It is overland tour to Mt. Wudangshan in Hubei province from Xian. Hubei province is located in mid China connecting many provinces in China by convenient transportation of railway, cruise, and flights......
Pingshanhu Grand Canyon
Pingshanhu Grand Canyon is located in Pingshanhu Mongolian Township, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, Gansu Province, about 56 kilometers from downtown Zhangye. The scenic area covers 100 square kilometers, with an altitude ranging from 1500 to 2550 meters. Pingshanhu Grand Canyon is a national 4A-level scenic area integrating canyon exploration, geological research, ethnic customs, and off-road driving experiences.
The geological structure of Pingshanhu Grand Canyon belongs to the red bed landform,
which refers to the "red sandstone and conglomerate" deposited from the Mesozoic Jurassic to the Cenozoic Tertiary periods, dating back 180 to 240 million years. The canyon is characterized by flowing streams and gullies, with low and gentle mountains against a backdrop of sandstone and gravel hills. The main colors are red, white, and ochre, with a slightly somber hue. The mountains are mostly conical or columnar in shape, with unique forms. The canyon features rock strata from the Cambrian to the Cenozoic eras, clearly layered and varied in color, containing representative fossils from each geological period. Pingshanhu is known as a "living textbook of geological history" and is a geological scenic area integrating Danxia landforms, Yardang landforms, and canyon wonders. Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon is one of the three major Danxia scenic areas in Zhangye. Zhangye City has a continental climate, characterized by dryness, with an average annual temperature of 6℃. January is the coldest month, and July is the hottest. The best time to visit is from June to September. It is characterized by abundant sunshine, large temperature differences, short, hot summers, long, cold winters, and uneven rainfall.
Pingshanhu scenic area is divided into two parts: the viewing platform and the canyon itself. Viewing Platform No. 1 is the main viewing platform and has four smaller viewing points: Nine Dragons Converging into the Sea, General Stone, Divine Turtle Asking the Beast, and Lovers' Peak. The southeastern part of the Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon Scenic Area is the Dongda Mountain Natural Landscape Belt, which is 3,633 meters above sea level. It is about 7 kilometers wide from north to south and about 9 kilometers long from east to west, with a forest area of 32,000 mu. The main tree species are Qinghai spruce, Qilian juniper, and poplar, and there are 98 species of plants from 26 families. There are also more than 80 species of national second-class protected animals such as Gansu red deer, blue sheep, dark-bellied snowcock, goitered gazelle, and argali sheep, as well as birds.
Ping Shan Hu Lake Grand Canyon Scenic Spots:
Nine Dragons Converging at the Sea:
From the No. 1 viewing platform of Ping Shan Lake Grand Canyon, the entire canyon unfolds before you. The magnificent scenery resembles dragons returning, emerging from the sea, descending, rising, flying, lying, hiding, and soaring, leading a group of dragons to converge at the sea, hence the name "Nine Dragons Converging at the Sea."
General Stone:
On the west side of Ping Shan Lake Grand Canyon, there is a castle-like mountain. On the north side of the mountain, there is a human-shaped stone pillar, resembling a general in battle robes standing there overlooking the majestic Danxia landform, hence the name "General Stone."
Divine Turtle Asking for Longevity:
Divine Turtle Asking for Longevity (Old Age Companionship) is the most representative strange peak in Zhangye Ping Shan Lake Grand Canyon Scenic Area. Due to its unique shape, it offers different visual effects when viewed from different angles, and people have given it various names. The undulating mountain terrain here resembles a divine tortoise gazing at the sky, asking for longevity—a lifelike and vivid image. At dawn or dusk, the tortoise appears and disappears, incredibly realistic, hence the name "Divine Tortoise Asking for Longevity."
Lovers' Peaks:
Like a pair of lovers deeply in love, the Lovers' Peaks embrace tightly, one higher than the other. The heads of the lovers are particularly expressive, gazing at each other, hence the name "Lovers' Peaks."
A Narrow Sky:
The "A Narrow Sky" landform is most typical in the Ping Shan Lake Grand Canyon. Within the canyon, there is a very narrow section with a unique landscape, also known as "A Narrow Sky." Inside the canyon, looking up, one can only see a very narrow sliver of sky. In some places, the two walls are so steep that the sun and moon are invisible except at midday; in other places, the width varies, and the shape of the sky presents various forms; in some places, hanging rocks appear precariously, as if about to collapse. Legend has it that this is the ancient Taoist site for guiding people to ascension to heaven, also known as "Crossing the Immortal Gorge."
Auspicious Sacred Tree:
A centuries-old poplar tree stands tall in the Pingtian Lake Grand Canyon. It is said that worship here is highly efficacious. Local Mongolian herders come to pay homage every year, and Tibetans from hundreds of miles away travel over mountains to offer hada (ceremonial scarves) and pray for blessings and peace. Therefore, it is known as the "Auspicious Sacred Tree."
Guanyin Peak:
Within the Pingtian Lake Grand Canyon lies a naturally sculpted wonder resembling Guanyin Bodhisattva, named "Guanyin Peak." It closely resembles a tall, standing statue of Guanyin, with a clearly defined head, lifelike facial features, and a full, proportionate body, blending the grandeur of Danxia landforms with feminine grace.
Arhat Peak:
Sculpted by wind and rain, "Arhat Peak" resembles a seated Arhat, slightly tilted, and is a representative geological wonder within the Pingtian Lake Grand Canyon scenic area.
The Golden Toad Asks the Heavens
On the slope of Pingshanhu Lake Grand Canyon, a remnant rock juts out, resembling a golden toad emerging from the hillside. Its head, eyes, mouth, and chest are remarkably lifelike, hence the name "Golden Toad Asks the Heavens." This is due to differential weathering; the hard, brown sandstone, with its strong resistance to weathering, has remained on the hillside. Legend has it that it was a golden toad played by Liu Hai, who came to Pingtian Lake to bring wealth and prosperity.
The geological structure of Pingshanhu Grand Canyon belongs to the red bed landform,
which refers to the "red sandstone and conglomerate" deposited from the Mesozoic Jurassic to the Cenozoic Tertiary periods, dating back 180 to 240 million years. The canyon is characterized by flowing streams and gullies, with low and gentle mountains against a backdrop of sandstone and gravel hills. The main colors are red, white, and ochre, with a slightly somber hue. The mountains are mostly conical or columnar in shape, with unique forms. The canyon features rock strata from the Cambrian to the Cenozoic eras, clearly layered and varied in color, containing representative fossils from each geological period. Pingshanhu is known as a "living textbook of geological history" and is a geological scenic area integrating Danxia landforms, Yardang landforms, and canyon wonders. Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon is one of the three major Danxia scenic areas in Zhangye. Zhangye City has a continental climate, characterized by dryness, with an average annual temperature of 6℃. January is the coldest month, and July is the hottest. The best time to visit is from June to September. It is characterized by abundant sunshine, large temperature differences, short, hot summers, long, cold winters, and uneven rainfall.Pingshanhu scenic area is divided into two parts: the viewing platform and the canyon itself. Viewing Platform No. 1 is the main viewing platform and has four smaller viewing points: Nine Dragons Converging into the Sea, General Stone, Divine Turtle Asking the Beast, and Lovers' Peak. The southeastern part of the Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon Scenic Area is the Dongda Mountain Natural Landscape Belt, which is 3,633 meters above sea level. It is about 7 kilometers wide from north to south and about 9 kilometers long from east to west, with a forest area of 32,000 mu. The main tree species are Qinghai spruce, Qilian juniper, and poplar, and there are 98 species of plants from 26 families. There are also more than 80 species of national second-class protected animals such as Gansu red deer, blue sheep, dark-bellied snowcock, goitered gazelle, and argali sheep, as well as birds.
Ping Shan Hu Lake Grand Canyon Scenic Spots:
Nine Dragons Converging at the Sea:
From the No. 1 viewing platform of Ping Shan Lake Grand Canyon, the entire canyon unfolds before you. The magnificent scenery resembles dragons returning, emerging from the sea, descending, rising, flying, lying, hiding, and soaring, leading a group of dragons to converge at the sea, hence the name "Nine Dragons Converging at the Sea."
General Stone:
On the west side of Ping Shan Lake Grand Canyon, there is a castle-like mountain. On the north side of the mountain, there is a human-shaped stone pillar, resembling a general in battle robes standing there overlooking the majestic Danxia landform, hence the name "General Stone."
Divine Turtle Asking for Longevity:
Divine Turtle Asking for Longevity (Old Age Companionship) is the most representative strange peak in Zhangye Ping Shan Lake Grand Canyon Scenic Area. Due to its unique shape, it offers different visual effects when viewed from different angles, and people have given it various names. The undulating mountain terrain here resembles a divine tortoise gazing at the sky, asking for longevity—a lifelike and vivid image. At dawn or dusk, the tortoise appears and disappears, incredibly realistic, hence the name "Divine Tortoise Asking for Longevity."
Lovers' Peaks:
Like a pair of lovers deeply in love, the Lovers' Peaks embrace tightly, one higher than the other. The heads of the lovers are particularly expressive, gazing at each other, hence the name "Lovers' Peaks."
A Narrow Sky:
The "A Narrow Sky" landform is most typical in the Ping Shan Lake Grand Canyon. Within the canyon, there is a very narrow section with a unique landscape, also known as "A Narrow Sky." Inside the canyon, looking up, one can only see a very narrow sliver of sky. In some places, the two walls are so steep that the sun and moon are invisible except at midday; in other places, the width varies, and the shape of the sky presents various forms; in some places, hanging rocks appear precariously, as if about to collapse. Legend has it that this is the ancient Taoist site for guiding people to ascension to heaven, also known as "Crossing the Immortal Gorge."
Auspicious Sacred Tree:
A centuries-old poplar tree stands tall in the Pingtian Lake Grand Canyon. It is said that worship here is highly efficacious. Local Mongolian herders come to pay homage every year, and Tibetans from hundreds of miles away travel over mountains to offer hada (ceremonial scarves) and pray for blessings and peace. Therefore, it is known as the "Auspicious Sacred Tree."
Guanyin Peak:
Within the Pingtian Lake Grand Canyon lies a naturally sculpted wonder resembling Guanyin Bodhisattva, named "Guanyin Peak." It closely resembles a tall, standing statue of Guanyin, with a clearly defined head, lifelike facial features, and a full, proportionate body, blending the grandeur of Danxia landforms with feminine grace.
Arhat Peak:
Sculpted by wind and rain, "Arhat Peak" resembles a seated Arhat, slightly tilted, and is a representative geological wonder within the Pingtian Lake Grand Canyon scenic area.
The Golden Toad Asks the Heavens
On the slope of Pingshanhu Lake Grand Canyon, a remnant rock juts out, resembling a golden toad emerging from the hillside. Its head, eyes, mouth, and chest are remarkably lifelike, hence the name "Golden Toad Asks the Heavens." This is due to differential weathering; the hard, brown sandstone, with its strong resistance to weathering, has remained on the hillside. Legend has it that it was a golden toad played by Liu Hai, who came to Pingtian Lake to bring wealth and prosperity.
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