Dunhuang Yadan: The Ghost Town of Wind-Carved Rocks (2026)

Dunhuang Yadan: The Ghost Town of Wind-Carved Rocks

About 180 kilometers northwest of Dunhuang lies one of China's most otherworldly landscapes: the Dunhuang Yadan National Geopark, a vast field of wind-carved rock formations that locals call the "Devil City" (魔鬼城). Millions of years of wind and sand have sculpted the soft lakebed sediments into towers, walls, ships and animals — a silent stone city that shifts with the light, and howls when the wind blows through its corridors. It is the classic stop on the western Dunhuang loop, usually paired with the Jade Gate Pass and the Great Wall beacon.

Park access and tour details verified August 2026.

What Is a Yadan?

Yadan (also written "yardang") is the geological term for these wind-eroded landforms. The process: ancient lake sediments were compressed into flat layers of mudstone and sandstone; as the lake dried, the wind began to scour channels along the weak points; over millions of years the softer material was stripped away, leaving parallel ridges and towers standing like the ruins of a city. When the wind blows through the corridors between them, it produces a low howling sound — the source of the "Devil City" name.

What to See and Do

• The scenic road — a loop road takes visitors past the most dramatic formations; buses stop at the key viewpoints
• The named rocks — formations resembling a lion, a peacock, a fleet of ships and a "city gate" are the photo highlights
• Sunset — the rocks turn gold and then silhouette in the desert dusk; sunset tours are the most popular
• Stargazing — far from city lights, the night sky over Yadan is spectacular; some tours offer after-dark viewing
• Stay on the road — the ground between formations is fragile and protected; viewing is from the road and designated stops only

Practical Information

• Getting there — about 3 hours by car from Dunhuang; most visitors join the "West Line" day tour (Jade Gate Pass + Yadan, sometimes + the Great Wall beacon)
• Best time — May–October; go for sunset or late afternoon when the light is dramatic
• What to bring — water, sun protection and warm layers (desert evenings cool fast); the park has basic facilities
• Combine with — pair with the Jade Gate Pass and Mingsha Mountain/Crescent Lake for a complete Dunhuang western circuit; the Mogao Caves are the other half of the Dunhuang day