The Palette of Hexi Corridor and the Pastoral Song of the Grasslands: A Four-Day In-Depth Travel Journal of Zhangye

Day 1: The Stunning Danxia, Sunset Melting Gold Arrive in Zhangye in the morning Take the high-speed train westward from Lanzhou, crossing the folds of the Qilian Mountains' foothills, with the Gobi Desert gradually unfolding outside the window. Upon arrival at Zhangye West Station, it is recommended to rent a car for self-driving (about 1 hour from the city to Danxia) or take a tourist shuttle directly to the Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park. It is July now, and the oasis nourished by the Qilian Mountain snowmelt contrasts beautifully with the ochre red sandstone. Along the way, vast fields of sunflowers sway in the wind. Danxia Wonders Enter the scenic area and take the sightseeing bus to Viewing Platform No. 4, "Colorful Rainbow Danxia Terrace," recognized as the best spot to watch the sunset. In the afternoon, sunlight slants across the mountains, and the ochre red, ginger yellow, and dark purple rock layers resemble a spilled palette of paint, with textures as delicate as silk folds. Hike to "Crouching Tiger Gorge" to touch the billion-year-old sedimentary layers up close and feel the craftsmanship of wind and water erosion. After rain, the rocks absorb water, reaching peak color saturation, like an oil painting personally brushed by God. Sunset Ceremony At 6 p.m., the viewing platform is filled with photography enthusiasts. As the sun sinks below the horizon, the entire Danxia is bathed in golden red, and shadows in the canyon flow like ink. At the moment applause breaks out, the distant snow-capped peaks of the Qilian Mountains glow with a faint blue, creating a magical scene of warm and cool light interwoven. During the blue hour after sunset, use long exposure to capture the flowing clouds and colors, creating a silky, dreamlike image. Overnight at Danxia It is recommended to stay at the "Danxia Pearl Hotel" near the scenic area, where rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows facing the colorful hills. For dinner, be sure to try the local "Cuoyuzi," noodles shaped like small fish served with braised meat and hot and sour soup, with a chewy texture. For a taste of Northwest boldness, order "Lamb Wrapped Rolls," large chunks of lamb stewed until tender, with the rolls soaked in meat juice, paired with cold beer for great satisfaction. Day 2: Secret Stone Caves, Pastoral Songs of the Grasslands Tracing the Horse Hoof Temple Drive early morning to Sunan County, passing through the primeval forest on the northern slope of the Qilian Mountains. Arriving at the Matisi Grottoes, morning mist still lingers, and the 33 grottoes hang like honeycombs on a sheer cliff hundreds of meters high. Climbing the steep wooden plank road requires using both hands and feet. The mottled murals inside tell stories of Northern Liang monks. The most stunning is the East Cave of Jintasi Temple, with ancient flying apsaras sculptures; despite thousands of years, the painted robes remain vividly colorful. Galloping on Kangle Grassland In the afternoon, drive half an hour to Kangle Grassland, a 2.68 million mu natural pasture in full bloom. Rent a fine horse (about 50 yuan/hour) and, led by herders, ride through the sea of flowers where purple lavender and yellow marigolds weave a carpet, with snow mountains in the distance like a white porcelain bowl inverted on green velvet. Along the way, meet Yugu herders, dismount to taste freshly churned butter tea, and listen to their humming of the ancient narrative poem "Huang Daichen." Starry Night Bonfire Stay overnight in a Mongolian yurt on the grassland, enjoying freshly roasted whole lamb for dinner, with crispy skin and tender meat. When the bonfire is lit, herders play the dongbula, and visitors join hands to dance the Guozhuang dance. Looking up at the starry sky, the Milky Way is clearly visible, and when shooting stars streak across, the grassland echoes with bursts of awe. Day 3: Galloping Military Horses, Secrets of Qilian Shandan Military Horse Farm Early morning drive southeast along National Highway 227, with rapeseed fields and highland barley fields laid out like a chessboard. Arriving at Shandan Military Horse Farm, witness herders driving hundreds of military horses to Luanniao Lake to drink. The sound of hooves splashing is like drums, and the lake reflects the snow mountains and horses, reminiscent of classic scenes from the movie "The Horse Herder." Time on Horseback Choose the "General Cavalry Camp" route (200 yuan / 2.5 hours), riding through primeval forest. Passing the beacon tower ruins, the horseman tells stories of Huo Qubing's western expedition. Arrive at a 3,200-meter-high viewing platform overlooking the Qilian mountain peaks like a silver dragon stretching across the horizon, with the boundary between grassland and forest sharply defined. Lunch at the "Fushenglong Restaurant" in the military camp is a must, ordering "Shandan Stir-fried Bolar," a spicy and fragrant stir-fry of lamb offal and green peppers, paired with homemade yogurt to refresh the palate. Exploring Kulong Gorge In the afternoon, hike through "Kulong Gorge," where the canyon is full of collapsed karst caves, and streams flow underground. Sunlight filters through the treetops onto moss, and the air is humid like a rainforest. Deep inside, see the ruins of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall beacon tower, whose broken walls cast lonely shadows on the grassland, telling the vicissitudes of the ancient Silk Road. Day 4: Ancient City Fireworks, Return Journey Afterglow Zhangye Old Town Return to the city in the morning and stroll along Dafosi Alley, where the sweet aroma of gray bean soup drifts over the bluestone pavement. Enter Dafosi Temple, home to Asia's largest indoor reclining Buddha, lying sideways in the hall. The 48-meter-long golden statue is covered with paintings, and the ceiling's caisson features well-preserved Western Xia flying apsara murals. Inside the ancient bell pavilion hangs the Tang Dynasty "Zhenyuan Bell," whose sound carries for ten miles, creating a dialogue of time and space with the bustling traffic outside. Culinary Feast For lunch, try "Sun Ji Sao Mian," paper-thin noodles in a hot and sour soup base, with tofu slices and braised meat adding layers of flavor. For a taste of local life, visit "Ganzhou Market" for a bowl of "Beef Small Rice," tiny noodle grains soaked in beef bone broth, sprinkled with pepper, warming and satisfying. Before leaving, don't forget to pack "Linze Steamed Cakes," thin as cicada wings, perfect for wrapping braised meat or pickles, an excellent souvenir. Return Time In the afternoon, take the high-speed train from Zhangye West Station back, watching the Qilian Mountains gradually fade outside the window, with your luggage filled with Danxia's colorful stones, prayer flag fragments from Matisi, and wildflowers picked on the grassland. This journey is not only a visual feast but also a nomadic journey of the soul — touching the pulse of the Hexi Corridor between colorful hills and snowy grasslands. 📌 Practical Tips Preparation Before Travel Documents: ID card, student ID (half price at some attractions), military officer ID (free admission) Gear: High SPF sunscreen (SPF50+), sunglasses, wide-brimmed hat, windbreaker (day-night temperature difference up to 20°C), hiking shoes, telephoto lens (for photographing horse herds and snow mountains) Medicine: Cold medicine, stomach medicine, motion sickness pills (for bumpy mountain roads), oxygen tank (for altitude sickness prevention) Transportation Guide Long-distance transport: Zhangye Ganzhou Airport has few flights; it is recommended to fly to Lanzhou or Xining and transfer to high-speed train (about 3 hours from Lanzhou to Zhangye). For self-driving, take the Lianhuo Expressway with beautiful scenery, but some scenic spots require changing to sightseeing buses. Scenic area transport: For Matisi, Kangle Grassland, and Shandan Military Horse Farm, it is recommended to charter a car (about 500 yuan/day) or join local day tours. Roads inside Shandan Military Horse Farm are narrow; four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended. Ticket Information Zhangye Danxia: 95 yuan/person (including sightseeing bus), half price for students Matisi: 74 yuan/person,