Danxia landform belongs to red terrestrial clastic rock landform, which is characterized by its red cliffed scarp. The development of Danxia landform research in China experienced three history stages, i.e.; Prof. Guoda Chen raised initial establishment and taking shape and expanding since the concept "Danxia landform" in 1939. As a new branch of geomorphology, Danxia landform research is now stepping its ripe stage. In 90's, their search enters into an unprecedented grand occasion at the prompting of tourism exploit.
Danxia landform is classified into rock landform system. That the red terrestrial clastic rock being its material base and that steep scarp being its type form are accepted by most of researcher in this field. The constitution of leveled-top and cliffed-scarp and gentle-fool is the type shape of Danxia landform.
In different area, the provincial characteristics of Danxia landform are different from each other due to their geography environment differences.
Danxia landform developed only when the Earth crust reached its specified development stage, e.g., all red beds found on the Earth are not earlier than Mesozoic era. Most of Danxia landform formed on red conglomerate rock, sand-conglomerate rock and sandstone. Meanwhile, red bed hills formed on siltstone and mud stone due to their flexible texture. The regional tectonic pattern, which controlled the distribution of sedimentary basins, is the tectonic base of Danxia landform. Tectonic lines within the basin controlled the distribution pattern and even the shape pattern of Danxia landform mountains. Supper surface of a mountain and tectonic dome of Danxia landform were controlled by the rock occurrences. Crystal movement controlled the development of Danxia landform.
Exogenetic forces influenced the Danxia landform development included alleviation and weathering and gravitation processes, among which the alleviation process is the main force formed the Danxia landform. Alluvial corrosion and weathering created favorable condition for the gravitational eboulement, Danxia landform cliffed scarp is often the eboulement surface or reformed one. Wind erosion and saline weathering are unponderable forces in forming Danxia landform in arid zone. Organism activity is advantageous to weathering in humid zone. Artificial Danxia landform landscape is the product of exploiting stone.
Danxia landform often distributed in weak ecology system areas; however, its tourism development value is often high due to its beautiful landscape and plentiful cultural scenery.
The Danxia landform research is aim at its development principles, taxonomy, landscape quality evaluation and graduation, natural mountains and river culture and human culture scenery, nature resource protection and utilization, and etc. All of which are beneficial to regional economic construction. In recently years, symposium of Danxia landform landscape resource and its tourism development are very active, which make a great contribution to regional tourism development.