Hidden Gem Travel Destination Recommendation - Obo Liang Yardang

Obo Liang, meaning "Ovoo" in Mongolian, refers to "mounds of earth." Located near Lenghu Town, Mangya City, Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, it is the largest Yardang wind-erosion landform in China. Obo Liang is now a popular attraction on the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Ring Road in the northwest. Since Obo Liang has not been extensively developed for tourism, it is surrounded by uninhabited, barren Gobi desert. Therefore, this magical area maintains a relatively complete primitive state, and stepping into it truly feels like landing on Mars! This is the largest Yardang landform complex in China, with the most peculiar landscapes and shapes, the most typical landforms, and the most representative features. It is part of the Qaidam Yardang landform complex. The "wind axe" of the Qaidam Basin has carved this magnificent and diverse Yardang landscape over tens of millions of years. About 75 million years ago, due to the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the geological structure of this area underwent significant changes. The once vast ocean gradually dried up, exposing the seabed sediments. Over long geological ages, these sediments underwent crustal movement, compression, and uplift, forming the foundation of the undulating terrain. As time went on, the climate became dry, and strong winds began to frequent the area. The powerful winds, carrying sand and dust, constantly impacted the surface. Initially, the wind erosion was relatively weak, only forming shallow grooves and small mounds on the surface. With the continuous wind erosion, the surface rocks were gradually eroded and sculpted. The softer rocks were carried away by the wind, while the harder parts remained, forming various peculiar shapes. After millions of years of wind erosion, the Yardang landforms of Obo Liang gradually took shape. The wind carved various lines and textures on the rocks, some resembling castle walls, some like animal shapes, and some like giant stone pillars. Even today, the Yardang landforms of Obo Liang are still evolving. The wind continues to shape this land, with new Yardang formations constantly emerging and old ones gradually changing shape under the influence of the wind. At the same time, natural factors such as rainwater erosion and temperature changes also influence the geomorphological evolution of Obo Liang to a certain extent. After Obo Liang was developed into a tourist attraction, a ditch was dug around the area to separate it from outside vehicles, ending its free access. Vehicles preparing to enter for sightseeing need to pay a one-time fee of CNY 1,000 at a visitor center-like location. CNY 500 is for navigation equipment rental, equivalent to an entrance fee, and the other CNY 500 is a deposit, which is refunded upon leaving. The fee is per vehicle, meaning whether there is one person or four in the car, the fee remains CNY 500. After payment, the vehicle receives a "Mars Exploration" sticker and a set of tablets and GPS for navigation. However, the tablet serves as both navigation and a "monitoring system." As soon as the car deviates slightly from the planned route, the system will alarm incessantly. Sometimes, even without deviation, it will misjudge, which can be quite annoying. For example, the sulfur lake within Obo Liang, which previously experienced a large fire, is not on the official route. Visitors need to park on the main road and walk 2 km one way to reach it. The sulfur lake is a natural sulfur lake. The lake water appears yellow, and the surrounding landforms are also very unique, making it a great place for photography. Mars Camp, located in the Obo Liang Yardang landform complex, is China's first Mars simulation base. The landforms here are very similar to Mars, and visitors can experience Martian life and feel the mysteries of the universe. Mars Camp offers a variety of accommodation options, including sleeping capsules that can accommodate 72 people, simulating outer space life, and tent accommodations for 100 people. However, accommodation prices may fluctuate. Obo Liang is located in an uninhabited area with inconvenient transportation. It is recommended to prepare in advance, including food, water, and fuel. The climate here is dry with strong ultraviolet rays, so sun protection and moisturizing measures are recommended. Due to the complex terrain, it is advisable to explore with professionals and pay attention to safety.