Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring, the sacred splendor of Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, the magnificent craftsmanship of the Colorful Danxia, and the Yumen Moshan National Geopark, which is a bit niche but truly outstanding.
Located in the Qilian Mountains, Yumen Moshan National Geopark boasts a collection of various geological types, including volcanoes, Danxia landforms, Wave Valley, petrified wood groups, and ancient biological fossil groups, making it a veritable open-air geological museum. The park is vast, and self-driving is the most convenient way to explore, allowing you to stop and take photos as you please.
The vast expanse of land and the continuous mountain ranges present two completely contrasting scenes within the same frame. As far as the eye can see, it is both magnificent and desolate, as if billions of years of time have been solidified into mountains and stones, faithfully displaying the form of time before our eyes.
The geopark was only discovered in 2004 by oil exploration workers. Compared to its predecessors like the Colorful Danxia and Yardang, it may have slightly less popularity. Perhaps because of this, the bustling crowds and traffic jams that are common in Gansu during summer and holidays are truly absent here, revealing the vastness and desolate beauty of an uninhabited place.
The park contains 119 petrified wood trees that are exposed on the surface. Petrified wood, also known as “wood fossils,” are ancient plants that lived 140 million years ago. They appear like wood, with intact trunks and complete trees, even displaying grain and age. However, they have actually transformed into stones, a testament to the wonders created by time.
Danxia landforms are the most prominent geological feature in the park, covering an area of over 500 square kilometers. This landform, which was discovered and named entirely by Chinese scholars, evokes a sense of Chinese aesthetic charm in both its name and color.
The Hongliu Gorge canyon is located upstream of the main water discharge road of the West Hongliu Gorge. It was formed by the long-term erosion of water rushing down during rain and snowmelt. The canyon is winding and deep, with towering walls. Standing within it, one often feels transported to a scene from a science fiction film.
The towering peaks are arranged in an orderly manner. Their unique colors make them stand out among countless scenic spots, becoming an irreplaceable attraction.
The magnificent Danxia landforms combined with the graceful and ethereal “Flying Apsaras” dance is a sight that can only be witnessed in Gansu. Ocher red, orange, greenish blue, and golden yellow are embedded in the rocks, making the earth seem like a naturally occurring palette.
The red sandstone forms geological features like pagodas, pillars, and peak forests. These unique shapes spark the imagination and inspire awe at the natural artistry of the earth.
Within Moshan, there are indelible memories etched by time onto the earth. If you’re traveling to Gansu, don’t miss this niche yet stunning geopark.
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