China's Glimmering Red Mountains Look Like the Surface of Mars

A minibus passes by the Danxia landform scenic area. Danxia, which means "rosy cloud", is a special landform formed from reddish sandstone that has been eroded over time into a series of mountains surrounded by curvaceous cliffs and many unusual rock formations, Zhangye City, Gansu Province, northwest China, July 7, 2014.

Wang Song—Xinhua Press/Corbis

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The scenery at Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park in Zhangye City, Gansu Province, northwest China, July 7, 2014.

Wang Song—Xinhua Press/Corbis

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The scenery at Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park in Zhangye City, Gansu Province, northwest China, July 7, 2014.

Wang Song—Xinhua Press/Corbis

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Visitors take photos at Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park in Zhangye City, Gansu Province, northwest China, July 7, 2014.

Wang Song—Xinhua Press/Corbis

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Visitors take in the scenery at Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park in Zhangye City, Gansu Province, northwest China, July 7, 2014.

Wang Song—Xinhua Press/Corbis

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The scenery at Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park in Zhangye City, Gansu Province, northwest China, July 7, 2014.

Wang Song—Xinhua Press/Corbis

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The scenery at Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park in Zhangye City, Gansu Province, northwest China, July 7, 2014.

Wang Song—Xinhua Press/Corbis

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A visitor takes photos at Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park in Zhangye City, Gansu Province, northwest China, July 7, 2014.

Wang Song—Xinhua Press/Corbis

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By TIME Photo

July 9, 2014 11:33 AM EDT