A gate at the eastern end of the Jiayuguan Fortress.

One of the big gates inside the fortress.

Paving stones smoothed by hundreds of years of feet.

A courtyard inside the fortress.

The hiking group, ready to explore the mountains.

Long-time regular hiker Hsu was visiting from the U.S.

At the Danxia Landform.

Eroded sandstone.

The plants were as colourful as the hills.

Some more colours.

A good lookout point.

Hiking up into the hills.

We spotted these three birds in the hills.

Hikers silhouetted on the sandstone.

Colours almost too good to be true!

Colourful hills stretching off into the distance.

Taking a break on top.

Happy hikers.

Balancing on a ridge to get the best photos!

Brightly coloured flowers in the dry hills.

On the approach to a special rock formation.

Another type of the small plants we saw.

Delicate white flowers.

The ‘Binggou’ Rock formation.

Strangely-shaped outcrops.

Taking a break at a viewing platform.

Walking up a dried river valley, we spotted a donkey family.

Continuing up the valley.

More rock formations in the hills.

An old kiln.

We finished up this hike by walking out through a small village.

This young fellow will have to wait a few years before he’s trusted with the keys.

Outside in the evening, in one of the towns where we stayed.

Lit up at night, with the moon bright in the sky.