Anjihai Grand Canyon, Xinjiang｜The red beauty of the planet leaves you speechless

🚗 Driving westward from Urumqi The city outside the window gradually fades away Gobi desert, distant mountains, and wilderness begin to take over the view Until—Anjihai Grand Canyon, like a sudden page of a crimson epic torn open by the earth Strikes the eyes 🪐 Standing at the cliff edge, the wind is an ancient echo from the earth’s core Before you is the scene of billions of years of geological movement Layers of ochre red, earth yellow, and dark blue rock Like they have been repeatedly folded and unfolded by the hand of time Forming ridges that rise and fall like the spine of a giant beast 🌄 At noon, the sunlight shines directly The canyon sheds all soft light filters Revealing its hard and distinct bones Millions of years ago, this place might have been a deep sea or an oasis Now only fierce winds and stubborn colors remain Like a long letter the earth wrote here Every stroke is red 💭 Walking slowly along the cliff edge Beneath your feet is an almost vertical abyss But your eyes see a vastness that fills the earth and sky Occasionally, an eagle or hawk crosses the sky Becoming the only moving point in this silence One feels like a speck of dust Gently falling into the grand narrative of the earth 📸 One hour before sunset The entire canyon seems to be set ablaze A golden-red halo spreads over the layered rock walls I sit on the rock in a daze Thinking of nothing, just watching Watching how this land uses its most primitive form To tell stories of fracture, weathering, and rebirth —— 💡 𝐓𝐈𝐏𝐒 Time for some practical advice: ▫ Self-driving is recommended! The Duku Highway is scenic all the way ▫ One hour before sunset is stunning, soft light is perfect for photos ▪ The wind is strong at the cliff edge, be sure to stay safe and don’t get too close ▫ Bring your own snacks and water, there are no supply points nearby —— This day felt like breaking into the earth’s private memory Those ravines are not scars They are art carved by wind and time together Looking back when leaving The canyon in the dusk is silent like a mystery It says nothing Yet it has told a lifetime