Qinghai: Wusute Yadan & Eboliang, July 2025

Wusute Yadan Geopark 乌素特水上雅丹地质公园, or simply Water Yadan Park, is home to the surreal and rare landscape of wind-eroded rocks, known as yadans, in an aquatic setting that is Yahu Lake.  Located in the northwest of the Qaidam Baisn, it covers an area of 21,000 sq km and is the earliest water yadan landscape discovered in the world.  There was originally no water here until a mountain torrent broke out and the Nalenggele River chianged its course and flooded the yadan landform.  The blue lake is dotted with these yadan mounds some 10-25 meters high with the highest being 50 meters high.  Some resemble animals, while others look like towering castles.  In the summer and fall, many water birds and wild ducks come here and locals call this place “Hundred Birds and Thousand Islands Lake”.  You can take a 4×4 (RMB600) further in to see the “Eye of the Yadan” and escape the crowds which I find totally worth while.  It is like landing on another planet!

 

Wusute Yadan Hotel 乌素特雅丹大酒店 inside the scenic area

Eboliang 俄博梁, located in the northwest part of Qaidam Basin and surrounded by the uninhabited Gobi Desert, is said to be “the most Mars-like place on Earth.”  It is the largest, most unique, and most representative yadan landform group in China.  Formed by wind erosion over the millenia, the mounds and gullies of various shapes and sizes truly bring you to an alien world.  Far from urban light pollution, this otherworldly landscape, reminiscent of Mars, is an ideal place for stargazing at night.  This place reminds me of Gharameel in AlUla of Saudi Arabia.  To get to Eboliang, one must pass thru the Mars No.1 Highway 火星一号公路, a gravel highway designed for tourism with a total length of 95 km connecting National Highway G315 and Provincial Highway 210.  The highway passes through Yadan Wind Erosion Forest, Water Yadan Scenic Area, and Eboliang Yadan, showing a unique landform like the surface of Mars.  Mars No. 1 Highway is a shortcut from Lenghu Town to National Highway G315 and the road leading to the famous Mars Camp, the first Mars simulation base in China.  The Mars simulation camp, covering more than 5 hectares, offers fully enclosed Mars space capsules with sleeping cabins, command decks, space suits, and space meals as well as space science education.  You can get a sense of what living on Mars in the future may be like.  If you are not planning to experience the Mars Camp package, you can simply check in here and rent the electronic fence system to enter the Eboliang Devil Yadan Group.

Eboliang 俄博梁

Eboliang 俄博梁

Eboliang 俄博梁

Eboliang 俄博梁