Villagers walk a path between two stunning rock formations

What a place to live: Villagers walk a path between two stunning rock formations at Nantaizi village of Nijiaying town in Linzhe county of Zhangye, Gansu province, China


Formed of layers of reddish sandstone, the terrain has over time been eroded into a series of mountains surrounded by curvaceous cliffs and unusual rock formations

Formed of layers of reddish sandstone, the terrain has over time been eroded into a series of mountains surrounded by curvaceous cliffs and unusual rock formations

The scenic area is popular among tourists, who come to enjoy scenic walks and boat rides through the area, which is also home to a number of temples.

The landform is a unique type of petrographic geomorphology which is found only in China which consists of red-colored sandstones and conglomerates of largely Cretaceous age.

The World Heritage Committee decided to include China Danxia Landform in the World Heritage List at its 34th meeting being held in Brasilia, capital of Brazil, on August 1, 2010.

The World Heritage Committee decided to include China Danxia Landform in the World Heritage List at its 2010 meeting held in Brasilia, capital of Brazil

The World Heritage Committee decided to include China Danxia Landform in the World Heritage List at its 2010 meeting held in Brasilia, capital of Brazil


The landform is a unique type of petrographic geomorphology which is found only in China which consists of red-colored sandstones and conglomerates of largely Cretaceous age

The landform is a unique type of petrographic geomorphology which is found only in China which consists of red-colored sandstones and conglomerates of largely Cretaceous age

In typically Chinese style, the signage local to the rock formations pictured now boast of it as a 'world famous UNESCO geopark of China'.

The China Daxia world heritage site in fact covers a range of landscapes in Southern China, of which Mount Daxia in Guangdong is only the most famous.

The other five are: Mount Langshan and Mount Wanfoshan, Hunan Province; Taining and Guanzhoushan, Fujian Province; Mount Longhu and Guifeng, Jiangxi Province; Mount Chishui, Guizhou Province; and Fangyan and Mount Jianglang, Zhejiang Province.

Walkers can be seen against the stunning backdrop of the rock formation in Gansu province, China

Walkers can be seen against the stunning backdrop of the rock formation in Gansu province, China

Blues, reds and golds are among the colours visible in the breathtaking rock formations

Blues, reds and golds are among the colours visible in the breathtaking rock formations in Gansu, China

Danxia Landform at Nantaizi village, Nijiaying town, is popular among tourists in China who come to enjoy scenic walks among the unusual rock formations

Danxia Landform at Nantaizi village, Nijiaying town, is popular among tourists in China who come to enjoy scenic walks among the unusual rock formations

The unique hilly terrain of the Danxia Landform is close to the city of Zhangye, in the north west of China

The unique hilly terrain of the Danxia Landform is close to the city of Zhangye, in the north west of China