The colored rocks of Zhangye Danxia are the multi-colored mountains of China. China: colored mountains

Bright colors are pleasing to the eye - reddish sandstone local mountains plays in the sun in many shades. The colored mountains of China are dotted with bizarre drawings reminiscent of sea ​​waves.

Today, tourists from all over the world come to the Chinese province of Gansu to admire the local unusual landscape. The main local attraction is a unique geological formation called the Danxia Landform, which means “pink cloud”.

1. Sometimes it happens that what was once great and beautiful is forgotten over time. A similar fate befell the Chinese city of Zhangye. Thousands of years ago it was a prosperous city, one of the richest in the country. The Great Silk Road passed here, and hundreds of merchants came here every day to buy or sell something. But even then, many people were interested in Zhangye not as a huge market where everything could be bought, but as a place with unearthly colorful landscapes.

2. After some time, the Great Silk Road began to gradually lose its popularity, and then it was completely abandoned. And over time, the whole world forgot not only about once great city Zhangye, but also about its main attraction - the Colored Mountains.

5. Already in our time, this place was again remembered after a Chinese director filmed one of the scenes of his film in the colored mountains. It made an unforgettable impression on everyone who saw this scene ... So Zhangye again became a favorite route for thousands of tourists.

7. "Landscape of Denxia" - this is the name under which the colored mountains of China are known throughout the world. The formation of this beauty began many millions of years ago, as a result of the accumulation a large number sandstone and other mineral deposits. Under the influence of air and water, these deposits slowly oxidized, which was the reason for such an unusual riot of colors.

9. The landscape of Danxia owes such an unusual color to heterogeneous precipitation, a giant accumulation of red sandstone and centuries of soil erosion. Layering and interacting with each other, they formed bizarre patterns resembling sea waves on every mountain, on every ledge.

12. Scientists believe that the Danxia landscape was formed back in the Mesozoic era and contains many dinosaur fossils and plant remains from that period. By the way, some of them have already been discovered.

Danxia mountain landscapes- a unique geological phenomenon located in the southeast of China. The colorful hills, formed from red sandstone, resemble a perfect painting created by nature itself. The colors of the geological park, from scarlet to sky blue, are like a palette of colors spilled over the hills.

Such a natural phenomenon- the result of the movement of the earth's crust, weathering and erosion that occurred over millions of years. Landforms and rocks, different in color, texture and size, create special landscapes with many caves, grottoes, ravines and valleys, as well as natural columns and towers.

All these bizarre wave-like paintings have been created over many, many years. A hundred million years ago there was a giant lake here. Many rivers flowed into the lake, which, feeding it, brought with them various sands full of metals. The sand accumulated layer by layer, and when the reservoir dried up, sedimentary rocks were exposed. They include a variety of metals, which, when oxidized, created and create a bizarre palette. Scientists believe that it was formed in the Mesozoic era and contains many dinosaur fossils and plant remains of that period. By the way, some of them have already been discovered.

Previously, in this mountainous area, the Great Silk Road passed and hundreds of merchants passed through the famous Zhangye city which was famous for its bazaars. In those days, Zhangye was a prosperous and wealthy city. But even then, this city was of interest to many not only as a huge market, but also as a place with unearthly colorful landscapes.

Entrance ticket to Danxia Nature Reserve will cost 40 CNY (~$6.6). Another 20 CNY (~$3.3) will be required to pay for excursion program. This fee is mandatory, walk around colorful hills alone is prohibited. Best time to visit the geological park - from June to September.

Inside the reserve created bus routes; groups form at the main entrance. Tours are conducted only in Chinese, however, with prior agreement and the presence of a sufficient number of tourists, the management of the geological park can provide an English-speaking guide. Buses stop at the four most picturesque points of the reserve, giving tourists time to self inspection(about 20 minutes at each stop). Total time travel around Danxia - about two hours.

In Zhangye, you can hardly find a person who speaks English tolerably, so in case you plan to stay in the city for the night, it is better to book a hotel or guest house in advance.

You can see the blood-red shades of the rocks in another nature reserve China - Shaoguan Danxia Mountain, located 279 kilometers north of Guangzhou. The path to the mountain range runs through Shaoguan, the capital of the district of the same name.

How to get to Danxia Nature Reserve

colorful landscapes rock complex Danxia located one hour west of the city Zhangye. If you are traveling with a rental car, follow the S213 gravel road west for about forty kilometers. mountain range Danxia will be right hand, right after the bridge over the river; the nearby village of Nantai (Nantaicun) serves as a landmark.

There are no organized tours to the natural attraction from the nearest city of Zhangye, so the best way to get to the reserve is by taxi. Average inspection colorful landscapes— within bus tour inside the park - takes two to three hours. It will be better if the taxi driver waits for you while you walk along the rocky ledges, and then takes you to the city. The round trip will cost from 150 CNY (~$24.6) to 180 CNY (~$29.5).

Get to Zhangye from Beijing, Shanghai and more major cities China's best way is through Lanzhou, administrative center and the provincial capital of Gansu. Daily flights connect Lanzhou with Beijing; travel time - 2 hours 10 minutes.

A rail link connects Lanzhou and Zhangye; travel time - about five hours (distance about 511 kilometers). Trains T9205, T9203 and T9201 depart from the provincial capital in the morning, afternoon and evening respectively; Be careful when choosing a night trip: only seats are provided in the carriages. Ticket prices start from 118 CNY (~$19.4) for travel in a comfortable soft carriage.

Danxia landscape this is a unique place on earth, where the bright colors of the reddish sandstone of the local mountains, playing in the sun with many intricate shades, pleases the eye and makes the heart skip a beat with delight. These are the colored mountains of China: they are painted with bizarre patterns resembling sea waves.

Danxia landscape is in Chinese province Gansu, and thousands of tourists from all over the world come here every year to admire the unusual landscape. The main local attraction is a unique geological formation. And the name of the landscape "Denxia" literally translated as "pink cloud".

However, not so long ago there was a time when no one remembered about this beautiful landscape. And it all started with Chinese city Zhangye. Despite the fact that thousands of years ago it prospered and was famous as one of the richest in the state, over time it was forgotten.

It was through him that the famous Silk Road which prompted hundreds of merchants to come to Zhangye every day to buy or sell goods. But even then, people were interested in the city not only as a huge market for a wide variety of goods, but also as a place known for its beautiful multi-colored landscapes.

However, time passed, and the Great Silk Road gradually lost its global significance, and then it was completely forgotten by everyone. The same fate befell once famous city Zhangye, and, accordingly, its main attraction is Danxia Landscape.

Already in our time, one Chinese director remembered the colored mountains and even shot one of the scenes in his film in this area. This made me think again about Denxia and the forgotten Zhangye. Thousands of tourists flocked here, as the unforgettable impression of the landscape in the film will not leave anyone indifferent.

Now all over the world the color years of China are known as the Denxia Landscape. Scientists believe that the formation of such beauty began to occur many millions of years ago, and its cause is the accumulation of a large number of various mineral deposits and, to a greater extent, sandstone. Under the influence of water and air, these deposits gradually oxidized, creating such an unusual and unpredictable riot of colors.

Also, heterogeneous precipitation, centuries-old soil erosion and, of course, a unique giant accumulation of red sandstone played a role in the formation of delightful colored mountains. Over the course of millions of years, they layered, interacted with each other and formed patterns that had bizarre wave-like shapes. Moreover, on each mountain and on each ledge they are different, which makes the area even more great view.

Scientists believe that the colored mountains of China formed in the Mesozoic era. Therefore, they must contain many fossils of the remains of plants and dinosaurs of that period. Some of them, in favor of this theory, have already been discovered.

It should also be said that similar landscapes with colored waves can be seen not only in China, but also in Western America, in Australia and Central Europe. However, they are inferior to the Chinese landscape of Denxia in terms of color saturation and beauty of transitions.

Since 2010, the color years of China - Denxia landscape included in world heritage UNESCO. Now under the protection of the world community are not only amazing mountains, but rare animals and plants still living here. The territory is open to tourists, and you can also take your memorable walk here.

The mountains are bright, like the robe of a Buddhist monk. Multicolored like a rainbow - terracotta, turquoise, lemon, emerald, sand, dark blue. Hypnotizing, like a painting by an abstract artist.

Nature draws here. If you do not believe the photos, write down the address: China, Gansu Province. Zhangye city, Danxia. In general, the word "danxia" ("pink cloud") is called in China "red" sandstone mountains. But we're talking about geological park Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park. It is here that the mountains shimmer with all the colors of the spectrum, introducing even seasoned travelers into a reverent trance.

Geologists believe that such formations appear as a result of movements of the earth's crust. Layers of rocks of different colors, textures, shapes and sizes are exposed. This is also facilitated by the fragile structure of sandstone, centuries-old weathering and washing out of the soil. The process began back in the Mesozoic, so it is quite possible that somewhere under a thin layer of soil lie the remains of a relic dinosaur.

Since 2010, the Colored Mountains of China have been added to the UNESCO fund as a World Heritage Site.

WHERE TO WATCH Especially for tourists laid hiking trails and viewing platforms were built. There are four of them in the geopark. The first is located a kilometer from the entrance. The second one seems to be nearby, but it will take at least half an hour to get to it: there are more than 600 steps to be overcome. From the third you will see the famous mountain "rainbow", but the fourth gives you the opportunity to capture the unique sunsets and sunrises. For 200-500 yuan, you can admire this splendor from the air by renting a hang glider. If you are going to move exclusively on the ground, then it is most convenient to do this on a mini-bus, which carries tourists along the route (travel is included in the price of the entrance ticket, and the entrance ticket is 60 yuan).

ADVICE The weather in the Geopark is mostly dry and sunny, but even on a cloudy day the mountains do not lose their charm. However, if you want good photos come by in the afternoon. The best time to shoot is two to three hours before sunset.

HOW TO GET

- with the help of organized tour;

- by taxi from Zhangye city: it will cost 150-180 yuan round trip, plus they will wait for you on the spot;

- The bus ride costs 10 yuan, but there may be problems with the schedule - they usually run only until lunch. There are buses from Zhangye City Western Station to Sunam County Station, then you need to transfer to a taxi.

FACT The Colored Mountains served as an impressive cover for a 2009 Chinese-style theatrical gore action film directed by Zhang Yimou. "A Simple Noodle Story", a story about a small noodle shop lost somewhere far away in the mountains - our answer to Chamberlain, American history Joel Coen's Just Blood (1984).

Joecool 10 China My wife and I joined a hiking group with a local guide and walked around the mountains for five hours. It was amazing... Stunning scenery, great local guide. Bring along food, snacks (there's nothing around), bring a wide-angle lens and catch the weather - when it's sunny around, the colors come to life.

Massimo R, Italy Just amazing place! You won't believe it can exist until you see it for yourself. hilly area shows an incredible variability of colors, often the pattern is formed in vertical and horizontal stripes, sometimes in spots. Tourist work is well organized: small buses move you between the main stops. You have to go up and down the stairs, but all efforts are rewarded. The views are breathtaking! This place, which is located 60 km southwest of Zhangye, is a must-see if you are traveling along the Silk Road!