Anjihai Grand Canyon: The little-known colorful valleys in NW China

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The Anjihai Grand Canyon, also known as the Hongshan (Red Mountain) Grand Canyon, sits at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains like a colorful ribbon. It is an impressive natural wonder comprised of steep cliffs, jagged rocks, and vibrantly colored stones.

However, because of the complex terrain of the canyon, few geologists, photographers and outdoor enthusiasts have ventured this incredible landscape in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The colorful palette of the Anjihai Grand Canyon. /VCG Photo

The canyon stretches about 30 kilometers in length, with a depth of up to 400 meters. Standing on top of the cliff walls and watching the valleys merge at one's feet is a thrilling experience that sends chills down one's spine.

A river runs through the Anjihai Grand Canyon. /VCG Photo

For hundreds of thousands of years, rivers have cut through the plain, forming this mesmerizing canyon. The water washes and dissolves layers of earth, leaving colorful tracks on the surface.

The colorful landscape at the Anjihai Grand Canyon. /VCG Photo

Years of erosion have made the hills around the Anjihai Grand Canyon look like undulating plains.

Incredible colors of the Anjihai Grand Canyon. /VCG Photo

Originating from the Tianshan Mountains, the Anjihai River rushes out of the Tianshan canyon and creates a large red alluvial fan, a fan-shaped accumulation of deposit and sediment.

The Anjihai River at the Anjihai Grand Canyon. /VCG Photo

At the bottom of the valley, the Anjihai River quietly flows between the almost-vertical cliff walls, leaving shiny marks on the banks, in stark contrast to its powerful strength that had originally brought this canyon to life.