Zhangye

Zhangye captivates with the Danxia landform's rainbow-hued clay mountains, a geological wonder formed over 54 million years that draws 10 million annual visitors. Marco Polo marveled here for a year, and the city's giant reclining Buddha statue, measuring 34.5 meters in length, remains China's longest indoor Buddha. The multicolored layers, created by iron oxide deposits, provide a 24-hour visual show that no other city on this list can rival.