Zhangye
Rainbow-striped mountains of red, orange and yellow rock along the Hexi Corridor.
Stay1–2 days
Best timeJun–Sep
GatewayZhangye West station
RegionNorthwest
Why go
Highlights of Zhangye
Zhangye's Danxia landforms look painted. Combine them with Dunhuang on a Silk Road trip.
Rainbow Mountains
Boardwalks and viewing platforms across the striped hills.
Mati Temple
Grottoes carved into a red sandstone cliff.
Giant Buddha Temple
A 35-metre reclining Buddha from the 11th century.
Getting there
Connections
| To / from | By | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Lanzhou | High-speed train | about 2½ hours |
| Dunhuang | Train | about 5 hours |
Times are typical and vary by service.
Good to know
Tips from our guides
- Visit in the late afternoon; the colours are richest just before sunset.
Combine with
All destinationsNearby and nicely paired
2–3 daysNorthwest
Xi'an
Capital of 13 dynasties, home of the Terracotta Army and one of China's great food cities.
Best: Mar–May · Sep–Nov
7–10 daysNorthwest
Northern Xinjiang
Alpine lakes, flower-filled grasslands and one of the world's great mountain roads.
Best: Jun–early Oct
2–3 daysNorthwest
Kashgar
A Silk Road oasis city of bazaars, mosques and Uyghur culture, closer to Kabul than to Beijing.
Best: May–Oct
Tailor-made
Add Zhangye to your China trip
Tell us when you'd like to travel and what you love. Your advisor sends a free day-by-day plan within 24 hours.