Yadan Devil City | A masterpiece of nature in the great Northwest

It is an important part of the Dunhuang World Geopark in China, and also one of the three most beautiful Yadan landforms in China. The Dunhuang Yadan landforms are the largest in scale, most mature in geological morphology, and most valuable for viewing among all Yadan landform communities found in the world so far. Due to the fragmented and bizarre terrain, it easily gives rise to the psychological suggestion of an 'ancient city' and the atmosphere of ruins. The Yadan landforms are unpredictable and can be described as having a myriad of shapes. According to research, the 'seventy-two changes' involve complex transformation relationships, such as a square hill possibly turning into a pyramid or a flat-topped tower, while the serrated Yadan may be the 'prototype' of the conical or whaleback Yadan. This place is the Silk Road's western exit from Dunhuang, leading to the northern and central routes of the Western Regions, and it is also a place filled with magical charm. It is said that the fierce wind cuts like a knife, and the drizzle stabs like a sword; the long process of wind erosion has endowed it with a hellish landscape. Entering Yadan is like entering a medieval castle, with inner walls, streets, buildings, squares, sculptures, and everything else you would expect, as if designed by a masterful designer, meticulously laid out, with the only absence being any plants. In the sea of sharpened stones and sand, there stand clay statues of varying heights, scattered in an orderly fashion, each with a unique shape. 📍Address: 80 kilometers northwest of Dunhuang city on the Gobi desert 🎫Ticket: Ticket 50, shuttle bus 70 yuan, off-road vehicle 500 yuan. Please note that off-road vehicle tickets must be purchased at the ticket office. 👉How to play: After entering the gate of the scenic area, immediately board the scenic area shuttle bus (about one every 15 minutes during the off-peak season), which will take you to four viewing points. ✅Best time to visit The Yadan landforms are too stark under strong light and appear dead white, so the best time to visit is during sunset. It is recommended to enter the scenic area 1-2 hours before sunset (make sure to ask if it is the sunset shift), so that there is enough time at each stop. ✅Suggested duration of visit: Depends on the time of entry, normally 1-2 hours is sufficient. ✅Although there is no highway to the scenic area, the road is straight with few cars, and the navigation estimates a two and a half hour drive, it actually takes less than 2 hours to arrive. Pay attention to speed measurements in several sections. ✅After leaving Dunhuang or Aksai, it is a desolate no-man's land, so it is advised to fill up on gas in advance. ✅Along the way, you will pass by the ancient city of Dunhuang and the Yumen Pass ruins.