Yinma Canyon
By donkey cart.
Tracylxh — CC BY-SA 4.0 · watarukawa — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Liuxingy — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Liuxingy — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Liuxingy — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Liuxingy — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Liuxingy — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Liuxingy — CC BY-SA 4.0
A forest of rock pillars and cliffs rising at a bend of the Yellow River in Jingtai County, two to two and a half hours' drive north-east of Lanzhou; it has been a national geopark since January 2004 and covers about 50 square kilometres, some 10 of them filled with pillars. It formed from layers of sand and gravel laid down about 2.1 million years ago, which earth movements raised and rain and rockfalls carved into pillars mostly between 80 and 100 metres tall, and many Chinese films and television series have been shot between its walls. A visit begins on a winding mountain road that drops from the ridge to Longwan village on the riverbank; from there donkey carts head into the narrow Yinma Canyon between the towering pillars, and on the river there are rides on traditional rafts made of inflated sheepskins, an old way of crossing the Yellow River. The entrance ticket is CNY 40 and the transport package CNY 68, covering the ridge-road bus, the Longwan electric cart and the river boat; a donkey cart in the canyon costs CNY 100 per cart for up to three people, the canyon electric car CNY 30 per person and a sheepskin raft CNY 180 for up to three, per the scenic area's notice of June 2026. Spring and autumn are the best seasons, and the weather in these uplands changes fast, so bring warm layers and enough water.
By donkey cart.
On the Yellow River.
On a river bend.
Longwan Village, Zhongquan Town, Jingtai County, Baiyin, Gansu
By car or on a day tour from Lanzhou, about two to two and a half hours each way; leave early, as the visit takes most of the day, per visitor guides.
The entrance ticket is CNY 40 and the transport package CNY 68, while the donkey cart in Yinma Canyon and the sheepskin raft on the river are paid separately, per the scenic area's June 2026 notice.