 |
Am I in Grand Canyon of Colorado River
Arizona, USA ? |
Day 24 Friday (Afternoon) Sept 19 2025 (Zhangye, Gansu) Part 4 - recommended a 1/2 Day Tour No 3 by our hostel for a visit to Pingshanhu Grand Canyon - a smaller scale version of Colorado, this canyon is located in the Gobi dessert, about 60km north east of Zhangye. You can see different shades of red & yellow rock representing the different periods in which the canyon is developed. There is a stone forest, gullies & mazes to explore. Visitors could follow a walking path in the deep valley of the canyon, a distance of 6km to complete the loop. Adult fare is Y$100, admission fee Y$50 for senior above 60+ & free admission for senior above 70s. Shuttle bus fee Y$30; share transport (arranged by our hostel) from city to Grand Canyon return is Y$50.
Ping Shan Lake Grand Canyon, Zhangye, Gansu - located in the magnificent landscape of Ping Shan Lake Mongolian township in Ganzhou District, Zhangye City is a National AAAA level tourist attraction, it serves as a crucial passage from the Hexi Corridor to Inner Mongolia & provides a convenient route to the Ceke Port in Mongolia. Departing from Zhangye City, it is only 56km away, making an ideal destination for tourists. The natural landscape of Ping Shan Lake Grand Canyon is both peculiar & magnificent, its geological formation dates back to the Mesozoic Jurassic to the Cenozoic Tertiarym spanning 180 > 240 million years. The geology consists of sedimentary deposits from the red rock series, commonly known as "red conglomerate". Within the canyon, the towering Qilian Mountain s stretch across the horizen, while the majestic Heihe Grand Canyon reveals nature's boundless charm. The unique Danxia landform within the canyon feature vibrant colors - red, orange, purple-brown & golden white layered & interwoven, creating a mesmerizing natural canvas.
Ping Shan Lake Grand Canyon boasts comprehensive tourism facilities & hospitable services, making it an unmissable tourist destination. Whether you are an adventurous explorer or a natural enthusiast, this place caters to your needs, ensuring you leave with unforgettable travel memories. We invite you to experience the uniqueness of this destination & linger in its beauty.
1) MPV pick up & van ride from hostel > Pingshanhu Grand Canyon, Zhanye, Gansu - shared transport (comfortable 7 seater) arranged by our hostel, each pay Y$50 (departing 14.15 > 20.30, approx 6 hours)
2) Countryside scenery as viewed from the moving van towards Pingshanhu Grand Canyon Scenic Area, Zhanye, Gansu
3) Pingshanhu Grand Canyon Scenic Area, Zhangye, Gansu - Customer Visitor Center, short briefing by Customer Service staff on Grand Canyon routes (a 6km hiking to complete the Grand Canyon deep valley from the entry point to nearest bus pick up point); free admission for Senior above 70+, half price Y$50 for Senior above 60+, Full adult is Y$100. Internal Shuttle Bus Y$30
4) Internal shuttle bus ride from front entrance > Grand Canyon Scenic Area (4km)
5) The starting point of the Pingshanhu Grand Canyon Scenic Area for Instagram & photography, Zhangye, Gansu
6) Jiu Long Hui Hai (Nine Dragon Converging in the Sea), Pingshanhu Grand Canyon, Zhangye, Gansu - in the Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon, the Jiu Long Hui Hai Observation Platform is the most stunning viewing platform, the geomorphic feacture here are very prominent, like nine giant dragons converging in the sea, rushing for thousands of miles & competing to enter the sea, displaying an extraordinary spectacle & grandeur. The Jiulong Platform is a vast viewing platform with canyon landforms arranged in a staggered manner like knives & axes, like nine giant dragons dancing, these hills have different shapes, some resembling humps, some like waves & some like blades, each dragon has its own unique form & temperament. The formation of these hilly landforms cannot be separated from the miraculous power of nature. After millions of years of weathering & erosion by rainwater, these rocks gradually formed the shape & posture they see today. In this process, the power of nature seemed to to be cast with magic, carving the originally flat hilly area into 9 lifelike dragons.
7) Shen Gui Wen Shou (Divine Turtle Asking for Longevity), Pingshanhu Grand Canyon, Zhangye, Gansu - in the Pingshahu Grand Canyon scenic area, there is a peculiar hill hidden which has a poetic name ie the Divine Turtle Asking for Longevity Stone, the shape of this hill is like an old turtle, crawling on the ground & looking up to the sky, as if telling people a thousand year old legend.
8) The Best Photo Check In Point - Pingshanhu Grand Canyon Scenic Area
9) Lover Peaks, Pingshanhu Canyon, Zhangye, Gansu - standing at the Lovers Peak Observation Deck, we can behold the Lovers Peak nestled amidst the jagged hills of a winding canyon, resembling an affectionate couple leaning against each other, locals also refer to as "Mugu", evoking the scene of of a young Mongolian couple bathing in the evening sun, returning home tending their herds, this picturesque moment reflects the local herders aspiration & yearnings for a brighter future. In Mongolian folklore, there exists a deeply enamoured couple who, due to various circumstances, cannot see each other, they reside in separate yurts but secretly meet under the cover of quiet night, their love story echoes across the vast grasslands, becoming a beautiful legend passed down through mouth & ear of Mongolian people.
10) Canyon Wonder Viewing Platform, Pingshanhu Canyon, Zhangye, Gansu - let your eyes wander & wander the surrounding, simply awesome & stunning !
11) The start of the deep valley Grand Canyon downhill walk (lower section, 6km) - both of us opted out for this arduous challenging lower section deep valley walk, instead we continued our walk along the perimeter (upper section, following the wooden walkway / fencing & viewing platforms) of the Grand Canyon to the nearest shuttle bus pick up point - fully satisfied of our presence here !
12) Glossy Ganoderma Viewing Platform, Pinshanhu Grang Canyon, Zhangye, Gansu
13) Xia Gu Shen Xue (Canyon Holy Snow), Pingshahu Grand Canyon, Zhanye, Gansu - panoramic view of Danxia landform, it is composed of thick layered purple red sandstone & sandstone interbedded with mud in the Cretaceous system, the occurrence is nearly Horizontal, forming a typical castle style Danjing landform with 4 steep cliffs, whenever ice & snow fall, it presents a holy image.
14) Danxia Canyon Landform, Pingshanhu Canyon, Zhangye, Gansu - the purple & red thick layered sandstone, sandstone interbedded with mudstone, is cut down by flowing water along vertical joints, forming a typical "flat top, steep slops & gentle valley" Danxia landform, originally belonging to the flat bottomed "Danxia Lane Valley"
15) Castle style Danzia Landform, Pingshanhu Grand Canyon, Zhangye, Gansu - the thick layered purple red sandstone & gravel of the Cretaceous system, with sandstone interbedded with mustone, are cut by flowing water to form a typical four wall steep cliff castle style Damxia landform, the thick layered purple red sandstone & gravel resist weathering & protrude in a platform shape resembling eaves & ancient castles.
16) Qi Lian Xue Bao, Pingshanhu Grand Canyon, Zhangye, Gansu - Danxia residual hills are formed by the erosion & residue of sandstone& gravel rocks of different textures, the Camel Thorn" shrubs growing on the hills form leopard patterns, on the protruding cliff, resembling a leopard head, the honeycomb shaped weathered grooves formed on the surface resemble the mouth, nose & eyes of a leopard & when viewed from afar, it resembles a snow leopard.
17) Canyon Exit Point One Way Traffic, Pingshanhu Grand Canyon, Zhangye, Gansu
18) Xiong Shi, Pingshanhu Grand Canyon, Zhangye, Gansu - Danxia residual hills are formed by erosion & residue of sandstone & gravel rocks of different textures, they are carved on prominent cliffs, resembling the traditional folk dance of Guangdong province - Lion Dance, the lion's head has a high & narrow forehead, large & rotatable eyes, a wide mouth with a penm a wild back, a flattened nose, full cheeks & teeth that can be hidden or exposed .
19) Exiting the Pingshanhu Grand Canyon > Customer Service Center by shuttle bus - scenic Danxia landform along the way !
20) Final exit after a 2 1/2 hour of Grand Canyon hiking - both our legs were tired & need a rest at the Customer Service Centre awaiting for other of our members to show up before boarding the MPV van back to the city (arriving 20.30) !
21) Dinner in a noodle restaurant nearby our hotel - savoured a pot of Yunnan Cross Bridge noodle Y$27. KF ordered a side dish of braised duck thigh (Y$7).
No comments:
Post a Comment