Liming Danxia

The Liming area on Laojunshan holds red sandstone that has weathered in a distinctive way: the rock surface has cracked into a mesh of polygons that stand slightly proud of each other, so whole domes and slabs look scaled like a turtle's shell, a formation known locally as the thousand turtles. Walkways and steps run across the slabs and up to viewpoints over the forest and the Jinsha valley. The same rock made Liming one of the better sport climbing areas in China, with bolted routes on the walls, and Lisu villages sit below in a valley that stays quiet compared with Lijiang.

What you actually see

• The turtle-shell slabs - sandstone cracked into overlapping polygons.
• The red domes - large formations above the forest.
• The climbing walls - bolted sport routes on the sandstone.
• The Lisu villages - settlements in the valley below.

When to go

March to June and September to November for dry rock and clear views; the summer monsoon brings rain that closes climbing and makes slabs slippery. Winter is cold but quiet.

Honest expectations

Access from Lijiang takes half a day by bus. Facilities are limited to a few guesthouses. The site is ticketed and some sections need shuttle transport.

Nearby

Lijiang lies southeast; Tiger Leaping Gorge is east.