A quick getaway to China’s Danxia Shan geopark offers great views, good walking – and a few giggles
A high-speed train from Shenzhen takes just 90 minutes to whisk you to a mountain range famous for its phallic photo opportunities and breathtaking hikes
Though China’s high-speed train network has yet to reach Hong Kong, lines start just across the border, in Shenzhen, and cut travel times to places that would otherwise be just too far for a weekend trip. These include parts of the Nanling mountain range, such as Danxia Shan – a national geopark where red sandstone forms outlandish peaks and rock structures.
Danxia Shan has far more to attract visitors than its renowned phallic column, including hiking trails, wonderful views, lush forest and an array of temples and hilltop pavilions.
With a trip like this, taking a high-speed train is part of the experience. China has transformed its rail network with high-speed lines, and even major stations like Shenzhen North are so grand and futuristic they wouldn’t look out of place in a Star Wars movie.
Hiking the Jiuzhaigou national park – a pristine paradise in Sichuan where you can still escape the crowds
As the train eases out of the station, a readout in the compartment shows the speed – 10, 20km/h, then 100, 200 and eventually a steady figure around 308km/h. Out the window, there’s a plain with villages, small fields, fish ponds. Then the buildings of Guangzhou, a slowdown, and the train stops. Onwards again, and the plain gives way to hills.