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

  • Ripple S

    Reviewed 3rdJuly2017

    China tourism communist game is strong. They dictate every visitors to get onto tour buses to stop people from wandering around, and all buses will set off at same time. They dictate the points where you get off for photos. Every rock to them resembles...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

  • maggie0513

    Reviewed 23rdMay2011

    It took us 2 hrs to get there (We asked the hostel to arrange a driver+car for us and it's $300 round trip including Jade Pass/Han Great Wall) and we arrived around 6:00AM however; we didn't check the weather before we go. It was cold...More

  • 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

  • Cindy C

    Reviewed 5thJune2016

    an amazing experience, peaceful and surreal! when the sun comes out it brings out the different colours of the sandstone formation and it's up to your own imagination

  • Harvey w

    Reviewed 10thApril2015

    We visited the Yadan National Geological Park by renting a private car about 4 hours driving in the desert and Gobi. The hardest part is that this isn’t toilet during these 4 hours, so we have to visit to the Yumen pass to go to...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

  • 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

  • Weeling C

    Reviewed 20thMay2019

    This venue is far away from city and is usually grouped together with Yu Men Gate as they are in the same direction. It doesn’t have that much history about Silk Road related to it. It is mostly about how the desert environment resulted in...More

  • DocBrown55

    Reviewed 13thJune2011

    If you care about seeing natural landscape this is a must-do. The Ya Dan landscape was a lake about 12,000 years ago and since then has eroded into amazing landscapes of sandstone. The journey to the area takes you through more or less stony desert,...More

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