Yardan National Geological Park

 

Basic Facts of Yardan National Geological Park

Chinese Name: 雅丹国家地质公园 Pronunciation: Yǎ Dān Guó Jiā Dì Zhì Gōng Yuán

Suggested Visiting Hours: 2-3 Hours

Opening Hours: 6:00 - 19:00

Address: Dunhuang City, Gansu Province

Scenic Area: 346.35 square kilometers

Best Travel Time: The best time to pay a visit to Yardan National Geological Park is from May to October

 

Admission Ticket Fee

Admission	Price
Adult Ticket	50 yuan
Discount Ticket Children’s stature between 1.2 and 1.4 meters The elderly between 60 and 69 years old with ID card or passport	25 yuan

• Ticket Free of Charge Policy:

1. Seniors over 70 years old (including 70 years old) with ID card or passport

2. The disabled (holding disability certificate, military disability certificate)

*The above policy is only applicable to admission fee.

• Surcharge Inside the Scenic Spot

Contents	Price
Shuttle Bus	70yuan (round trip)
Note: Transportation facilities above are voluntary consumption

 

Overview of Yardan National Geological Park

Dunhuang Yardan National Geological Park is commonly known as Dunhuang Yardan Devil City. It is an important part of the Dunhuang West Line tourist attraction. Yardan National Geological Park is 168 kilometers away from the downtown area of Dunhuang City and it’s located to the northwest of Yumen Pass. The scenic area is divided into northern and southern areas, with a length of about 25 kilometers from east to west and a width of about 13 kilometers from north to south.
 

In 2001, the Dunhuang Municipal People Government formally established a special agency called Dunhuang Yardan Landform and Scenic Area Management Office, which is staffed to conduct comprehensive protection and development of the scenic area. Because it is located in the uninhabited area of Lop Nur, far away from the urban area, where is no road, electricity, water, and communication, and the conditions are very difficult.
 

Under this circumstance, the Yardan Landform and Scenic Area Management Office first determined the scope of the protected area and the sightseeing area, asked geological experts to survey the landforms, and asked tourism experts to formulate a master plan. The city government announced the protection and management regulations. After being reviewed by many experts in December 2001, Dunhuang Yardan was approved by the Ministry of Land and Resources to be included in the second batch of national geological parks.
 

In December 2001, the Ministry of Land and Resources approved the establishment of the Gansu Dunhuang Yardan National Geological Park. The park was officially opened to tourists in August 2003.
 

In November 2006, it was assessed as an AAAA tourist attraction by the National Tourism Administration. And it had been successively approved as the Science Popularization Base of Land and Resources, the Popular Science Education Base of Gansu Province, and the Provincial Geological Heritage Nature Reserve of Gansu Province, etc. Dunhuang Yardan National Geological Park is also a popular location for film and television commercials.
 

Yardan National Geological Park has attracted countless brave explorers to uncover the mysterious veil of Devil City and explore the mysteries of nature with its unique desert scenery, various geological wonders and ancient folk legends.
 

There is a legend in Yardan National Geological Park. The legend goes like that it was a majestic castle. The men in the castle are handsome and strong, the women in the castle are beautiful and kind, and the people in the castle work hard and lead a worry-free life with plenty of food and clothing. However, with the accumulation of wealth, evil gradually occupied people's hearts. They began to become addicted to having fun and drinking. In order to compete for wealth, the city was full of intrigue and bloody fights, and everyone's face became hideous and terrifying. In order to arouse people's conscience, the gods came to the castle as a ragged beggar. The gods told people that evil made him from a rich man to a beggar. However, the beggar's words did not work. Instead, he was insulted and mocked by the people in the castle. The god of anger turned this place into ruins, and all the people in the castle were crushed under the ruins. Every night, the souls wailed in the castle, hoping that the gods would hear their repentance.

 

Top Highlights to See at Yardan National Geological Park

 Yardan Landscape

The Yardan landform is the main landscape of the park and also a key protected geological relic. The types of Yardan landscapes have ridge-shaped, wall-shaped, tower-column-shaped, and remnant-mound-shaped. The ridge-shaped landscape spreads from north to south, and it looks like a fleet sailing from a distance. The tower-shaped and columnar landscape resembles strange peaks with different shapes. There are landscapes seem like standing peacock, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and so on, which are vivid and lifelike. The Dunhuang Yardan landform boasts its large scale, a variety of types which make it typical and representative one among the same types of landform at home and abroad. Yardan landform is also an important object for studying environmental changes in arid regions in China, and its scientific research value is extremely high.
 

Desert Landscape

The vast desert undulates continuously, and the sands are shining. Yardan Geological Park is adjacent to the Kumtag Desert. Various types of dunes, crescent-shaped dunes, pyramid-shaped dunes, and dune chains can be seen everywhere. Feather-shaped dunes, which are unique in the world, add luster to the park. The sand ripples that reflect the local terrain and wind conditions are even more varied, making it an encyclopedia of wind dynamics research. Enjoying driving between dessert and rocks, it will be an unforgettable experience.

 

 Gobi Landscape

The Gobi is a place that must be passed through in the ancient Silk Road and also the main geomorphic landscape of the Yardan National Geological Park. The vast Gobi is composed of black gravel, which shines like black silk and satin under the sun. Birds in the desolate desert can not fly. Here, visitors can appreciate a wondrous scene of heaven and earth in one line.
 

 Wetland Landscape

Wetlands are low-lying sandy areas where plants grow. Due to the shallow groundwater level and the emergence of seasonal running water, plants can survive in extreme drought conditions. The deserts dotted with green plant which protected the natural environment here. The existence of wetlands and plants attracts a large number of wild camels, yellow goats and other animals to forage and live here. If you are lucky, you may meet them unexpectedly in the park.

 

Ways to Get to Yardan National Geological Park

 By Taxi

Chinese: 请带我去雅丹国家地质公园。English: Please take me to the Yardan National Geological Park.

Because there are about 180 kilometers from Yardan National Geological Park to Dunhuang Railway Station, it will cost you about 600yuan to get there if you start your trip from the railway station.