Visitors explore China’s Alien Valley in astronaut suits, where colourful rock formations and dramatic canyons create a landscape that looks like another planet.
It looks like a scene from a science fiction film. Yet this dramatic landscape is real.
On July 6th, visitors dressed in astronaut suits explored Zhangye Alien Valley Scenic Area, in Gansu Province, turning a walk through ancient rock formations into an “interstellar” adventure. Against a backdrop of towering cliffs, winding canyons and colourful ridges, many stopped to pose for photos that looked as if they had been taken on another planet.
The park sits on the northern foothills of the Qilian Mountains. Millions of years of tectonic movement, wind and water shaped its rugged terrain, leaving behind striking layers of red, grey and golden rock. As sunlight shifts throughout the day, the landscape takes on an even more surreal appearance.
The experience goes beyond the scenery. Visitors can drive through much of the park rather than follow fixed sightseeing routes, while designated areas allow drone photography. These features have made Alien Valley especially popular with road-trippers, photographers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Part of the Zhangye National Geopark, Alien Valley includes themed areas such as Mars Valley and Jupiter Valley. Together, they create a landscape where geology meets imagination. For many visitors, it is the closest they will come to walking on another planet—without ever leaving Earth.
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