Imagine having a look at one of the most unique places in the world from a hot air balloon.

Known for its colorful mountain ridges and cliffs, the Zhangye National Geopark, a UNESCO Global Geopark in northwest China's Gansu Province, organized a hot-air balloon festival for the second year running, drawing large crowds to savor spectacular views.

The 12-day event, which ends August 6, has seen 100 colorful balloons hover over Danxia landform.

"I came to join in the hot-air balloon festival with my family. I can feel the lively atmosphere here. The Danxia landform is spectacular, just like what I imagined," said Zhu Xun, a young visitor.

The Danxia landform area has a spectacular colorful mountain range of rock formation with mixed colors of red, yellow, blue, white and green covering about an area of some 50 square kilometers (19 square miles).

A masterpiece of nature, the landform is dubbed "an overturned palette from heaven."

For many, these elephant-sized balloons not only allow them to view nature's masterpiece from different angles, but also are a child's fantasy come to life.

"We all dreamed of flying when we were little. Now, these hot air balloons make our dreams come true," said Li Zhifu, another visitor.

"We can have a stunning aerial view and a better understanding of the colorful Danxia landform from the balloon."  

In addition to the hot air balloon flying, visitors can also enjoy the Flying Apsaras, a show based on the Dunhuang frescoes – also located in Gansu – and myths surrounding them, as well as a variety of folk arts and performances.

The festival also featured video and photo competitions on the geopark's Danxia landform.

The Zhangye Danxia Landform Geographical Park listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009, has become a highly popular tourist destination.

(Video by Hong Yaobin; Cover: Hot air balloons paint the sky over the Zhangye National Geopark in northwest China's Gansu Province. /CFP)