Wild Scars: Earth's Annual Rings | Dushanzi Grand Canyon

Stepping into the Dushanzi Grand Canyon in Xinjiang feels like opening a textbook on Earth's history. Located on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains, this grand canyon was formed by the long-term erosion caused by melting snow and seasonal floods from the Tianshan Mountains. Over tens of millions of years, the forces of cutting and erosion have sculpted this awe-inspiring natural masterpiece. The canyon is composed of sedimentary rocks from the Mesozoic to Cenozoic eras, with its layered rock walls clearly displaying the geological annual rings that record Earth's transformations. Looking up from the canyon floor, the cliffs resemble a history book flipped through by time; from an aerial view, hundreds of gullies form a complex yet orderly network, akin to nature's neural pathways. During this visit to Dushanzi, I made a special trip to the suspended glass bridge. Standing on the transparent bridge surface, I could see the vertical canyon stretching dozens of meters below my feet! The mix of accelerated heartbeat and amazement left me in awe of nature's power. With the gentle breeze brushing my face and the geological cracks formed over millions of years beneath me, I felt as if I were floating above Earth's history.