The Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountains are one of China’s most surreal landscapes. Massive hills striped with layers of red, orange, yellow, and cream stretch across the desert landscape of Gansu Province, creating the kind of scenery that always looks fake online. The colors here, however, are completely real. Formed over millions of years through layers of sandstone and mineral deposits, these Rainbow Mountains have become one of the most famous natural attractions in China and one of the highlights of traveling along the old Silk Road route through Gansu. Here’s my guide on how to visit the Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountains in China.
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Despite the name, the Rainbow Mountains are not actually mountains in the normal mountain sense, but a huge area of landforms spread across the Zhangye UNESCO Global Geopark. Once you get to Zhangye, they’re pretty easy to visit, but there are a few things worth knowing before you go, especially if you’re traveling independently in China. In this guide, I’ll cover exactly how to visit the Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountains, how the scenic area works, when to go, and what to expect once you arrive.
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What Are the Danxia Colorful Rainbow Mountains?
These Rainbow Mountains are part of the Zhangye UNESCO Global Geopark in Gansu Province, northwest China. The landscape here is famous for its vivid bands of color running across the hills and ridges, with layers of red sandstone and mineral deposits creating the distinctive striped appearance that has made the area internationally and Instagram famous.
They’re similar to the Rainbow Mountain in Peru – and I wrote about those here.
Over millions of years, tectonic activity, erosion, and weathering gradually shaped the landscape into the rolling formations visible today. The colors themselves come from different minerals within the rock, with iron oxides helping create the deep reds and oranges that are most visible during sunrise and sunset.
The scenic area is often referred to by several different names, which can be slightly confusing when planning a visit. You’ll commonly see:
- Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park
- Zhangye Danxia Scenic Area
- Colorful Danxia Scenic Area
- The Rainbow Mountains of China, or Zhangye
These generally refer to the same main tourist area.
EASIEST WAY TO VISIT
Visit Zhangye’s Rainbow Mountain
This is a fabulous way to visit the Rainbow Mountain – the tour includes a hotel pick-up, transfer, hike to the mountains, and lunch before being dropped back at your hotel in Zhangye.
What is a UNESCO Global Geopark?
The Rainbow Mountains are part of the Zhangye UNESCO Global Geopark, which protects some of the most important geological landscapes in this part of China.
A UNESCO Global Geopark is different from a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While World Heritage Sites are usually recognized for cultural or historical importance, UNESCO Global Geoparks focus specifically on landscapes and geological features that are considered internationally significant.
The Zhangye UNESCO Global Geopark comprises both the Rainbow Mountains, aka the Colorful Danxia and the Binggou Danxia areas, protecting the unique Danxia landforms while also promoting conservation, education, and sustainable tourism. Binggou Danxia is a very different landscape and visit experience from the Colorful Danxia/Rainbow Mountains. I’ve compared the two here and you can read my specific guide about Binggou Danxia here.
You can see the location of both parts of the Zhangye GeoPark and where they are in relation to Zhangye in the map below.
Where Are the Rainbow Mountains?
The Rainbow Mountains are located around 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Zhangye city in Gansu Province, northwest China.
From central Zhangye, the journey usually takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic and your mode of transport. If you’re arriving by high-speed rail at Zhangye West Railway Station, travel times are roughly similar to those from the city.
The Rainbow Mountains are relatively close to Binggou Danxia, which is why many travelers visit both scenic areas on the same day. However, to do this, you’ll need to take a tour/car, rather than using the bus services.
Why Visit the Rainbow Mountains?
The Rainbow Mountains are one of the most visually unusual landscapes in China. The layered hills look almost painted in places, especially when the sunlight hits the ridges during sunrise or sunset.
The scale of this geopark is enormous. You might get some sense of that when you get to the parking lot. It’s huge. This is one location that doesn’t feel less when you get here.
Each of the different viewing platforms provides a different aspect, and they’re all spectacular in a different way. The colors really are striking, all the more so because this is entirely natural.
How to Get to the Rainbow Mountains from Zhangye
As with most parks in China, getting to them is part of the adventure, aka challenge, as they tend to be way away from the nearest city or town, and not always easy to visit using public transport.
Take a Taxi or Didi to the Rainbow Mountains from Zhangye
The easiest independent option is taking a taxi or Didi from Zhangye. Didi is the ride-hailing app of choice here in China, and downloading it is one of the things you should do before you come to China.
Many drivers already know the Rainbow Mountains well because it’s one of the area’s biggest tourist attractions, and it’s popular with both domestic and international visitors. Some drivers will wait while you visit and then drive you back to the city, although it’s important to agree on timings and pricing beforehand. You can order your Didi with the app, and then the app translates for you, so language shouldn’t be a problem. Make sure you get an eSIM or a SIM for China; you’ll need it to use Didi.
Join a Tour from Zhangye to get to the Rainbow Mountains
Joining a tour is the most convenient option for many travelers, particularly if you want to combine the Rainbow Mountains with Binggou Danxia. If you’re staying at the Silk Road Hostel in Zhangye (which I recommend, the team here are lovely), then they do shared trips here.
You can see the hostel shared trips here.
Alternatively, you can book online with Viator, Trip, Klook, or GetYourGuide.
Klook.comPublic Transport to the Rainbow Mountains from Zhangye
Here are the bus details for getting to the Rainbow Mountains from Zhangye.
Buses to Rainbow Mountains/Colorful Danxia leave Zhangye from the West Bus Station. “Xi” or 西 generally means West in Chinese. The West Bus Station in Zhangye is also known as the Xiguan Bus Station. The Zhangye West Bus Station is about 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) from Zhangye West Train Station.
Here’s a link to the location on Amap (as you will likely know by now, Google Maps and Maps.me are generally useless in China, you should use Amap instead.
Buses leave the Zhangye West Bus Station for Colorful Danxia at 07:30, 07:45, 08:00, 08:40, 09:15, and 10:30. The trip takes around 90 minutes.
The bus goes to the North Gate of Colorful Danxia first. Then it continues onto Binggou Danxia. The last return bus is usually around 18:00 – 18:30, but when you buy a ticket, the staff will advise you of the last timed bus for the day, so that you don’t miss it.
You can buy a single (15 CNY or a return ticket 30 CNY) and can pay cash, Alipay, or WePay.
Entrance Fees and Opening Hours of the Rainbow Mountains
The Rainbow Mountains charge an entrance fee plus a mandatory shuttle bus fee, as the scenic area is way too large to explore at all on foot. The distances between the viewpoints are large, and this area gets hot (or very cold) depending on the time of year that you visit.
There are slightly different opening hours depending on the season – in summer from 07:00 until 19:00 and in Winter from 07:30 until 17:00. There are also nighttime visits available for a separate ticket cost. If you want to experience the Rainbow Mountains at sunset, then you don’t need to leave Zhangye until around 15:00.
Most travelers spend between 2 and 4 hours visiting the Rainbow Mountains. You do NOT have to get off the shuttle buses at each of the viewpoints. But I don’t understand why you wouldn’t. We spent 2 hours and 45 minutes here in the Rainbow Mountains Scenic Area. We visited every viewpoint, walked to the furthest points of each, and also stopped for a coffee during that time.
What to Expect Inside the Rainbow Mountains Scenic Area
The scenic area that makes up the Rainbow Mountains, aka Colorful Danxia near Zhangye, is enormous. And it’s also set up to deal with A LOT of visitors. You’ll see that as you arrive at one of the entrance gates. The huge number of parking spaces, the seemingly endless walk past souvenir shops and eateries to actually get to the ticket office.
It can be somewhat confusing as to what to expect, so I’ll give it a go and explain. My first experience of a Chinese National Park (Zhangjiajie) was not understanding that I had to get on a shuttle bus to go around the park and not just “head off on my own two feet”. These Rainbow Mountains are like this as well. It’s an enormous site, you cannot visit it without taking the shuttle bus after the ticket hall.
As the distances are so large, you HAVE to take one of the shuttle buses which connect the viewpoints. There are boardwalks, which make it relatively easy to move between platforms without difficult hiking. There are also, however, steps, and you’ll be going up and down a lot. This isn’t a flat area to visit, even if the up and down is easy underfoot, you might find the altitude a little more difficult. The viewpoints range between 1,600 and 2,500 meters. (5,249 feet to 8,202 feet).
Buying Tickets for the Rainbow Mountains Scenic Area
There are two (sometimes three) elements to your ticket to visit.
- Your ticket to enter
- Your shuttle bus ticket (even though it’s mandatory, it’s a separate charge)
- Any surcharges for visiting in the early evening
If you’re taking a tour, they’ll sort all of this out for you. If you’re not, then simply head up to the ticket office (you can’t miss it), line up, and pay. Alternatively, buy your ticket in advance. You can use cards, cash, or Alipay to pay for your ticket.
Sometimes your foreign-issued card might not work; that’s because vendors have to pay an extra fee to deal with the processing costs of foreign cards, and some choose not to. With Alipay that’s baked in for them (i.e., you pay a small percentage), so I seriously recommend sorting out Alipay or WePay/WeChat beforehand.
Book a tour (including tickets to Colorful Danxia
On Viator here
On Klook here
If you’re taking the public bus to the Rainbow Mountain Scenic Area, then it will drop you at the North Gate. And this is where you need to return to in order to get the return bus. If you’re taking a tour or have a car, then your driver will tell you which gate to return to.
Once you’ve bought your ticket, head towards the entrance to the shuttle bus lines.
Once inside the park, shuttle buses transport visitors between the major viewing platforms. At each stop, raised boardwalks and stairways lead to panoramic viewpoints overlooking the colorful ridges and valleys.
IMAGE
Once you get to the viewpoints, the walking distances are manageable, although there are some stairs and exposed sections. There is NO shade.
The scenic area is well organized and very developed. If you’ve been to other parks and National Parks in China, then you’ll know what I mean. There are multiple viewing points, and there are facilities – toilets, shops, food stops, photo opportunities at EVERY stop.
The Shuttle Buses at the Colorful Danxia / Rainbow Mountains
While there is a separate charge for the shuttle buses at the Rainbow Mountains, it is a mandatory charge. These buses follow an anti-clockwise direction around a set route, and can be taken from either the North Gate Entrance (where public buses arrive and depart from) or the West Gate Entrance.
There are LOTS of shuttle buses, and they operate very regularly. You won’t wait long for them.
The Viewpoints at the Rainbow Mountains
The Rainbow Mountains scenic area has several major viewing platforms, each with slightly different perspectives over the landscape. Some viewpoints are higher and offer wide panoramic views across the striped ridges, while others bring you closer to the colorful hills themselves.
I’ll cover them in more detail, but first, an overview.
The shuttle buses follow a route around. So get off at each of the viewpoints along the way, see what you want to see, then return to the shuttle bus.
You’ll see maps at the entrance, near the ticket office, and it looks like there are a lot of viewpoints. Some of these are NOT accessible (and haven’t been for some time). There are some areas where you can go and ride a camel, take a helicopter ride, go off-roading, and so on and so on.
This guide is about the viewpoints that are available from the shuttle bus system. And at each of the shuttle bus stops, there are different viewpoints. Confusingly, they’re all given names, which don’t (IMHO) help at all.
The map also gives color indications for routes depending on whether you have entered via the North Gate or the West Gate. These colors are NOT represented on the buses (or the bus stops). And neither are the signs on the bus stops referenced in English, although they do tell you how long it is to the next stop and what the next stop is. So you’ll need to translate.
In 2026, the following viewing platforms are open.
- Colorful Fairyland Terrace
- Colorful Cloud Sea Terrace
- Colorful Embroidery Terrace
- Rainbow Radiance Terrace
After your last stop, make sure you get on the bus that is going back to the gate you entered from (mainly this will be the North Gate, unless you are staying at the Yurt Camp near the West Gate).
Each of the stops has several platforms to visit, and several landforms to see as well. At each shuttle bus stop, there will be a map that indicates the walkways and viewpoints that you can see there.
This map of Colorful Danxia is the most useful. The ONLY part of the eco park that you’re going to be going to is marked by the WHITE line and is inside the red circle.
Facilities at the Scenic Area
Facilities here are generally very good. You’ll find:
- Toilets
- Food stalls
- Drink vendors
- Souvenir shops
- VR opportunities
- Professional Photo opportunities
- And even more of the same visitor facilities near the entrances
You WILL be able to buy water and snacks once you leave the ticket office.
Best Time to Visit the Rainbow Mountains
Spring and autumn are generally considered the best times to visit the Rainbow Mountains. Temperatures are more comfortable, visibility is often clearer, and the lighting conditions are excellent for photography.
Summer can become extremely hot during the middle of the day, with strong sun exposure and very limited shade. Winter visits are possible, although temperatures can drop sharply and weather conditions can become windy and cold.
We visited in mid-May, wore sun hats, fleeces, and lightweight trousers. Make sure your sun hat is firmly on your head; it gets windy here. We saw several lost umbrellas (for the sun) and hats flying away.
The Best Time of Day to Visit the Rainbow Mountains
Sunset is usually considered the best time to visit the Rainbow Mountains because the low-angle sunlight intensifies the reds, oranges, and yellows across the landscape. The midday light is much harsher and tends to flatten the colors in photographs.
Early morning and late afternoon are generally the most comfortable times temperature-wise as well.
However. You should look at the weather. When we visited, the skies were clear in the morning, but by mid-afternoon, the clouds had moved in. And while I know that the sun sets every day, it was disappearing into the gloom and clouds by about 15:00 each day, so we visited the Rainbow Mountains between 12:00 and 15:00, having visited Binggou Danxia beforehand on the same day.
Klook.comWhat to see at the Colorful Danxia / Rainbow Mountains Viewpoints
Here’s more detail on what to see and what to expect at the various stops and viewpoints of the Zhangye Rainbow Mountains. These are the stops in order from the North Gate Entrance.
1. Colorful Fairyland Terrace Shuttle Bus Stop/Viewpoint
This is the first stop on the shuttle bus after you’ve entered the Colorful Danxia from the North Gate Entrance.
The names of the viewpoints here are:
- Sleeping Beauty (although it’s a long way away and the bridge over to it is closed)
- Sunset Sails Returning
- Rainbow Screen (the main attraction here)
The light grey (as opposed to the dark grey) is the boardwalks, where you can walk to and see the scenic areas. The scenic spots that you’re looking at are marked in turquoise with a yellow highlight around them.
There’s one of these at each of the bus stops, so check it when you get off if you’re at all concerned about where to go The stream of people getting off the bus should be enough of a hint though.
2. Colorful Cloud Sea Terrace Shuttle Bus Stop/Viewpoint
This is the second stop on the shuttle bus after you’ve entered the Colorful Danxia from the North Gate Entrance.
The names of the viewpoints here are:
- Giant Scallop
- Monks Paying Homage to Buddha
- Sacred Monkey Gazing at the Sky
- Rainblow Flying Glow
There is signage with a color image showing you what the “main attractions are”. But to be honest, some of it is a bit weird, and actually just looking at the rocks is good enough!
It’s hard to know which photos to share of this place, as even the ride on the shuttle bus is pretty spectacular!
Colorful Embroidery Terrace
This is the third stop on the shuttle bus after you’ve entered the Colorful Danxia from the North Gate Entrance. You’ll see
- Red Beds
- Silk Road in the Sky
- Yugur Fringe
- Red Cliffs Great Wall
Rainbow Radiance Terrace
This is the fourth and final stop on the shuttle bus after you’ve entered the Colorful Danxia from the North Gate Entrance. I think, writing this after the fact, that this might have been the best of all. It starts as you begin to walk to the viewpoint.
The viewpoints here are
- Divine Turtle Questioning the Heavens
- Little Potala Palace
- Divine Dragon Playing with Fire
The view to the Little Potala Palace is spectacular.
When you’re finished here, it’s at this point that you need to – if you’re heading back to the North Gate Entrance – you need to make sure you get on the correct bus!
What to Pack for the Rainbow Mountains
Sun protection is essential here. Bring:
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- A hat
- Water (although you WILL be able to buy some here)
Comfortable walking shoes are also important because there are stairs and boardwalks throughout the scenic area.
Where to Stay for Visiting the Rainbow Mountains
There are several hotels near the Colorful Danxia (Rainbow Mountains) area, including a yurt camp by the west entrance gate. You can check out the options here.
Stay in Zhangye City to visit Colorful Danxia.
Most travelers stay in Zhangye itself. It has easy access to the train station or airport, and you have a wider selection of places to eat, as well as being based more centrally to visit other sites in the area. (like the Mati Temple, and the Pingshan Grand Canyon.)
The folks at the Silk Road Travelers Hostel are fabulous, and I do recommend them and the hostel as a place to stay. They can arrange either shared or private transport to Binggou Danxia, the Rainbow Mountains, and a variety of other spots to visit. They also have some great recommendations of where to eat (and what) in Zhangye. Check out their room availability here.
Stay near the Danxia Scenic Areas and Geopark
There are also hotels and guesthouses closer to the Danxia scenic areas themselves. These are useful if you specifically want to photograph sunrise or sunset without traveling back and forth from Zhangye city. The most popular place we’ve found is the KaoShan Tent (Yurt) Camp, just 6 minutes walk from the West Entrance Gate of the Colorful Danxia (the Rainbow Mountains). There are no other facilities here, but they do provide breakfast and have dinner options too.
FAQs on Visiting the Rainbow Mountains
Here are the questions we had before visiting the Rainbow Mountains ourselves, along with the ones we’ve since answered for other travelers planning the trip, too!
Are the Rainbow Mountains Real?
Yes. The colors are completely natural and created by layers of sandstone and mineral deposits. While they might look painted, they’re not.
Are the Rainbow Mountains Worth Visiting?
Absolutely. They’re one of the most visually spectacular landscapes in China.
Do you need a guide to visit Colorful Danxia?
No. You can easily visit the Rainbow Mountains/Colorful Danxia without a guide.
Can You Visit the Rainbow Mountains Independently?
Yes, visiting independently is completely realistic for most travelers. Many travelers visit independently using taxis, Didi, or public buses. The biggest challenges are usually transport and language rather than navigating the scenic area itself. Once inside, the shuttle bus system and viewing platforms make the park easy to explore.
How long does it take to visit the Rainbow Mountains near Zhangye?
We spent just under 3 hours inside the eco park exploring the viewpoints. We stopped at all the possible shuttle bus stops. We walked every part of the boardwalk that was open and also stopped for coffee and a quick snack.
How Far Are the Rainbow Mountains from Zhangye?
The Colorful Danxia Rainbow Mountains are around 40 kilometers (25 miles), usually about 45 minutes to 1 hour by road. The public bus takes longer.
Can You Visit Binggou Danxia and the Rainbow Mountains Together?
Yes, many travelers combine both scenic areas into a one-day trip. It is easier to do this with either a tour or shared transport from somewhere like the Silk Road Travelers Hostel.
Klook.comWhat Causes the Colors in the Rainbow Mountains?
Different minerals within the sandstone layers create the various reds, oranges, yellows, and cream colors visible across the hills.
Are the Rainbow Mountains a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
They are part of the Zhangye UNESCO Global Geopark rather than being an individual UNESCO World Heritage Site. Both the Colorful Danxia (Rainbow Mountains) and the Binggou Danxia landforms are part of the same Geopark, but they are in different locations, and you need tickets for both of them. There is no combined ticket available.
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Final Words on Visiting the Zhangye Colorful Danxia Rainbow Mountains
The Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountains are one of those places that genuinely look as extraordinary in real life as they do in photographs. The scale of the landscape, the constantly changing colors, and the sheer strangeness of the scenery make this a stunning place to visit. It’s been on our list since our first visit in China in 2014 and our aborted 2017 visit, so we’re glad we finally made it!
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