Qinghai: Heidu & Yanzhi Mountain, July 2025

Just opposite the Lenghu Oil Base is the lonely and desolate black mountain desert of Heidu Mountain 黑独山.  It resembles a majestic black and white Chinese ink painting spread out in the brown Gobi Desert and has only recently been developed (in 2025) into a tourist site.  I was told that the black yadan here is not as black as it used to be.  Hopefully, with most of the area now roped off, the “blackness” of the mountain will slowly reappear.  This unique black undulating yadan is created from minerals such as iron and manganese.  While Eboliang is “Mars on Earth”, Heidu Mountain, covered with black sand and gravel, is known as “Moon on Earth”.  About 3,000 meters above sea level is the Heidu Mountain main peak where you can overlook the entire Mangya Basin with a wide view.  The best time for photos here is between 4pm and 6pm when the light is soft.  Cloudy days are especially suitable for photography here.  Inside the black and grey Heidu Mountain 黑独山 is the beautiful pinkish Rainbow Mountain or Yanzhi Mountain 胭脂山 which literally means “Rouge Mountain”.   The area is mainly composed of sand and stone of different colors that have been polished by wind and sand for centuries forming a “sand waterfall” phenomenon.

 

Lenghu Star of Yadan 冷湖雅丹之星酒店