Yadan National Geopark (Dunhuang Yardang)

The Dunhuang Yardang National Geopark, usually called Yadan, is a wind-carved desert badlands in the Gobi northwest of Dunhuang in Gansu, China, about 180 km from the city. Yardangs are long ridges of soft sediment shaped by centuries of strong prevailing winds, and here they form rows of tall, streamlined mounds, towers and ridges that can resemble ships, sphinxes or the ruined buildings of a vanished city. This is why the area has the nickname Ghost City, and the wind that whistles through the formations adds to the effect. The geopark has also been used as a filming location for desert scenes. Visitors travel on park transport along set routes and stop at several viewing points, getting out to walk among the ridges and along short trails. The landscape is austere: pale and rust-coloured stone, bare gravel plains and a huge sky with almost no vegetation. Late in the day the ridges turn red and gold, and sunset is the most popular time for photographs, with long shadows emphasising the carved shapes. A visit inside the park takes about two to three hours, but the journey from Dunhuang is long, so the trip usually fills a full day and is often combined with Yumenguan on a single chartered route. There is no public bus, so visitors join a day tour or hire a car with a driver. Services inside the park are limited, and distances are large, so water, snacks, sun protection and a windproof layer are important, since the wind can be strong and temperatures swing sharply between day and night. The park has seen temporary closures in the past, and hours and prices change by season, so visitors should verify them before setting out. Crowds are modest outside summer holidays and national holidays, when tour groups concentrate at the main viewpoints around sunset.