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Zhangye.

Layered hills, Buddhist heritage and the landscapes of the Hexi Corridor.

THE PLACE

Discover
Zhangye

Zhangye’s colourfully banded hills are only one part of its appeal. This Silk Road city also connects monumental Buddhist art with the mountains and grasslands along the northern edge of the Qilian range.

Combine the Giant Buddha Temple with the viewpoints of Zhangye Danxia, then give the cliffside caves of Mati Temple their own excursion. The colours of the hills change with the light and weather; photographs are inspiration rather than a promise of identical conditions.

Zhangye Danxia

Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple

Mati Temple

HERITAGE CONNECTIONS HERE & NEARBY

UNESCO Global Geopark

Choose a recognition to see the specific places and traditions connected with this destination. Nearby extensions keep their own location and travel time.

LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER

Different sides.
A fuller picture.

Find the places and stories that matter to you, then give them the time they deserve.

The reclining Buddha

Dafo Temple introduces a quieter, interior experience beside Zhangye’s better-known landscapes. The monumental reclining figure rewards time looking at scale, setting and the imagery of the Buddha’s final passing.

Coloured hills & different rock landscapes

The coloured Danxia hills and Binggou are distinct scenic areas. Choose them for their different formations, with light and weather shaping the visit. The colours change with light, moisture and season, often appearing subtler than heavily processed photographs.

Mati Temple & the Qilian foothills

Mati Temple combines cliff-cut spaces and a mountain setting. Its excursion requires separate road time and includes constrained or steep passages in some sections; select a suitable route rather than adding it after a full landscape day.

SHAPE YOUR STAY

Time well spent.

2 days · art & landscape

Pair Dafo Temple with one landscape area, then give Mati Temple a separate outing.

3 days · more room outdoors

Add Binggou or another foothill visit without compressing the main stops.

At the local table

Try local noodle dishes such as cuoyu, alongside vegetables and regional meat dishes. A city meal makes a useful contrast to scenic-area stops.

Choosing your base

Central Zhangye suits dining and onward travel. Scenic-area accommodation can suit photographers but changes the transfer plan.

THE LAND BENEATH THE LANDSCAPE

A geological perspective.

UNESCO Global Geopark

Zhangye

Coloured sedimentary slopes and carved rock scenery bring the geological side of the Hexi Corridor into view. Light makes a marked difference to what you see.

Zhangye UNESCO Global Geopark is in Gansu. It is not a component of the World Heritage property called China Danxia.

Explore the geology & plan your visit ↗

CHOOSE YOUR PACE