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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • DawgAbroad

    Reviewed 15thAugust2014

    You wait in lines to board packed tour busses with a Chinese tour guide yelling into a megaphone in Mandarin the entire time. The tour busses make five stops to let everyone take photos of the yardangs that the tourism board thinks resemble animals. Totally...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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Jim B

    Reviewed 2ndJune2017

    If you have an extra day, these rock formations are worth seeing but I wouldn't go out of my way. Bryce Canyon, Utah is much more spectacular.

  • 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

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