Hongya Martian Landform Scenic Area 红崖火星地貌景观区

About Hongya Martian Landform Scenic Area

The Xihai Metropolitan Daily report carried on the provincial portal describes the Da Qaidam Hongya scenic area as covering 400 sq km and containing impact craters, chaotic terrain, table mountains and sedimentary landforms among other features closely resembling those of Mars; it records that in 2017 the lunar and deep space exploration department of the Chinese Academy of Sciences named the site the first 'China Mars simulation base' and 'the place on Earth most like Mars', and it calls the site's Yadan landscape unique in the world and free of human damage. The same report describes the Hongya Martian landform service area on National Highway 315, with a visitor centre shaped like a flying saucer and hotel buildings like those of Mars, drawing passing visitors, and it quotes the general manager of the Da Qaidam Mars village tourism development company, Pei Qingxiang, and adds, outside his quoted remarks, that the company would build a China Hongya Mars village tourism project on a design idea of science, popularisation, science fiction, nature, ecology and culture, with Martian landform sightseeing and wilderness living experience as its main functions.

The report was published on 14 May 2024, when it said the project's construction was near completion and trial opening was expected in mid-May — an expectation at that date rather than a description of the site now. A China News Service report of 28 June 2026 records the prefecture's culture and tourism bureau listing the Hongya Martian landform landscape area among Da Qaidam's core scenic spots in its announcement of that date. Neither page describes a designated route through the 400 sq km, and neither states how much of it a visitor can enter.

What to look for

• The impact craters, chaotic terrain, table mountains and sedimentary landforms the provincial portal lists among the features resembling those of Mars
• The Hongya Martian landform service area on National Highway 315, with the visitor centre the report describes as shaped like a flying saucer
• The Mars-like hotel buildings at the same service area, which the report says draw passing visitors
• The site's standing as the first 'China Mars simulation base' and 'the place on Earth most like Mars', names given it in 2017 by the Chinese Academy of Sciences' lunar and deep space exploration department

Location & getting there

Getting to Hongya Martian Landform Scenic Area

Use an authorised visitor route. Cave sections, geological sites and access roads can close independently, so confirm the area that your ticket covers.

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