A Chinese Canyon Rivaling America's Antelope Canyon, Right in Yan'an, Shaanxi - No Less Stunning
"China's geographical wonders" are like a bottomless pit; we can never imagine what remains undiscovered. Recently, it is said that a "Chinese version of Antelope Canyon" has appeared in Yan'an, Shaanxi. This place was discovered in 2017 by Beijing geological photography enthusiasts while photographing the loess landforms, and then widely spread through Weibo, WeChat, and other media. It is said to be comparable to America's Antelope Canyon.
The scenic area is officially called Shaanxi Ganquan Yucha Grand Canyon, located in the northwestern part of Ganquan County, Shaanxi Province. It still retains its original appearance and has not been developed. Apart from holidays, some photography enthusiasts and lovers of natural wonders also visit here on regular days. Interestingly, it lies on the same latitude as Antelope Canyon in Arizona, USA. Perhaps this is fate—a destined connection that makes them so similar. It is said that a powerful earthquake hundreds of millions of years ago created a large crack in the yellow earth. After millions of years of heavy rain, this winding and meandering canyon was formed, making one marvel at the incredible craftsmanship of nature. The scenic area consists of Baihua Gully, Huabao Gully, Longba Gully, Mudan Gully, and Baizhou Line. Currently, the scenic area is free, but you need to make a reservation in advance through the official account on the WeChat public platform, and you only need to pay a shuttle bus fee of 70 yuan.
Currently, two routes are open in the scenic area: Mudan Gully and Huashu Gully. The landscape and route length of Huashu Gully are better. If time is tight, visiting Baihua Gully is sufficient. In Huashu Gully, the best time is from 11:30 to 14:30 each day, three hours when the sunlight is brightest and most abundant. Under the sunlight, the cracks in the canyon reveal smooth, wavy curves in vivid and colorful hues. The sunlight miraculously changes the colors of the rocks in the canyon, creating light and shadow that captivate photographers.
As you walk through the canyon, the path is not wide, allowing you to closely observe the textures of the rocks on both sides. Light, shadow, and colors change over time, from dark red to reddish-brown. The color of the rocks gradually shifts with the sun's rays, with the most intense areas showing a distinct red. Unlike Antelope Canyon in the US, the Yucha Grand Canyon, due to its humid air, produces a large amount of moss. Amidst the riot of colors, green moss dots the scene, and under the sunlight, it sparkles like emeralds.
In recent years, many natural wonders in China have attracted attention, with unique landforms being discovered and explored. It makes one sigh with emotion at the vastness and richness of our country's land, with diverse and unique natural scenery. Visitors who wish to come here are advised to bring photography equipment with higher pixel quality, as the photos taken here are truly beautiful.
However, the narrow paths are not suitable for setting up tripods or carrying large backpacks. The road to the scenic area is not developed, so the distance from the shuttle bus stop to the scenic spots can be quite far, with some sections being rugged mountain roads. But this helps preserve the pristine and original appearance of the scenic area.
