Zhangye Travel Guide 2027: Rainbow Mountains, Temples, Silk Road Trains

This Zhangye travel guide is for a first visit. Zhangye is a small city in Gansu on the old Silk Road, about three hours by bullet train west of Lanzhou. It sits between Lanzhou and Dunhuang, so most travellers stop here for a night or two on the way west. If you start further east, read our Lanzhou travel guide first.

How many days do you need in Zhangye?

Plan two nights, which gives you one and a half days. Add a third night if you want Mati Temple or the Pingshanhu Grand Canyon too.

A two-night stay fits the main sights:

• Day 1: Arrive by train in the morning. Visit the Great Buddha Temple in the city. In the afternoon, drive 40 km west to the Colorful Danxia for the late light. Drive back after sunset for dinner.
• Day 2: Go back to the Danxia at a different time of day, or drive to Mati Temple or the Pingshanhu Grand Canyon.
• Day 3: Take a train west to Jiayuguan and Dunhuang, or back east to Lanzhou or Xining.

May, June and September are the best months. Average highs are about 24 to 28 °C. July is the hottest month, at about 30 °C. The air is very dry all year, and even July, the wettest month, gets under 30 mm of rain. By October, nights drop to near freezing. Winter nights are about -13 to -16 °C. Spring is often windy, so pack a windproof layer.

Try to avoid the 2027 national holiday weeks, when sights are usually crowded:

• Spring Festival: 5 to 13 February
• Labour Day: 1 to 5 May
• National Day: 1 to 7 October

How do you visit the Zhangye Danxia rainbow mountains?

The Colorful Danxia park is about 40 km west of the city, so go by car or taxi. Time your visit for the late afternoon, when the low sun brings out the colours.

"Danxia" means hills of layered red and coloured sandstone. Here the layers are purple-red, grey-green, yellow-green and grey-black. They were laid down 135 to 65 million years ago, then lifted and carved by water and wind. The area is part of a UNESCO Global Geopark, named in 2020. Zhang Yimou filmed parts of "The Great Wall" here.

The park covers 50 square kilometres, but the main visitor area is only about 4. It has seven viewing platforms. They include Colorful Cloud Sea and one simply called the Best Photography Point. Pick two or three platforms, not all seven, and give the light time to change. For camera tips, see our Zhangye Danxia photography guide.

Opening hours follow sunrise and sunset, so they change with the seasons:

• From 1 November to the end of February: 08:30 to 17:00.
• In September and October: 06:30 to 18:00.
• Ticket sales run the same hours.
• For the longer "deep tour" visit, last entry is one hour before closing.

The park posts changes on its official WeChat account. Check it the day before and on the morning of your visit. The enquiry phone is +86 936 5623666. Carry your passport on the day.

What else is there to do in Zhangye?

The Great Buddha Temple is the main sight in the city. Mati Temple and the Pingshanhu Grand Canyon make good day trips by car.

Great Buddha Temple. The temple stands at 28 Minzhu West Street in the old city. It dates from the Western Xia period and holds Asia's largest indoor reclining Buddha, made of clay over a wooden frame. The site also has a Ming-dynasty pagoda, bell and drum towers, and a Qing-dynasty guild hall. Listed hours are 07:00 to 18:30. City buses 1, 4, 5, 18 and 23 stop nearby.

Mati Temple Grottoes. These cave temples are cut into cliffs about 65 km south of the city, in the foothills of the Qilian Mountains. The first caves were made over 1,600 years ago. There are more than 70 caves in seven groups. Check opening hours before you go.

Pingshanhu Grand Canyon. This red sandstone canyon lies in the desert about 56 km from the city. It opened to visitors in 2014. You can walk along the ridges or down into the canyon floor. Check opening hours before you go.

Danxiakou. This new-built culture town sits at the foot of the Colorful Danxia. It has food stalls, guesthouses and craft workshops. It is handy for dinner after sunset.

How do you get to Zhangye and on along the Silk Road?

Arrive by bullet train at Zhangye West, the high-speed station. Zhangye Station has slower trains.

On a sample Friday in November, bullet trains ran on these routes:

• From Lanzhou West: about three hours, with 12 trains.
• From Xining: about two hours.
• To Jiayuguan South: about an hour and a half or less.
• To Dunhuang: only two bullet trains, both in the afternoon, taking about four to four and a half hours. One slow overnight train from Zhangye Station takes about six hours.
• From Xi'an North: a few direct trains of about six hours, or change in Lanzhou.

Book on 12306, the official China Railway site with your passport. For account set-up, see 12306 tickets for foreigners.

Heading west, the next big stop is Dunhuang for the Mogao Caves. Heading south-east, Xining is the base for Qinghai Lake. Set up Alipay for foreigners before you fly.

Where should you stay in Zhangye?

Stay in the city centre near the Great Buddha Temple, or at Danxiakou at the foot of the Danxia.

The city centre suits most people. You can walk to the temple and to restaurants. Danxiakou suits photographers who want sunset and sunrise at the park without the drive back.

Trips that include this

• Silk Road, 10 days: Xi'an, Lanzhou, Zhangye, Jiayuguan and Dunhuang. You take a morning train from Lanzhou, see the Danxia in the late light, and move on to Jiayuguan the next day.
• First-time China, 9 days and Grand China, 14 days: Zhangye can be added after Xi'an, via Lanzhou, on request.
• See all our China tours for more ideas.

LocalKey plans private trips for your own party only, planned, booked and backed. There are two levels under private China tours: Independent and Private Guided. On Independent, a local guide, a car and driver, and an airport pickup are optional add-ons on the days you choose. A car and driver makes the Danxia and Mati Temple easy. Your planner can book your trains with you.

Planning the Silk Road? Start a custom route.