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

paiges252
Reviewed 20thMarch2017
I wasn't sure what to expect, and it was quite a drive to get there, but the landscape is so unique you have to make the trip. The day I visited there were 5 other tourists on the tour bus. We had great weather and...More
YorkHiker
Reviewed 29thAugust2015
Yadan NP is a large open desert with interesting rock formations. If you use the bus tours you will feel very crowded and restricted. Only in China can they make a huge desert feel claustrophobic! Pay extra to use the jeep tours, around 400RMB instead...More
Eve420
Reviewed 4thNovember2016
The nature of Yadan where one can leisurely admire is spoilt by the fact that tourists have to stick closely to the bus routes. Every drop off point was given about 10 minutes and you have to hop back to the bus and continue to...More
TanSuo T
Reviewed 3rdMay2019
When we arrived at the Dunhuang Yardang Landform Geopark, we weren't sure what to expect. We'd previously visited the Zhangye Danxia Landform, which was magnificent, and felt that no other landform could compare to its beauty. While the yardangs are certainly nowhere near as aesthetically...More
EverythingBurns
Reviewed 18thAugust2015
I visited Yadan as the culmination of a day trip across 5/6 interest spots west of the city (highly recommendable), so I got to see it at sunset when it was cooler. First thing, I was initially worried about the Chinese style of micromanaging these...More
keithhans1978
Reviewed 5thSeptember2017
Only worth a visit if you are willing to spend more money on a jeep ride to go deeper into National Park. Otherwise, the entrance fee does not justify the 4 to 5 scenes that the basic packaged tour offers, and the time taken to...More
Simon B
Reviewed 6thApril2016
If you think Y120 is a bit steep, there's enough rock formations to see walking around the car park, as well as plenty of pictures and information in two museums. We spent the rest of our time there reading in the bus while the driver...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
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
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

Top Attractions in Dunhuang

paiges252

Reviewed 20thMarch2017

I wasn't sure what to expect, and it was quite a drive to get there, but the landscape is so unique you have to make the trip. The day I visited there were 5 other tourists on the tour bus. We had great weather and...More

YorkHiker

Reviewed 29thAugust2015

Yadan NP is a large open desert with interesting rock formations. If you use the bus tours you will feel very crowded and restricted. Only in China can they make a huge desert feel claustrophobic! Pay extra to use the jeep tours, around 400RMB instead...More

Eve420

Reviewed 4thNovember2016

The nature of Yadan where one can leisurely admire is spoilt by the fact that tourists have to stick closely to the bus routes. Every drop off point was given about 10 minutes and you have to hop back to the bus and continue to...More

TanSuo T

Reviewed 3rdMay2019

When we arrived at the Dunhuang Yardang Landform Geopark, we weren't sure what to expect. We'd previously visited the Zhangye Danxia Landform, which was magnificent, and felt that no other landform could compare to its beauty. While the yardangs are certainly nowhere near as aesthetically...More

EverythingBurns

Reviewed 18thAugust2015

I visited Yadan as the culmination of a day trip across 5/6 interest spots west of the city (highly recommendable), so I got to see it at sunset when it was cooler. First thing, I was initially worried about the Chinese style of micromanaging these...More

keithhans1978

Reviewed 5thSeptember2017

Only worth a visit if you are willing to spend more money on a jeep ride to go deeper into National Park. Otherwise, the entrance fee does not justify the 4 to 5 scenes that the basic packaged tour offers, and the time taken to...More

Simon B

Reviewed 6thApril2016

If you think Y120 is a bit steep, there's enough rock formations to see walking around the car park, as well as plenty of pictures and information in two museums. We spent the rest of our time there reading in the bus while the driver...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

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

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

Yardang National Geopark

Client’s Reviews

Top Attractions in Dunhuang

China Tours

City Guide

Destinations

Contact Us