The sphinx is a transitional type from the wall-shaped Yadan body to the tower-shaped Yadan body. The Yadan body is composed of sandy and muddy sediments, with uneven surfaces formed by differential erosion and weathering. From a distance, it looks like the “Sphinx” in Egypt, fully demonstrating the ingenuity of nature.
This Yadan landform in Dunhuang is already on the edge of Lop Nur, covering an area of ​​about 400 square kilometers. Its formation took about 700,000 to 300,000 years. When strong wind blows, it will make various strange sounds, so it is also called Dunhuang Yadan Devil City.