Beautiful Danxia Landform in Zhangye, NW China (2)

Photo shows the amazing scenery of the Zhangye Danxia Landform, northwest China's Gansu Province. (Photo/Courtesy of Zhao Jianwei)

The landforms are made of red sandstone and conglomerates from the Cretaceous Age about 65 million to 135 million years ago, that have eroded over time to form a series of mountains surrounded by curvaceous cliffs and many unusual rock formations.

The Zhangye Danxia landform area was chosen as one of the “Top Seven Most Beautiful Danxia Landforms in China” by China National Geography Magazine in 2009, and one of the “World’s Top 10 Geographic Wonders” by the U.S. magazine National Geographic in 2011.