Atlas of China
Mount Danxia 丹霞山Dānxiá Shān
Red sandstone cliffs and flat-topped peaks that gave the 'Danxia' landform its name
- Best time
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Time needed
- 1–2 days
- Days to budget
- 1½ days
- Stay in
- Shaoguan
- Region
- Guangdong
- Type
- Nature
- Listed as
- 5A scenic area, National heritage site, UNESCO World Heritage
Why go to Mount Danxia
Mount Danxia is the place that gave its name to the 'Danxia landform': flat-topped peaks, sheer red cliffs and narrow ravines carved from Cretaceous red sandstone and conglomerate. It forms part of the China Danxia World Heritage Site, listed in 2010, and is also a UNESCO Global Geopark and a 5A scenic area. Hiking trails, a river cruise and cliffside temples make it an easy outdoor trip from Guangzhou.
The story
Geologists took the name 'Danxia', literally 'rosy clouds', from this mountain in the 20th century and now use it worldwide for red-bed landscapes. The cliffs around Zhanglao Peak also carry temples and rock inscriptions from the Northern Song to the Republican era.
What to see at Mount Danxia
- Yangyuan Stone 阳元石: A tall natural column of red conglomerate standing on its own hillside, the park's best-known landmark and a symbol of the Danxia landform.
- Zhanglao Peak 长老峰: The oldest and most-visited area, with stepped trails and viewpoints over the red cliffs and the Jinjiang River below. Yinyuan Stone, the park's other famous rock formation, is in this area.
- Biechuan Temple 别传寺: A Buddhist temple set in the cliffs below Zhanglao Peak. The cliffs here carry rock inscriptions from the Northern Song to the Republican era, a national heritage site listed in 2013.
- Jinjiang River 锦江: The river that threads the park; boat or raft trips drift between cliffs and give a different angle on the sandstone walls.
- Xianglong Lake 翔龙湖: A lake and wetland area beside the mountain, good for a gentler walk with views of the peaks.
How to visit Mount Danxia
Most visitors do Yangyuan Stone and Zhanglao Peak in a long day, linking sights by the park's buses, and add a river cruise if time allows. With half a day, choose one peak; with two days you can add the river and the quieter trails and sleep close to the park.
How to get to Mount Danxia
Take a high-speed train from Guangzhou South to Shaoguan (about 1 hour), then a direct tourist bus from Shaoguan or Shaoguan East station to the park's outer gate. Renhua is roughly 45 km, about an hour, by road north-east of Shaoguan city.
Where to stay
Stay in the villages and guesthouses just outside the park gates, near Yangyuan Stone or Zhanglao Peak, for an early start on the trails. Shaoguan city has more choice and rail links.
What to eat
- Renhua white-hair tea 仁化白毛茶: A green tea from Hongshan town in Renhua, nationally protected as a geographical indication, picked from a local tea variety.
- Cured pork and sausage claypot rice 腊味煲仔饭: Rice cooked in a clay pot topped with cured meats, a northern Guangdong comfort dish found around the park.
- Stuffed tofu 酿豆腐: Tofu squares filled with seasoned minced pork and fish, a Hakka dish common across northern Guangdong.
Tips for visiting Mount Danxia
- Book tickets in advance through official or ticketing-platform channels in busy periods, and bring your passport for ticket checks; weekends and holidays are busiest.
- Steps on Zhanglao Peak are steep and slippery after rain; bring good shoes, water and a rain layer.
- Summer is hot and humid with heavy spring rain, so spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for climbing.
Nearby
Also within 30 km: Yunlong Temple Pagoda 云龙寺塔 (20 km), Shuangfeng Fort 双峰寨 (20 km).
On the map
Open Mount Danxia on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.
Open Mount Danxia on the map