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

  • Bally1966

    Reviewed 10thApril2015

    Only if you have an extra day in Dunhuang. It will go with Yumen Guan and thus it's likely that you'll join the tour. It's a geological park but most rocks have been eroded and thus it wasn't as impressive as I've expected. You'll need...More

  • 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

  • crosis

    Reviewed 14thJune2012

    It was great to get out and see the formations. New facilities make it eaiser to see and get around.

  • 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

  • Jessica K

    Reviewed 2ndSeptember2012

    We had only 2 full days in Dunhuang but made it all work easily. We rented a car and driver from the Silk Road Hotel (1500 RMB for the weekend or about $230USD), and on one day they took us out to Yadan National Park....More

  • nesamoolian

    Reviewed 21stJune2018

    It is really worth the trip from Dunhuang but stop of at the Han Great Wall and the pass on the way. You have to take the tourist transport at the park but can change to a private jeep at stop 3 after 30 minutes...More

  • PeterStk

    Reviewed 4thApril2015

    But too strictly controlled, in a very Chinese way. You have to board a bus which drives down a one-way straight road through the desert, and every km or so the bus stops, everyone piles out, is allowed 10 minutes or so to photograph themselves...More

  • Fei Z

    Reviewed 15thAugust2014

    A must visit place, please bring umbrellas, it is extremely hot. It can easily reach 50+ degrees, and sometimes 60+ degrees.

  • 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

  • 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.

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