Kanbula National Park

Kanbula is a danxia landscape, red sandstone and conglomerate weathered into pillars, walls and towers, standing above the Lijiaxia reservoir on the upper Yellow River. The water here is a strong blue-green rather than the silt-brown of the lower river, because the sediment load is still low at this altitude and the reservoir settles what there is, so the colour against the red rock is the site's signature. Forest of juniper and pine grows on the slopes, Tibetan villages and small monasteries sit among the formations, and a road with viewpoints climbs through the park with boats running on the water below.

What you actually see

• The red pillars - danxia towers and walls above the reservoir.
• The turquoise water - the upper Yellow River held in the lake.
• The hill monasteries - small Tibetan temples among the formations.
• The viewpoint road - the climb through the park with overlooks.

When to go

May to October; autumn brings colour in the forest and the clearest air. Winter is cold and some services stop. Boat trips depend on reservoir levels and weather.

Honest expectations

Entry plus compulsory shuttle is expensive, and boats cost extra. The park is at around 2,500 metres and can be cold. Roads from Xining take several hours.

Nearby

Tongren lies south; Xining is northwest.