Yardang National Geopark


Dunhuang Yardang National Geopark (Chinese: 敦煌雅丹国家地质公园) is a national park in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, China, that shows the Yardang geological feature of the area. Yardang has been created over time by the soft part of the earth's surface being eroded by wind and rain, with the hard part of the rocks remaining in the desert.

The geopark is located about 180 kilometers northwest of Dunhuang's town center and covers an area of 398 square kilometers.  Some of the uniquely shaped rocks in the geopark are named "Mongolian Bao", "Camel", "Stone Bird", "Peacock", "The Golden Lion Welcoming His Guests" (Chinese: 金狮迎客), etc.

The unique rock formations in the park developed over a period of 700,000 years. The Yardang geomorphic formations found in the Dunhuang Yadan National Geopark are the largest in China.

One of the most remarkable sites in the Dunhuang Yadan National Geopark is the Yardang Ghost Town. Located within the Ghost Town is the Aisikexiaer Castle. The word 'Aisikexiaer' means 'old city' in the Uyghur language.

Client’s Reviews

  • DawgAbroad

    Reviewed 15thAugust2014

    You wait in lines to board packed tour busses with a Chinese tour guide yelling into a megaphone in Mandarin the entire time. The tour busses make five stops to let everyone take photos of the yardangs that the tourism board thinks resemble animals. Totally...More

  • JasperF368

    Reviewed 22ndApril2013

    We paid €30 per person to get to Yadan, Han great wall, Jade gate pass and the thousand buddha grottoes. On hindsight I think this is a fair deal, the downside is that we had to go by tourbus, which includes a lot of chinese...More

  • DennisGB01

    Reviewed 16thApril2015

    Our personal guide, Richard (dunhuang.richard@163.com) drove us there and to the Great Wall Ruins (Han dynasty), as well as the largest solar power station in China for 600 rmb, providing drinks for us, for the 7 hour round trip. (Entrance fees to Great Wall -...More

  • hkwoody

    Reviewed 28thJuly2015

    A visit to Yadan is a long (~11 hours) but very worthwhile day. With the help of our hotel we booked the afternoon tour (leaving at 13h00). The price of the bus is CNY86. It was on time. First stop was a well known, to...More

  • jameshuang

    Reviewed 25thOctober2014

    Yadan National Geological Park (雅丹地質公園, Yadan Landforms or Ghost City) is located on the northwest of Dunhuang, Gansu, 185 km (115 mi) away from Dunhuang. The park covers over 50 km2 (12,355 acres), and stretches 25 km (15.5 mi) from north to south and about...More

  • Ranjitt3363

    Reviewed 16thFebruary2017

    This park is 3-4 hours from Dunhuang city. while going to this park there are lot of places to see like Dunhuang film studio, caves and great wall. You can hire taxi and go buy your own. Carry some food because There are very very...More

  • ACMMM00

    Reviewed 4thAugust2019

    I saw pictures of Yadan before I visited in person so I was not terribly disappointed. I have been to similar places such as Bryce Canyon and Arches National Monument in US. They are much more colorful, extensive, and breath-taking than Yadan.

  • fesss2018

    Reviewed 3rdJuly2019

    We booked the bus with the tourist office for CNY78. They said to meet at 7:00 in the morning but I determined they were to leave at 7:30 so we arrived at 7:25 and the bus left closer to 8:00. They provide a very small...More

  • imd12xl

    Reviewed 11thJune2014

    I would consider this the first time in my life where I noticed I was in an area with low population density. It must have been just a few of us within a great km radius. It was peaceful and quiet. That's just my thought....More

  • iamface

    Reviewed 26thMay2017

    although it was remote place but still worth to take time for visit. the landscape was quite special & beautiful. so impressive feeling. the tour bus organization also good that has enough time for visit & take picture by safety arrangement. believe would be more...More

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