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

debbie2013616
Reviewed 11thSeptember2013
A marvellous scene! From a huge lake in those ancient days to a dessert land. Rocks of varies forms were formed, you just can't imagine how long it takes to have these features. You may lost your way if you are going alone because 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
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
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
DocBrown55
Reviewed 13thJune2011
If you care about seeing natural landscape this is a must-do. The Ya Dan landscape was a lake about 12,000 years ago and since then has eroded into amazing landscapes of sandstone. The journey to the area takes you through more or less stony desert,...More
WMMeyers
Reviewed 1stJuly2012
Reminded us a lot of Zion Natioanl Park in Utah. Huge rock formations in the middle of the desertt. Woth the trip becasue then you go view the Great Wall and the Western Caves.
Kittykat821
Reviewed 31stAugust2015
Yadan is very bleak and remote but is surprisingly beautiful and enjoyable to visit - despite the moments when you are sand blasted. Bring sunglasses to cover your eyes and a scarf to cover your face. We took the bus tour and found that we...More
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.
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
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.

Top Attractions in Dunhuang

debbie2013616

Reviewed 11thSeptember2013

A marvellous scene! From a huge lake in those ancient days to a dessert land. Rocks of varies forms were formed, you just can't imagine how long it takes to have these features. You may lost your way if you are going alone because 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

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

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

DocBrown55

Reviewed 13thJune2011

If you care about seeing natural landscape this is a must-do. The Ya Dan landscape was a lake about 12,000 years ago and since then has eroded into amazing landscapes of sandstone. The journey to the area takes you through more or less stony desert,...More

WMMeyers

Reviewed 1stJuly2012

Reminded us a lot of Zion Natioanl Park in Utah. Huge rock formations in the middle of the desertt. Woth the trip becasue then you go view the Great Wall and the Western Caves.

Kittykat821

Reviewed 31stAugust2015

Yadan is very bleak and remote but is surprisingly beautiful and enjoyable to visit - despite the moments when you are sand blasted. Bring sunglasses to cover your eyes and a scarf to cover your face. We took the bus tour and found that we...More

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.

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

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.

Yardang National Geopark

Client’s Reviews

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