Scouting photos - Gansu Province, December 2010
Before we take people on a hike or long distance trip, we go and scout it out ourselves. Doing this lets us find out if a place is actually worth a visit, and we can also find the best guesthouses and restaurants. On this scouting trip, Huijie and Yanjing braved snow and temperatures of -15°C and lower to explore the landscapes of Gansu Province.
This scouting trip took us to the Danxia Landform in northwestern Gansu. Scientifically speaking, a Danxia Landform is 'the name given in China to landscapes developed on continental red terrigenous sedimentary beds influenced by endogenous forces (including uplift) and exogenous forces (including weathering and erosion). They are characterized by spectacular red cliffs and a range of erosional landforms, including dramatic natural pillars, towers, ravines, valleys and waterfalls.' (Definition from the UNESCO website.)
While the Danxia Landform in Gansu didn't make it on to the UNESCO list, we think it would be a very interesting place to visit, and it's probably a lot easier to show you some pictures instead of typing scientific definitions.
We plan to visit this area a few times in 2011. We won't be going in winter - much too cold!