Yadan National Geological Park (雅丹国家地质公园), commonly known as the “Dunhuang Yadan Devil City,” is the largest and most mature Yadan landform cluster in the world, with significant geological formations that are highly valued for their scenic beauty. It is acclaimed as one of the “Three Most Beautiful Yadan Landforms in China.” The park spans approximately 25 kilometers in length from east to west and 18 kilometers in width from north to south, covering an area of 398 square kilometers.
The park is primarily composed of wind-eroded geological formations that appear fantastically grand against the Gobi Desert backdrop. The landscape is especially breathtaking at sunset, making it an ideal spot for photography. As night falls, the sharp winds produce eerie, howling sounds reminiscent of thousands of wild beasts roaring, which contributes to its nickname, “Devil City.” The ground in this area contains magnetic stones, rendering compasses useless, and has led to numerous eerie tales and legends over the centuries.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Yadan National Geological Park
- Vlog about Yadan National Geological Park
- Other Attractions in West Dunhuang
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | 120 RMB including admission and sightseeing bus |
| Opening Hours | 6.30 – 19.00 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0937-8841885 |
Location and Transportation
Yadan National Geological Park is located 168 kilometers northwest of Dunhuang City, near the Yumen Pass in Gansu Province. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
By Shuttle Bus: During the peak tourist season, there is a daily shuttle bus from Dunhuang Station to Yadan National Geological Park. The bus departs at 7:30 AM.
By Car: For more flexibility, it is recommended to drive or hire a car. Self-driving or booking a private car through local travel agencies are convenient options to reach the park.
Highlights of Yadan National Geological Park
Ridge-like Yadan
The ridge-like Yadan landforms exhibit elongated ridge shapes. Tectonic activities have uplifted the alluvial and lacustrine sediments previously deposited in the basin, creating structural joints and fissures. Water erosion along these fissures formed gullies, and prolonged wind erosion in a specific direction gradually sculpted the ridge-like Yadan structures. These represent the early developmental stage of Yadan landforms, featuring the most intact shapes. These formations can be quite large, ranging from hundreds of meters to kilometers in length, 50-400 meters in width, and 25-60 meters in height. The “Fleet of Ships” is a prime example of this type.
Wall-like Yadan
Continued erosion narrows the ridge-like Yadan, causing them to break in the middle and decrease in height, eventually resembling wall-like structures. Wall-like Yadan are essentially independent formations with long, straight tops resembling levees. These formations are subject to erosion, resulting in rugged, tooth-like shapes at the top while remaining connected at the base. Another form of this Yadan is the whale-back Yadan, which features streamlined, undulating tops resembling the backs of whales. Although somewhat eroded, they generally appear wall-like, thus categorized as a type of wall-like Yadan.
Tower-like Yadan
The wall-like Yadan formations undergo further erosion to become tower-like Yadan, characterized by a length-to-width ratio that is nearly equal. Typically, the base diameter ranges from 4 to 30 meters, and the height ranges from 5 to 25 meters. Tower-like Yadan often have larger base diameters compared to their tops. Those with rounded tops resembling Mongolian yurts are called mound-like Yadan. In areas with multi-directional winds, erosion and abrasion from windborne sand and soil shape these formations into irregular polygons at the base and triangular pyramids on the sides, known as pyramid-shaped Yadan. A notable subtype is the stamp-like Yadan, where the middle layer is softer and gets eroded, leaving a smaller diameter at the top and a larger ellipsoid base. Famous formations such as “The Buddha” and “The Great Man” fall into this category.
Column-like Yadan
As tower-like Yadan continue to erode, they evolve into column-like Yadan, which are characterized by their prominent height. These formations generally have diameters ranging from 2 to 15 meters and heights from 5 to 25 meters. Due to the varying composition and weathering resistance of the Yadan material, column-like formations often develop a shape that is thinner at the base and thicker at the top, known as mushroom-shaped Yadan. Additionally, collapsed tower-like Yadan can develop into nearly cylindrical forms, either uniformly thick or wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, called cylindrical Yadan. These structures, resembling extraterrestrial visitors gazing into the distance, captivate visitors with their mysterious and intriguing appearances.
