Taining Geopark

Taining is a UNESCO geopark of Danxia landform, red sandstone eroded into cliffs, clefts and rounded domes, and its distinguishing feature is water: the Jinhu reservoir flooded the valleys, so the gorges are entered by boat with walls rising sheer from the surface, a combination described locally as water Danxia and found in few other places. Boats run through narrow clefts where the walls close to a few metres. Zhaixia Grand Canyon nearby holds one of the deepest and narrowest Danxia gorges known. The county town keeps the Ming-era Shangshu Di, a large official residence of the seventeenth century.

What you actually see

• The flooded gorges - boat routes between cliffs rising from the reservoir.
• The narrow clefts - passages where the walls close to a few metres.
• Zhaixia Canyon - a deep, narrow Danxia gorge walked on paths.
• Shangshu Di - the Ming official's residence in the county town.

When to go

April to June and September to November; summer is hot and boat trips crowded, winter cool and quiet. Heavy rain raises the reservoir and can suspend boats. Weekends and holidays bring queues at the boat piers.

Honest expectations

Boat tickets are timed and queues form at peak times. Separate scenic areas each charge entry. Taining is remote in northwestern Fujian, though high-speed rail has improved access considerably.

Nearby

Sanming lies southeast; the Jiangxi border is north.