Things to do in Zhangye

It was a truly spectacular sight. We happened to be there during the snowfall, witnessing the Rainbow Mountains in their seven colors. Arriving at Exit 4 at sunset, the colors were absolutely breathtaking. As we left on the park shuttle, the sky was still a gradient of pink and blue; I felt incredibly happy.

Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon, located 56 kilometers from Zhangye City, is known as the Chinese version of the Grand Canyon and is well worth a visit. The entire tour is conducted via a shuttle bus, which is very well arranged.

On our second day in Zhangye, we visited the Giant Buddha Temple. We hired a guide who explained the temple's history, architecture, and collections, which we found very worthwhile. The temple itself isn't large, but it's clean, tidy, and well-managed. 👍

Thank goodness the weather was perfect; it snowed the day before we went. The mountain scenery, the snowscape, and the grottoes blended together beautifully. The scale of the grottoes exceeded our expectations. We didn't have time to climb the Thousand Buddha Temple later. I'll definitely come back next time! ✅ The climb itself was a process of spiritual practice, and the beautiful scenery along the way cleansed my soul. A place I must visit in this lifetime.

A very satisfying trip! The half-day tour of Binggou Danxia was just over 40 yuan per person for transportation, including door-to-door pick-up and drop-off – excellent value for money. Especially our driver, Mr. Zhao, was incredibly warm, attentive, and considerate – very professional, punctual, and responsible. Highly recommended!

Shandan Military Horse Ranch, nestled on the northern slope of Lenglong Ridge in the Qilian Mountains of Shandan, Zhangye, on the Damaying Grassland, is a national 3A-level scenic area and the world's oldest and largest horse ranch, with a history of over two thousand years, dating back to the Western Han Dynasty when Huo Qubing stationed troops and herded horses there. The vast grassland stretches out at the foot of snow-capped mountains, Luan Niao Lake is crystal clear, herds of horses roam freely, the grass ripples in the wind, and distant snow-capped peaks create a vast and desolate landscape. Kulong Gorge and Huaixi Town are worth stopping at, especially in summer and autumn when wildflowers bloom in abundance, creating a wonderful atmosphere. Due to the high altitude, there is a significant temperature difference between day and night; even in the height of summer, a thick coat is necessary. Supply points are limited along the way, so remember to bring enough drinking water and dry food. If you're visiting the Hexi Corridor and want to witness the wildness of the Qilian Grassland and experience the rich history of horse herding over a thousand years, Shandan Military Horse Ranch is an absolute must-see.

On the third day of the National Day trip, the journey from Zhangye to Jiuquan was long, so we arranged to go to the snow mountain first. It is indeed not famous, but the scenery is nice, and you may see marmots, but we didn’t see any. It was cold and windy, so you needed to wear a thin down jacket and gloves. There were plank roads all the way, but the altitude was 3900-4000m. This was the day with the fewest steps on the trip. We walked more than 8,000 meters and had not yet reached the end. I flew a drone, and it may not have been halfway, but I still felt very tired. It took 2 hours, plus the round trip bus ride was about 3 hours. There were not many people in the scenic area, so there was no need to queue.

What's confusing about this scenic area is that the navigation leads to the visitor center on the map, but after asking a staff member, I learned that I had to go up to the second floor to exchange for tickets, get a navigation address and a pass, and then drive more than ten kilometers to actually reach the scenic area. Make sure you don't lose your pass; you'll need to check it before entering. Also, it might be inconvenient if you're not driving. During the summer, which is probably peak season, I didn't see any buses for individual tourists; it was all private cars. The scenery inside the scenic area is definitely worth seeing, and the fact that drones can fly is a great feature 👍

Qilian Mountains in Gansu attracts tourists with its magnificent natural scenery and rich cultural heritage. Qilian Mountain Ski Resort has become a popular attraction where tourists can experience skiing, snowmobiling and other activities. In addition, a herd of white-lipped deer, a national first-class protected animal, was discovered in the Qilian Mountains Nature Reserve, and the ecological protection results were remarkable. It is worth a visit. The Qilian Mountain Grassland is known as one of the six most beautiful grasslands in China 🤟