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The Most Beautiful Danxia Landforms in China

Friday, February 17th, 2012

 

The Danxia landform is a geographic term which typically describe the unique landforms found in the southeast and southwest China. The Danxia landform features red-colored sandstones characterized by steep cliffs in a valley.
 
Danxia landform is different from Yadan landform which originates from Uyghur in Xinjiang which means “steep hills”, the landforms which have been formed by years of wind and water erosion. Danxia landform also sets itself from karst landform which consists of limestones and contains caves interconnecting networks. “Danxia” is named after Mount Danxia, one of the most beautiful Danxia landforms in China.
 
Till Jan 31, 2008, there are totally 790 Danxia landforms found in 26 provinces in China.
 
In the “China Beauty Selection” activity held in 2005 sponsored by “China National Geography” magazine, the seven most beautiful Danxia landforms were chosen, which are listed as below:
1. Mount Danxia (China Red Stone Park) in Guangdong Province
2. Mount Wuyi (World Cultural and Natural Heritage) in Fujian Province
3. Danxia Landscape in Taining County in Fujian Province
4. Mount Longhushan (cradle of Taoism) in Jiangxi Province
5  Mount Langshan in Hunan Province
6. Zhangye Danxia Landform in Gansu Province
7. Chishui Danxia Landform in Guizhou Province
 
In 1999, Mount Wuyi entered UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites, both natural and cultural.
 
In 2010, 6 Danxia landscapes in southern China, with a general name of “China Danxia”, were listed as a World Heritage Site. The six listed Danxia landform sites are: Mount Langshan, Mount Danxia, Taining,  Mount Longhu,  Mount Jianglang, and Mount Chishui.
 
The Danxia Landscape in Wuyi Mountain in Fujian Province 福建武夷山
See my Wuyi Mountain Trip Report 

The Danxia Landscape in Wuyi Mountain in Fujian Province

 
Danxia Landscape in Taining County in Fujian Province 福建泰宁 

Danxia Landscape in Taining County in Fujian Province

 
Mount Danxia (China Red Stone Park) in Guangdong Province 广东丹霞山 

Mount Danxia (China Red Stone Park) in Guangdong Province

 
Mount Longhushan (cradle of Taoism) in Jiangxi Province 江西龙虎山

Mount Longhushan (cradle of Taoism) in Jiangxi Province

 
Mount Langshan in Hunan Province 湖南崀山
 
Zhangye Danxia Landform in Gansu Province 甘肃张掖丹霞

Zhangye Danxia Landform in Gansu Province

 
Chishui Danxia Landform in Guizhou Province 贵州赤水

Chishui Danxia Landform in Guizhou Province

 
Mount Jianglangshan in Zhejiang Province 浙江江郎山

Mount Jianglangshan in Zhejiang Province

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The Most Beautiful Yadan Landforms in China

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

 

The word “Yadan” originates from Uyghur in Xinjiang which means “steep hills”. It refers to the small hills of various sizes and landforms which have been formed by years of wind and water erosion.
 
Now “Yadan” has become a geological term for the typical landforms – Yadan Landforms. The most beautiful Yadan Landforms is located in Wuerhe District of Karamay, about 90km northeast from Karamay City center，400km from Urumqi City.
 
The Yadan Landforms in Wuerhe of Karamay is also called a Ghost Town due to the strange noises made when strong wind blow past the different landforms. It is really a ghost town – cloudy sky, dusty air, arid land, whistling in the wind, sandy rocks of various forms.
 
See my Ghost Town in Wuerhe of Karamay
 

Take a wheeled train visiting the Yadan landforms in Wuerhe Karamay in Xinjiang

The Ghost Town are well paved for tourists

Come closer to the unique Yadan landforms.

Its landforms resemble the pyramids in Egypt

The wheeled train is waiting by the -steep Hill-.

 

What do these small hills look like, Ha!

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The Most Beautiful Rivers in China

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

 

A Chinese saying goes that wise people find joy in water while benevolent people find joy in mountains. If you are a benevolent man, check my previous post “China’s Top most beautiful mountains“; if you are a wise man, then you may take some interest in my today’s post “The Most Beautiful Rivers in China” when you planning your China tour.
 
There are numberous rivers in China, to choose and tag some of them the most beautiful is not easy, which has more or less some subjective elements in the selection. My selection only gives you some clues leading to your own decision to choose the most beautiful rivers in your heart either on your physical or mental trip to China with your heart and soul along the dream.
 
 
1.Yangtze River 长江 (China’s Pulse)
Location: Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia and the third in the world, originated from Geladong Snow Peak of Tanggula Mountains on the Tibetan-Qinghai Plateau with the length of 6397km, winding past Qinghai Province, Sichuan Province, Tibet, Yunnan, Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shanghai, entering the East Sea at Chongming County in Shanghai, dubbed as China’s Mother Rivers together with Yellow River.
Best Travel Time: May – October
 
Three Gorges & Dam Cruise is the highlight of the lifetime Yangtze River Cruise. Chongqing to Yichang route is by far the most travelled section of the Yangtze, winding through the Three Gorges and passing the namesake Dam. 
 
See my Yangtze River Cruise Trip Report for the cruise information about the Three Gorges & Dam Cruise.
 

Yangtze River Crusie

 
2.Yellow River 黄河 (China’s Soul)
Location: Yellow River is the second longest river in Asia and the fourth in the world just after Yangtze river, with its headwater orignated from Bayangela Mountains in Qinghai Province with  the length of 5464km, resembling a dragon zigzaging through Qinghai Province, Sichuan Province, Gansu Province, Ningxia Province, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi Province, Shaanxi Province, Henan Province and giving itself into Bohai Sea at Shandong Province.
Best Travel Time: May – October
 
Yellow flows the Loess Plateau in its middle section and carrys large amount of sand on its way down to the lower reaches of the mighty river, making the river appearing yellow, hence the name of Yellow River, a river with the most amount of sand in the world.
 
Yellow River is the cradle of Chinese civilization and the spiritual home of the Chinese people. For thousands of years, the Yellow River has been admired by grreat poets, artists, as well as by ordinary people. The Yellow River is the symbol of the Chinese nation, the spirit of the Chinese people and more importantly, civilization itself.
 
See my Yellow River Trip Report.

Yellow River

 
3. Li River 漓江 (the Must Beautiful River in China)
Location: Li River is located in the southeast of Guilin City in the east of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, a tributary of Zhujiang River. The length of Lijiang starts from
the city of Guilin to Yangshuo, about 83km of waterway. Lijiang River is one of the most beautiful rivers in the world.
Best Travel Time: May – October
 
The 80-km-long waterway from Guilin to Yangshuo resembles an artists’s masterpiece, painted with rolling mountains, featuring cliffs, unique caves, comfortable boats. The 80-km water-way is flanked by the hills for about 40km. All the hills are lined with bamboo and green belt. Very often the cruise boats starts from Zhujiang Wharf. First you take about 40 minutes drive from Guilin city to the wharf. Then take 4 to 5 hours cruise to a beautiful and tranquil ancient city – Yangshuo.
 
See Guilin Trip Report
 

Li River

 
4. Qiantang River 钱塘江 (highest tidal bore in the world)
Location: The lower stream of the Qiantang River is located in the southeast of Hangzhou City, which originates in the borders of Anhui and Jiangxi provinces and runs through Hangzhou, before entering into the East China Sea through Hangzhou Bay. Qiantang River is most famous for its huge tidal bore.
Best Travel Time: May – October
 
Tidal bore of Qiantang River is naoted ad the world’s largest tidal bore, which is up to 10 metres high, and runs at up to 40 km per hour. The lower stream of Qiantang River is known as Fuchun River, 459 km long in Zhejiang Province. Qiantang River is an important commercial artery, it enters the East China Sea at Hangzhou.
 
See my Qiantang River and Liuhe Pagoda Trip Report

Qiantang River

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