The Red Stone Canyon is a narrow gorge through some of the most vivid geological formations in the Yuntaishan park system. The canyon walls, carved by water through iron-rich Precambrian quartzite, shift through shades of rust, ochre, and deep burgundy depending on the angle of the light. At its narrowest, the canyon is barely wide enough to walk comfortably through, with the walls close enough to touch on both sides and the sky reduced to a thin strip above. The combination of the colour, the enclosing scale of the walls, and the clear stream underfoot makes it one of the most memorable canyon walks in central China.
The main Red Stone Canyon trail involves some step-carved sections in the steeper parts but is well within the capability of anyone who is reasonably fit. A one-way traverse from the shuttle bus drop-off takes about ninety minutes; most visitors do the return journey or exit at the far end and pick up a shuttle. It is the most photographed section of the park, which means it gets crowded on weekends — arriving at opening time makes a substantial difference.