The Danxia Mountain Global Geopark in China is located in the northeastern part of Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province, covering a total area of 292 square kilometers. It is the namesake of the Danxia landform. Composed of red conglomerate and sandstone, Danxia Mountain is characterized by its crimson cliffs and red precipices, resembling layers of red fortresses and patches of rosy clouds. Ancient people named it "Danxia," meaning "red as cinnabar and bright as morning clouds."

The foundation of the Danxia landform consists of red fluvial-lacustrine conglomerate and sandstone formed during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 90 to 70 million years ago. Around 65 million years ago, the area where the geopark is located was affected by tectonic movements, resulting in numerous faults and joints, while also transforming the entire Danxia Basin into an erosion zone. The Himalayan orogeny, which began about 23 million years ago, caused rapid uplift in the region. Over the vast expanse of time, intermittent uplift dramatically reshaped the local topography. The combined effects of endogenic and exogenic forces have sculpted the Danxia mountain area into a stunning landscape, with 680 uniquely shaped peaks and rocks arranged in picturesque disorder, resembling a vast sculpture garden of ruby.