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

PablosXanderpants
Reviewed 9thOctober2016
It's an amazing place, not only because of the beauty but also because it is almost on the silk road that the merchants, warriors in the past had probably stepped into this region. Lots of imaginative scenes could be made.
MarkMcG1956
Reviewed 22ndJune2016
If you are into Geology, Landforms etc., then this is the place for you. A very long (3 hr) ride to get there but well worth the effort. A bus takes you round to viewing points where you can take photos, wander round etc.
olliezhang
Reviewed 12thAugust2015
This was an intense but beautiful place. I took a jeep-guided tour through these natural formations and it felt like being on another planet. The day hours are hot and scorching, so be sure to adequately protect yourself.
KarenTraveling
Reviewed 14thOctober2015
We took a Chinese Tourbus that had too many stops before this location, so we had to rush through the park, which was a shame. I recommend the sunset tour, or an overnight camping trip, as the experience of seeing the Milky Way in a...More
Lyn K
Reviewed 8thDecember2015
WE went to Yadan National park on a private bus tour. We had the same experience as most of the other reviewers, stops for 10 minutes or so at some of the particular sites like the peacock. Be sure to go all the way to...More
nickiBH
Reviewed 6thOctober2017
If you have a few days in DunHuang, and after visiting the MingSha Mountain and the Crescent Moon lake, if you plan for a day trip, you can consider Yadan, to see the different rock formations. Depending on the time you visit the geopark, it...More
Bruce C
Reviewed 20thJune2015
This is a trip not to be taken light-heartedly, especially in the summer. It's a long 10 hour day and you go out and back on the same road. At the end is a real wonder that is really worth seeing. Mind you, if it...More
core_ce
Reviewed 18thJuly2017
Yadan National Park is about a 3h drive from Dunhuang through the Gobit desert, which is already quite interesting in itself. Like most Chinese tourist places, visitors are not able to roam freely. A shuttle bus takes you from the visitor center to three stops...More
TravellingNature
Reviewed 12thOctober2013
If you travel as an individual tourist, this is the place to avoid. They make you wait up to an hour until they have a full bus load. Of course the tourist groups get immediate attention because of their numbers. The individual tourist gets the...More
K1W1CHINA
Reviewed 12thAugust2013
You have to see this place to believe it, just amazing. Incredible stone structures just sitting in the dessert. Landscape is incredible, vast for miles and miles.really worth the visit, highly recommend it, so different.

Top Attractions in Dunhuang

PablosXanderpants

Reviewed 9thOctober2016

It's an amazing place, not only because of the beauty but also because it is almost on the silk road that the merchants, warriors in the past had probably stepped into this region. Lots of imaginative scenes could be made.

MarkMcG1956

Reviewed 22ndJune2016

If you are into Geology, Landforms etc., then this is the place for you. A very long (3 hr) ride to get there but well worth the effort. A bus takes you round to viewing points where you can take photos, wander round etc.

olliezhang

Reviewed 12thAugust2015

This was an intense but beautiful place. I took a jeep-guided tour through these natural formations and it felt like being on another planet. The day hours are hot and scorching, so be sure to adequately protect yourself.

KarenTraveling

Reviewed 14thOctober2015

We took a Chinese Tourbus that had too many stops before this location, so we had to rush through the park, which was a shame. I recommend the sunset tour, or an overnight camping trip, as the experience of seeing the Milky Way in a...More

Lyn K

Reviewed 8thDecember2015

WE went to Yadan National park on a private bus tour. We had the same experience as most of the other reviewers, stops for 10 minutes or so at some of the particular sites like the peacock. Be sure to go all the way to...More

nickiBH

Reviewed 6thOctober2017

If you have a few days in DunHuang, and after visiting the MingSha Mountain and the Crescent Moon lake, if you plan for a day trip, you can consider Yadan, to see the different rock formations. Depending on the time you visit the geopark, it...More

Bruce C

Reviewed 20thJune2015

This is a trip not to be taken light-heartedly, especially in the summer. It's a long 10 hour day and you go out and back on the same road. At the end is a real wonder that is really worth seeing. Mind you, if it...More

core_ce

Reviewed 18thJuly2017

Yadan National Park is about a 3h drive from Dunhuang through the Gobit desert, which is already quite interesting in itself. Like most Chinese tourist places, visitors are not able to roam freely. A shuttle bus takes you from the visitor center to three stops...More

TravellingNature

Reviewed 12thOctober2013

If you travel as an individual tourist, this is the place to avoid. They make you wait up to an hour until they have a full bus load. Of course the tourist groups get immediate attention because of their numbers. The individual tourist gets the...More

K1W1CHINA

Reviewed 12thAugust2013

You have to see this place to believe it, just amazing. Incredible stone structures just sitting in the dessert. Landscape is incredible, vast for miles and miles.really worth the visit, highly recommend it, so different.

Yardang National Geopark

Client’s Reviews

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