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Introduction:
Danxia landform refers to various landscapes found in southeast, southwest and northwest China that "consist of a red bed characterized by steep cliffs".[1] It is a unique type of petrographic geomorphology found in China. Danxia landform is formed from red-coloured sandstones and conglomerates of largely Cretaceous age. The landforms look very much like karst topography that forms in areas underlain by lime stones, but since the rocks that form danxia are sandstones and conglomerates, they have been called "pseudo-karst" landforms.
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Interesting Facts:
The Silk Road passed through Gansu, following a narrow route between the Tibetan Plateau (too cold!) and the Gobi Desert (too hot!) that’s known as the Hexi Corridor.
Zhangye was one of the stops on the Silk Road, and Jiayuguan was at the westernmost end of the area controlled by the Ming Dynasty. While the main focus of this trip is the Danxia Landform, the Buddhist sites and relics left by Silk Road travelers, and the Great Wall in the area of Jiayuguan, are also well worth a look.
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Formation
The formation of Zhangye Danxai Landform dates back to 6 million years ago. The Danxia geological structure was formed by the erosion of red sandstone, forming the isolated peaks and steep outcrops. Its special geological structure, combined with long-term weathering, freeze-thaw peeling, and wind and water erosion gave rise to its present appearance.
It is mainly horizontal and low diagonal red strata, mainly belonging to the Jurassic and Tertiary eras. Danxia is the generic term for various kinds of landforms formed from vertical joint development in thick red sandstone and conglomerates.
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