In pictures: "rainbow mountains" in NW China

Tourists view the Danxia landscape in Zhangye city's Danxia National Geological Park on April 2, the first day of the Tomb Sweeping Festival holiday. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Danxia scenic area in Zhangye city in Gansu province is a popular destination known as "Rainbow Mountains" for its multicolored cliffs and special rock formations.

Its beauty attracts many self-drive tourists from the surrounding provinces during the holiday.

The Danxia National Geological Park, also known as Zhangye Danxia Geopark, is located in the northern foothills of the Qilian Mountain, in the counties of Linze and Sunan. Best known for its colorful rock formations, it has been voted by Chinese media as one of the most beautiful landforms in China, according to Zhangye city's mayor Huang Zeyuan.

This special Danxia geological structure, featuring layers of multicolored sandstone and steep cliffs, is the result of deposits of sandstone and other minerals being pressed together over a span of more than 24 million years and raised up by seismic activity. Erosion of the sandstone by weather elements has formed isolated peaks and steep outcrops in the area.

A visit to the Danxia geopark is a must if visiting Zhangye, and is often at the top of the list of tourists to the ancient city, Huang said. "One will feel it is like beautiful layers of color painted onto the surface of the rocks, which is like nothing else you have ever seen."