Pingdingshan

Pingdingshan

Located about 20 kilometers along the Xizhang Highway, this is a unique mountain formed by volcanic eruptions. When viewed from the highway, all the mountain tops are, without exception, as flat as tabletops. Up close, you’ll find the mountain covered with blocks of tuff left behind by ancient volcanic activity.

Watching the sunrise or sunset at Pingdingshan is truly a breathtaking experience. The sunset, in particular, paints the mountains in varying shades of red under the setting sun, creating a dreamlike scene. The sunset over the flat-topped mountains is one of the most picturesque sights in Ximeng.

Here, the mountains nestle against one another, arranged in an orderly fashion in various sizes, yet their peaks are all eerily flat, as if sliced by a sharp blade, forming a peculiar landscape. This is the widely renowned scenic wonder of North China — the Pingdingshan phenomenon.

According to geologists, Pingdingshan is a miracle created by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. At that time, multiple volcanoes erupted in the region, blanketing the land with thick layers of volcanic rock. Later, through crustal uplift and subsidence, these vast flat-topped mountains were formed.

The best times to view the wonders of Pingdingshan are at sunrise or sunset. At sunrise, the morning glow acts like a makeup artist, brushing the mountain range with a touch of pink, making the layered peaks exceptionally enchanting. At sunset, the afterglow of the setting sun spreads across the grassland, and you can clearly see the fiery sun slowly sinking into the earth. In the evening light, smoke curls lazily from the homes nestled in the mountain valleys, presenting a quintessential grassland dusk scene that stirs the heart and mind.