Road Trip Through Mars-like Landscapes｜This Zhangye Route Makes Me Want to Burn My Driver's License!

Girls! I discovered a spectacular sight in Gansu that's even more vibrant than rainbow candies🌈. Driving through the colorful Danxia landform, I almost mistook the gas pedal for the brake! This super detailed guide even tells you what grade of gasoline to fill up with～ 🗺️Self-Driving Cheatsheet ▪️Depart from Lanzhou via the Lianhuo Expressway! After passing Shandan Horse Ranch, switch to G30. You might encounter wild camels along the way🐫. ▪️Rent an SUV! Sedans will break down on the last 10 km of bumpy roads. ▪️Important👉🏻Set your navigation to "North Entrance Parking Lot"! Arrive at 4pm to snag a shaded parking spot, and bring your own sunshade to protect against the 60℃ scorching ground. 🌅Itinerary D1: Lanzhou → Zhangye (5h drive) ▪️Must-try at the service area: Wuwei Santao Che (flour noodles + braised meat + red date tea) ▪️Stay overnight at Danxia Pearl Hotel! Includes VIP access tickets + breakfast coupons. D2: Exploring All Danxia Landforms 3pm: Head to the North Entrance👉🏻Take the shuttle bus directly to Platform 2, Xian Yuan Tai. 4:30pm: Move to Platform 1, Yun Hai Tai, to capture the iconic S-curve (bring a wide-angle lens!). 6pm: Rush to Platform 4, Hong Xia Tai, for the best sunset view (bring a folding stool!). 8pm: Return for dinner at a local restaurant serving roasted lamb on a heated kang bed, paired with apricot juice to cut through the richness. 📸Photo Tips 1️⃣Xian Yuan Tai Vantage Point: Use the 0.5x wide-angle lens on your phone to capture your skirt flowing over the rainbow-colored terrain. 2️⃣Overlooking the Highway from Yun Hai Tai: Take continuous shots as the shuttle bus passes by, capturing the silky smooth flow of traffic. 3️⃣Sunset at Hong Xia Tai: Hold your ticket to create a silhouette against the setting sun, capturing the light and shadow interplay like a Martian sunset. ⚠️Things to Avoid 1️⃣Don't rent the scenic spot audio guide! Scanning the QR code to listen to the "Hexi Corridor" documentary is more immersive. 2️⃣Hot air balloons are weather-dependent! Check the on-site weather forecast, which is more accurate than apps. 3️⃣Think twice about night tour tickets! The light show resembles KTV disco lights. Save your money for delicious lamb dishes. 🎒Packing List ▪️Hiking boots + ice sleeves: The ground temperature is hot enough to fry an egg🥵. ▪️Windproof face mask: The afternoon winds can whip sand onto your face. ▪️Tripod: Essential for time-lapse photography! Handheld shots during the golden 20 minutes of sunset are prone to blurring. 🍜Foodie Radar ▫️A restaurant near the North Gate: The stir-fried lamb offal with steamed buns is incredibly fragrant. Ask the chef for extra cumin. ▫️Beef Noodle Restaurant in a Zhangye alley: A heartwarming bowl for only ¥7. Add chili oil for an extra kick. ▫️Road trip must-buy: Linze small dates! They're half the price at service areas compared to the city. As the car climbed up to Hong Xia Tai, the entire mountain range blazed under the setting sun, instantly making me forget all the aches and pains! Bring 256G of memory; even the restroom walls here are rainbow-colored～ Tag your co-pilot photographer, and lock in this unconventional Mid-Autumn Festival travel destination!