December 11th, after suffering in Zhangye, here’s some blunt truth

🌈Zhangye｜God’s spilled palette, beauty too vast for eyes and phones to capture 🏜️ Must-chase color explosions ▪️ The sunset at Danxia Geological Park is legendary! Choose Viewing Platform No. 4, where the setting sun dyes the red sandstone fiery red, and the shadows in the ravines look like spilled ink. Wear a white dress and stand at the edge of the platform to shoot “reaching out to touch the color blocks.” When the wind lifts your skirt, you look like you’ve stepped out of a painting. ▪️ Hiking the Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon is wildly adventurous! When walking through the “One Line Sky,” look up to see narrow sky squeezed between rock walls. Shoot “holding up your phone for an upward shot, with a silhouette at the canyon bottom.” It’s humbling and breathtaking. Legs shake after finishing, but the sense of accomplishment is huge. ▪️ The grottoes at Matisi hold surprises! The Thirty-Three Heavens Grottoes are embedded in cliffs. Climb the wooden ladder and shoot “holding the railing, looking back with a smile, layered Buddha niches in the background.” Sunlight streams through the grotto windows, amplifying the ancient temple’s mysterious vibe. 🍜 Hardcore Northwestern cuisine ▪️ Beef small rice pot is a must! The noodles are cut to rice grain size, served with beef broth and tofu cubes, sprinkled with cilantro. Squat by the roadside to eat, the hot soup warms you until you sweat. ▪️ Stir-fried pao (firecracker noodles) must be spicy! The noodles look like little firecrackers, stir-fried with braised meat and green peppers. Chewy and flavorful, eat with a clove of garlic. The boldness of Northwesterners is all in this bowl. ▪️ Don’t miss the sand jujube bun! The crust is roasted crispy, filled with sand jujube paste, sweet with a slight astringency. Carry it in your pocket as a snack; the more you chew, the more fragrant it gets. 📸 Tips for great shots • Wear contrasting colors! A red or yellow jacket in Danxia looks like a little sun. Stand in front of the colorful hills with arms wide open; the color blocks behind you form a canvas, creating a powerful impact. • Use props! Hold a cowboy hat and shoot “looking down tying shoelaces” on the canyon walkway. The hat’s shadow falls on your face, wild and vintage. • Wait for the wind! Danxia’s wind lifts hair and clothes. Capture the moment of “squinting against the wind.” The dynamic feel is 10 times more natural than posed shots. 💡 Local tips • Don’t wear white shoes in Danxia! The red sandstone stains. Old sneakers are best. Wipe shoes with a wet wipe after shooting to remove some color. • Sunscreen is a must! The UV rays are strong enough to cause peeling. Don’t skip hat, face mask, or sunscreen. • Don’t take the shuttle bus the wrong way! Danxia’s viewing platforms form a loop. Watch the signs carefully or you’ll walk extra unnecessary miles. Zhangye’s beauty is “hard-earned” — no soft curves, only clashing color blocks and sharp rock walls. Standing on this land, you’ll understand what “nature’s master craftsmanship” really means~