Shuimo Danxia in Lanzhou: Red rocks 'dressed' in green

Formed approximately 150 million years ago, Shuimo Danxia in Lanzhou, northwest China’s Gansu Province, is a geological wonder of the Danxia landform. As the beautiful autumn harvest arrives, its red rocks are “dressed” in a layer of green, as if greeting this wonderful season.

This Danxia landform, which originated from the Cretaceous to the Tertiary periods, was formed by a red rock series during the Himalayan orogeny. Due to the uplift of the earth’s crust, the red sandstone has endured long-term weathering, exfoliation and water erosion, thus creating breathtaking landscapes that bear witness to the earth’s great changes.

As a major tourist attraction in Lanzhou, the Danxia landform area is also located on the banks of the Yellow River – China’s second-longest river – and 13 kilometers away from an urban area. As a tourist magnet of Lanzhou, it has received over 2.1 million tourists since its trial operation in 2021.

Based on the Danxia landform terrain, seven viewing platforms have been built there, in a move to achieve a balance between sightseeing and environmental protection.