Stand on the Central Square of Ganzhou District and the Drum Tower rises above you, its timbered tiers watching over the streets that once carried Silk Road traffic west. Zhangye is an oasis city in the Hexi Corridor, and much of what makes it worth a stop sits close together in the old urban core.
This guide suits travellers moving along the Lanzhou–Xinjiang corridor who want a compact city of temples, a pagoda and a museum, plus two very different geological parks and a cliffside temple complex outside town. It covers the sights within the city first, then the day trips, then how to string them together if your time is short.
Top things to do in Zhangye
1. Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park (Qicai Danxia)
Layers of rock in contrasting colours rise into mountains, and the park is one of the highlights of Gansu province. Movement inside is restricted to four dedicated wooden structures and staircases, with a frequent shuttle running between the viewing spots.
It is heavily commercialised, with shops, megaphones and loudspeakers, so go in expecting that rather than solitude. Buses leave Zhangye Bus Station at ¥15 each way, the first at 07:45 and the last returning from the North Gate Parking Lot at 18:30, though the return driver waits for a critical mass of passengers regardless of the sign. If you register your fingerprints at a scanner at one of the stops, you can re-enter the next morning before 08:00 for only the cost of the shuttle bus.
2. Mati Si Temple
Temples and grottoes are carved into a cliff face across several zones spread over several kilometres. Several can be visited and climbed through, in some cases via tight vertical passageways using small footholds and handholds. Most of the statues were heavily damaged in the 1960s, but the buildings and passageways are in good shape.
Beyond the temple you can take a two-hour horse tour through the surrounding landscape for ¥150–200, or hike instead. The site is open 08:00–18:00 and entry is ¥73.
3. Dafo Temple
This temple holds the largest wooden indoor reclining Buddha in China, 34.5 m long and 7.5 m high, and is the reputed birthplace of the Mongol emperor Kublai Khan. It is open 8:30–18:00, entry ¥40, or ¥20 for students.
Combine it with the Zhangye Shanxi Guild Hall, which stands near the temple.
4. Muto-ji Temple
The Wooden Pagoda Temple is one of the Five Elements Pagodas in Zhangye. The existing wooden pagoda was rebuilt in 1926, stands 32.8 m high, and has nine levels on eight sides, each with a wood-carved dragon head holding a pearl and a wind chime below. You can climb the stairs, and each floor has a cloister and guardrail; from the top floor railing you can look out over the city.
It sits on Muta Lane in Ganzhou District, open 08:30–18:00 in summer and 09:00–17:00 in winter, with entry at ¥25.
5. Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park (Binggou Danxia)
Less colourful than Qicai Danxia, this section features columns of red rock with some white bands, set in two valleys. A network of trails reaches viewpoints in and around both valleys.
Take a bus from Zhangye Bus Station. Entry is ¥40 plus a ¥20 bus fee.
6. Zhangye Drum Tower
Built in the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty, the tower has a huge drum hanging upstairs, once used to report the time and convey warnings, and the top gives an excellent view of the city. It stands in the Central Square of Ganzhou District and is free to visit, open 08:00–18:00.
As of June 2026 it is open but wrapped in a large canvas for renovations, so check what you will actually be able to see before making the trip.
7. Pingshanhu Grand Canyon
A canyon reached by bus from the East Bus Station. Entry is ¥130, which includes the bus from the entrance to the site.
It is a substantial outing, so set aside a good part of the day rather than slotting it between city sights.
8. Heihe Wetland Park
A wetland habitat for birds and other wild animals, with bird-watching towers, in the suburbs of Ganzhou District. It is open 07:00–18:00 and entry is ¥30.
Come in the morning if bird-watching is the point of the visit.
9. Zhangye Museum
A small history and culture museum, and a useful stop if you can read Chinese, since almost none of the displays are in English. It is free and open 8:30–18:00.
Treat it as a rainy-day or half-hour filler rather than the centrepiece of a day.
10. Zhangye Shanxi Guild Hall
A guild hall built by Shanxi merchants living in Zhangye during the Qing Dynasty, near Dafo Temple. It is free and normally open 8:00–17:30.
It was closed for renovations as of June 2026, so confirm before planning around it.
11. Nanhu Park
Also known as South Lake Ecological Botanical Garden, this is a cultural landscape and botanical garden. It works well as an unhurried wander rather than a set-piece sight.
12. Blackwater National site
Ancient cultural sites of the Neolithic period, 12.5 km northwest of Zhangye. This is for travellers with a specific interest in archaeology rather than a general sightseeing stop.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Dafo Temple when it opens, then walk to the nearby Zhangye Shanxi Guild Hall if it has reopened. Continue to Muto-ji Temple and climb to the top floor for the view over the city, then cross to the Zhangye Drum Tower in the Central Square of Ganzhou District.
Afternoon: Take the bus from Zhangye Bus Station to Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park (Qicai Danxia), riding the shuttle between the four wooden viewing structures. Note the last bus returns from the North Gate Parking Lot at 18:30 and will not leave until enough passengers have gathered.
Evening: Return to the city. If you registered your fingerprints at a scanner in the park, you can re-enter the next morning before 08:00 for only the cost of the shuttle bus, which makes an early second visit possible before you leave Zhangye.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park without a car?
Take a bus from Zhangye Bus Station, which costs ¥15 each way. The first bus departs at 07:45, and the last bus returns from the North Gate Parking Lot at 18:30, though the return driver waits for a critical mass of passengers regardless of what the sign says.
Can I visit the park more than once on the same ticket?
Yes, if you register your fingerprints at a scanner at one of the stops inside the park. You can then re-enter the next morning before 08:00 for only the cost of the park shuttle bus.
Which sights in the city are free?
The Zhangye Drum Tower, the Zhangye Shanxi Guild Hall and the Zhangye Museum are all free. The Drum Tower was open but wrapped in canvas for renovations as of June 2026, and the guild hall was closed for renovations as of the same date.
Is the Zhangye Museum worth visiting if I do not read Chinese?
Almost none of the displays are in English, so the museum is of limited use without Chinese. It is free and open 8:30–18:00 if you want to stop in regardless.
Decide which of the two Danxia parks and which of the city temples matter most to you, check the current renovation status of the Drum Tower and the Shanxi Guild Hall, and build your days around the bus timings.