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

  • hansonlau

    Reviewed 1stNovember2015

    We went with a tour group to visit Yadan National Geological Park. We left Dunhuang at 9am, made a peepee stop at Jade Gate and arrived at Yadan at 12noon. We had lunch at Yadan Cafe. You have to leave your tour bus and take...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

  • bjm286

    Reviewed 14thMay2019

    The day trip was fascinating - so much space, so little there! Seeing the earthen Great Wall was a first for me, having only seen the stone sections near Beijing. Our guide was very informative about the history of the Silk Road and she had...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

  • Konstantin-German

    Reviewed 28thDecember2017

    Yadan NGP is 180 Km Northwest of Dunhuang, Дуньхуан 736200, Китай. The visit hear is unforgettable. Recommended!

  • Adyllic

    Reviewed 20thOctober2015

    Was keen to see the Yadan park, and the rock formations where beautiful, especially in the sunset. However the tour we went on was the long one for 120 RMB starting at 930 and advertised as ending at 2330. It started at 930 and we...More

  • Leopard154

    Reviewed 13thOctober2014

    Well worth the drive (approx. 2 hours) from Dunhuang! The rock formations in the sand desert are magnificent. We had a lot of time to walk around in between them. The park is very well organized: no private traffic, only tour buses, which had the...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

  • 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.

  • 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

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