受地层产状、岩性和节理构造的控制,以丹崖长墙为标志的嶂石岩地貌在演化过程中,存在垂沟在崖面横向侧切发育巷谷,水平掏蚀在崖脚形成岩廊,并引起崖面崩塌卸荷平行后退两种坡面发育机制。巷谷、岩廊、Ω型套谷等在平面格局、空间形态和时代序列上都存在明显的自相似特征,符合曼德布罗特分形理论中的自相似体系。嶂石岩地貌演化周期为294.7×10⁴a,分为幼年期、青年期、壮年期和老年期4个阶段,分别历时8.3×10⁴a、83.2×10⁴a、115.2×10⁴a和88.0×10⁴a。嶂石岩地区的嶂石岩地貌具有明显的分层性,其分异由长城系砂岩、寒武系灰岩的软硬岩层互层引起,并非不同时代发育的嶂石岩地貌。

Under the control of stratigraphic trend, structure and lithology, there are two slope development modes during the development progress of Zhangshiyan Landform marked with the long red cliff, which are the wedge-shaped lateral cutting mode with cutting the cliff to form lane valley, and the horizontal digging mode with digging horizontally at the foot of the cliff to form rock porch leading to the cliff collapse back. The lane valley, rock porch and the Ω-shaped valley have the respective self-similarity features in different location or scale. The cycle of Zhangshiyan Landform development is 294.7×10⁴a. It can be divided four stages: infancy stage lasted for as long as 8.3×10⁴a, young stage 83.2×10⁴a, robust stage 115.2×10⁴a and old stage 88×10⁴a. In Zhangshiyan region, Zhangshiyan landform is layered clearly, caused by hard stratum alternating with soft stratum but not the different stages of Zhangshiyan landform.