!!!Zhangye Danxia Geopark

Photos by Sergey Shandin and Stas Sedov,
members of the [AirPano Team|Geography/About/Consortium/AirPano,_Team] that is a member of the [global-geography Consortium|Geography/About/Consortium]. \\

29 August 2018

with kind permission of [AirPano|http://www.AirPano.com]

China has such a unique landform that there is a special word for it —
Danxia. It refers to various landscapes that consist of red sandstone
characterized by steep colourful cliffs. The areas of Danxia landforms
are located in several regions of the country, and near the city of
Zhangye, there is a national geopark bearing this name. Mass media
considers it to be one of the most beautiful landforms in China.

[{Image src='01_Colourful mountains of the Zhangye Danxia Geopark.jpg' caption='Colourful mountains of the Zhangye Danxia Geopark, China\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='484'}]

This landscape has appeared due to certain geological processes, climate
and time. A lake existed here 80 million years ago, but when it had gone
dry, the deposits of sandstone and other minerals replaced the water.
Then the action of the tectonic plates created the mountain landform,
which in its turn suffered the wind, water and erosion.

[{Image src='02_Colourful mountains of the Zhangye Danxia Geopark.jpg' caption='Colourful mountains of the Zhangye Danxia Geopark, China\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='637'}]

As a result, a unique landscape with numerous caves, grottos, ravines,
valleys, columns and towers covering 322 sq km was created. Not a single
sculpture resembles the other one: albeit the red colour dominates here,
the shades are still different, as well as the texture and sizes. Even
during the day, the colour may change depending on the angle of the
sunlight and the place where the shadows fall.

[{Image src='03_Colourful mountains of the Zhangye Danxia Geopark.jpg' caption='Colourful mountains of the Zhangye Danxia Geopark, China\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='637'}]

In ancient times, the Silk Road laid through the territory that now is
occupied by the Zhangye Danxia Geopark. The famous explorer Marco Polo
visited these lands, as well. In 2010, together with other five Danxia
landforms located in the subtropical area of southeast China, Zhangye
Danxia was inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

[{Image src='04_Colourful mountains of the Zhangye Danxia Geopark.jpg' caption='Colourful mountains of the Zhangye Danxia Geopark, China\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='611'}]

Many tourists visit this place nowadays, so a lot of wooden decks and
access roads were created for their comfort. And now, there is another
opportunity to admire these exotic colourful mountains — AirPano virtual
tour.

[{Image src='05_Colourful mountains of the Zhangye Danxia Geopark.jpg' caption='Colourful mountains of the Zhangye Danxia Geopark, China\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='601'}]

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[17 panoramas of Zhangye Danxia Geopark|Geography/Asia/China/Pictures/Panoramas_of_Zhangye_Danxia_Geopark]

[{SET customtitle='Zhangye Danxia Geopark (AP)'}]












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