Yadan National Geological Park

Yardangs, meaning steep small hills in Uygur, are a special wind-eroded landform in arid areas. About 85 kilometers west of Yumenguan is a typical formation of Yardangs stretching 25 kilometers from north to south and about two kilometers from east to west. Since the little hills look like buildings, the place is referred to as the Yardang Abode of Demons by local people. The heights of the hills are between five and more than 20 meters and their widths and lengths vary from a few dozen to several hundred meters. The place looks like a walled medieval city with massive buildings, churches, squares, streets, and beautiful sculptures or a museum of architectural art where you can find small copies of the world's best structures such as Beijing's Temple of Heaven, Tibet's Potala Palace, Egypt's pyramids and sphinxes, Mongolian yurts, and mosques in the Arab world. In addition, you will find with delight other works of art by Nature such as sculptures of lions, caravans trekking along the Silk Road turtles emerging from the sea.