32 Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences to Add to Your Bucket List

2. Soar Over a Rainbow-Colored Canyon in China’s Zhangye Danxia

Imagine gliding high above a painted landscape, where rolling hills ripple with hues of red, orange, yellow, and green, creating a natural masterpiece that looks like it belongs in an artist’s gallery. Welcome to the Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park, often called the “Rainbow Mountains”, one of China’s most surreal and stunning landscapes. This geological wonder was formed over millions of years, as layers of sandstone and mineral deposits compressed to create a dazzling spectrum of colors. Today, the mountains look as if they’ve been hand-painted by nature, with bold streaks of crimson, gold, and emerald stretching as far as the eye can see. One of the most breathtaking ways to experience this otherworldly landscape is from the sky. A sunrise hot air balloon ride over Zhangye Danxia offers an unparalleled bird’s-eye view of the painted hills, where the first light of day sets the mountains ablaze with even more vibrant hues. If you prefer to stay grounded, elevated viewing platforms throughout the park provide spectacular panoramic vistas that allow you to soak in the surreal beauty of the terrain. Best Time to Go: May to September, when the sky is clear, and the colors are most vibrant.