Jingbian Wave Valley

Bofeng, the wave valley, is a short gully cut into red sandstone in northern Shaanxi where flowing water has worn the rock into layered curves, ridges and troughs that read as frozen waves, the strata standing out as coloured bands through the forms. It came to attention only around 2013, after photographs circulated online, and comparisons to the Wave in Arizona followed. The site is small, a few narrow sections walked in an hour or two, and it is fragile: the sandstone is soft and marks under foot, so access is restricted to fixed routes with numbers limited on busy days.

What you actually see

• The wave forms - sandstone worn into flowing curves and troughs.
• The banded strata - colour layers running through the shapes.
• The narrow gully - the short slot the formations occupy.
• The pools - water standing in hollows after rain.

When to go

April to June and September to October; rain fills the pools and deepens the colour but makes the rock slippery and can close the site. Low sun brings out the banding best.

Honest expectations

The site is far smaller than photographs imply, walked in an hour or two. The rock is fragile and routes are restricted with numbers capped. Access from Yulin needs local transport.

Nearby

Yulin lies northeast; the Great Wall's northern Shaanxi sections are nearby.