Danxia landform's rock walls and cliffs are formed of red sandstone

Danxia landform's rock walls and cliffs are formed of red sandstone and conglomerate. Research shows that about 100 million years ago, there used to be a huge inland basin here. Water carried silt from the surrounding mountains to the basin. As the result of global high temperatures the basin dried up and in these arid conditions the sediment oxidized and turned rust color. Then some 70 million years ago a 3,700-meter-thick red-colored layer formed on the basin, known as the chalk bed. On the top, there was a 1,300-meter-thick solid layer, i.e., layer of Cretaceous system, from which the peaks of Danxia Mountain gradually took shape. Maybe you can go to Mount Danxia when you go to Guangzhou for Canton Fair 2013 .

Since 30 million years ago, orogenic movement has lifted the whole basin many times. Water flowing down through fissures cut through and eroded the sedimentary rock, the slope broke and receded, leaving behind the red fragmentary rocks we see now----Danxia landforms. According to experts, orogenic movement is still going on in the Danxia Mountain area, with an average rise of 0.87 meter every 10,000 years over the last 500,000 years. Beautiful Danxia Mountain is still growing.
There are three main peaks in the mountain area. 'The Old Man', the highest peak, offers you the best spot for sunrise watching. The most peculiar rock is the 'Yangyuan Rock', a pillar that stands up into the sky, which represents masculinity. Many pilgrims travel here to worship the rock hoping that the god will bring them a son.