The Danxia National Geological Park in Zhangye City, northwest China's Gansu Province, has a spectacular Danxia landform that covers an area of 322 square kilometers.
Zhangye's Danxia landscape is formed from red sandstones and conglomerates of largely Cretaceous age, which are smooth, sharp and can be several hundred meters high.
The erosion of sandstone formed this landform. The long-term desert conditions in this area, freeze-thaw peeling, together with wind and water erosion gave rise to its present appearance.
(Cover: The Danxia National Geological Park. /VCG Photo)