Posted 2018/11/6
In Gansu Province's city of Lanzhou, chaos and traffic congestion can be a true test of one's patience; thankfully, the city's outskirts boast some fantastic getaways. The dream-like Tianfu Sand Palace is one slightly more remote location (roughly two hours out of Lanzhou), that is well worth making the trek out for.
Construction has seriously marred two of the area's entrances, and a freeway is set to tragically blast its way along the length of the park. But even from the edges of the site, otherworldly treasures can be glimpsed: rust-orange rock formations sometimes shyly poke out of lush basin walls and sometimes proudly thrust upwards toward the sky.
In a sense, this so-called park area isn't much of a park at all, but simply an undeveloped expanse of land. There are no vendors selling snacks or beverages or hats. There are no signs. There are no bathrooms. There isn't even a parking lot.
What there is is an approximately 5 kilometer long Y-shaped valley, bordered by grassy slopes and the occasional gurgling stream. A winding pathway plods along its bottom, while many smaller side routes wait to be explored.
According to guide Zhang Yuxi, the Tianfu Sand Palace is particularly popular with women, who come to see the impressively phallic towers of rock. It seems like he's joking, but he's not. Ming Jiang refrained from commenting on the sexually charged rock shapes, noting that the site was definitely romantic in one way or another. "This is a good place to come with your girlfriend," he said dreamily. "It's so quiet."
The difficulty of finding the area has also helped keep it pristine. It is a spot which has amazingly escaped exploitation for tourism. It makes for a quiet, even meditative escape from urbanity. Although loud construction and dirt roads limit access to Tianfu Sand Palace, a significant part of the area's magic will disappear when the adjacent freeway is completed. It is a shame to see cranes and bulldozers chewing away at this incredibly unique landscape and delicate ecosystem. Hopefully most of the area will escape unscathed.
Tianfu Sand Palace is located at the Longfeng Gorge in the east of the Mount Renshou, Lanzhou, Gansu Province.To get to Tianfu Sand Palace from Lanzhou, drive along the North Hebin Road, turn right on Mo Gao Boulevard, and then head down the Gao An driveway. Tour buses from Lanzou also make the trip directly.
