Geological relics

List of Geological Heritages of Guangwushan-Nuoshuihe UNESCO Global Geopark

S/N

Geological Heritage Name

Type

Location

Characteristics

Level of Protection

Remarks

D001

Changping Waterfall

Waterfall Landscape

Upper Reaches of Huangchang River Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

Located in Changping Huangchang River it is developed in Cambrian sandstone. The thickness of the sandstone is about 20-50cm. The occurrence of the rock layer is 320°∠30° and a group of joints with a direction of 320° are developed.The waterfall is about 10m high and 3m wide and its direction is consistent with the joint direction. The waterfall cascades down along the steep ridge the height of which is about 2-5m. The waterfall falls into a pool with a diameter of 8m and then flows down along the layer with an occurrence of 305°∠23°.

Class 1

D002

Chain Waterfall

Waterfall Landscape

Upper Reaches of Huangchang River Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

Located in the upper reaches of Huangchang River developed in Cambrian sandstone it is a secondary cascade waterfall with a strike of 145°. The first-level waterfall is about 2m high and 1m wide below which is an oval pool about 12m long and 15m wide; the second-level waterfall is about 6m high and 1m wide below which is a kidney-shaped pool about 13m long and 8m wide.

Class 1

D003

Wanzige Stone Forest

Karst Landscape

Wanzige Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

It is located in Wanzi Mountain on the north side of Leijia River in Taoyuan. The main peak is 2234m above sea level and the foothill is only more than 1200m above sea level with a relative elevation difference of up to 1000m. It is a high mountain surrounded by cliffs developed in the tortoise crack bioclastic limestone of the Ordovician Baota Formation with a nearly horizontal rock formation.It is also called Wanzige because of its rocky forest development and connected gullies which are shaped like a "卐" pattern of Buddhist symbols.The stone forest covers about the entire slope on the west side of the main peak with an area of about 1.25km2. The stone forest develops along the direction of the ditch in about 70° and the ditch width is about 10-30cm.Stone forests (clints) are about 0.5-6m high with different scales and endless shapes. Some resemble stalagmites with strong roots; some resemble reliefs and are lifelike; some seem like Li Bai looking up to the sky to recite poems some are like Zhaojun bowing her head and missing her hometown some look like a monkey looking at the moon and others like a phoenix rising to the sun.

Class 1

D004

Huangchanghe Valley

Tectonic Geomorphologic Landscape

Huangchang River Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

The canyon section of the branch ditch of Huangchang River on the northwest side of Jiexian Post is 7000m long and can be divided into three sections:

Ditch mouth - Black Dragon Pond section: The bottom of the valley is 20-40m wide the slopes of both banks are generally above 65° the lower part is steeper and the upper part is gentler with a relative height difference of 300-500m.

Black Dragon Pond - Zhichang Dam section: This section of the valley is a dry river bed with a length of about 1500m. The valley near Black Dragon Pond is relatively narrow.The part near Zhichang Dam becomes relatively wide and gentle. The width of the valley is 40-50m the slope of the north rock is relatively gentle generally below 40°; the slope of the south bank is relatively steep still above 60°.

River section above Zhichang Dam: The bottom of the valley is no more than 10m wide and the quay wall is upright and about 50m high. Rock joints and fissures are extremely developed and deep streams are often formed along these fissures generally 0.4-4m wide 30-50m deep and 20-40m long. The rock formations are often divided by these deep streams forming a single giant irregular block.

Class II

D005

Cherry River Valley

Tectonic Geomorphologic Landscape

Cherry River Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

It is located in the northern section of Hanxihe Gorge. It is connected to Miaoba in Shaanxi via the retaining wall to the north and belongs to the retaining wall of the Micang Ancient Path.The valley is about 5km long. The water in the valley is crystal clear and there are green trees on both sides. Peak clusters are towering and wild cherry trees are distributed all over it.

Class II

D006

Yanziling Peak Cluster

Karst Landscape

Yanziling Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

It is developed in the dolomite dolomitic limestone or gray dolomite of the Sinian distributed on the mountains north of the Guangwushan Town. The entire peak clusters are distributed over an area of about 4km2in an average elevation of more than 1400m. It is dominated by beautiful and colorful karst peak clusters which are distributed continuously in a linear pattern centering around the Sifangzhai. Most of the peak clusters are distributed on the ridge and there are bold cliffs and deep streams on both sides.The peak cluster varies in shape and stone pillars and stalagmites are like precipitous swords and rods either slim and steep or round and thick.The bold cliffs and deep streams cut the whole cluster of peaks into pieces and the walls are steep and huge and narrow in the deep stream connected to the sky up above and deep down to the underworld.The entire peak cluster region integrates the elegance of Emei the charm of Huangshan and the wonder of Guilin. It has the elegance of Emei the charm of Huangshan and the precipitousness of Guilin."

Class II

D007

Cherry River Peak Cluster

Karst Landscape

Middle and Lower Reaches of Cherry River Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

The peak cluster were formed in the Sinian System (635-541 million years ago) dolomite and 5-8 single peaks can be seen.The single peaks are mostly round with a minimum of about 100m and a maximum of about 300m distributed in steps.

Class II

D008

Jiexian Post Cliff

Tectonic Geomorphologic Landscape

Jiexian Post Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

It was developed in the Sinian (635-541 million years ago) dolomite cut by water erosion.With towering cliffs on both sides of the strait and dangerous terrain it is the only way through the Micang Ancient Path.Jiexian Post an important post on the Micang Ancient Path is located here.

Class II

D009

Pilgrimage of Thousands of Scepters

Karst Landscape

Yanziling Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

The tall and straight stone pinnacle is formed by the Sinian (635-541 million years ago) dolomite shaped like a huge statue of a man sitting on top of the cliff looking down on the rocky peaks below as if the peaks below have gathered together to pay homage to him which is the origin of "Pilgrimage of Thousands of Scepters".

Class II

D010

Seven Fairies Peak Cluster

Karst Landscape

Yanziling Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

The seven pillars of dolomite formed in the Sinian (635-541 million years ago) stand gracefully erect amidst the mountains looking like seven nymphs hence the name.

Class II

D011

Three Passes

Karst Landscape

Three Passes (Crack) Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

The valley becomes narrow here and the rocks on both sides of the ditch bulge toward the center of the ditch forming three passes hence the name of Three Passes (Crack).The width of each pass is only between 20-30m but the height is 70-80m so the terrain is dangerous.

Class II

D012

Feilai Stone

Rock-avalanche Relic Landscape

Beibeikou Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

It is a huge avalanche limestone rock formed by avalanche about 1.3m high 1.5m wide and 1.3m thick.It is located right in the middle of the Hanxi River as if it is about to roll away but stays calm named "Feilai Stone".

Class II

D013

Hanxihe Gorge

Tectonic Geomorphologic Landscape

Hanxi River Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

Hanxihe Gorge is the branch of Jiaojiahe Gorge.The gorge is 8km long 8-15m wide and 150-250m deep. It is formed in the dolomite mountain. The brae is steep and the depth of the gorge is much greater than the width so it is called narrow gorge in geology.The story of Xiao He chasing Han Xin in the moonlight happened here. “If the water of Hanxi River had not risen overnight there would not be the four hundred years of the Han Dynasty.”

Class II

D014

Laminar Algal dolomite of Jiaojia River

Regional Standard Section

Lianghekou Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

The grape-like structure in the dolomite has a special shape and is easy to identify. It is a typical feature of the Sinian (635-541 million years ago) Dengying Formation dolomite.The grape-like structure is the product of the alternation of seasonal freshwater dissolution and calcium precipitation when the algae-bearing rock formation was exposed to the surface in ancient times.This is an ideal place for popular science teaching.

Class II

D015

Section of Sandao Pass Neogene System

Regional Standard Section

Pengjiaba Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

The section is mainly brown and brownish yellow sandy conglomerate.Two layers are visible. The upper layer is conglomerate sandstone and the lower layer is compound conglomerate with uneven contact surfaces.The conglomerate layer is 1.2-1.5m thick and the rock is worn smooth and of uniform size.These glutenites were formed in turbulent mountain rivers millions of years ago recording the history of river changes over tens of thousands of years.

Class II

D016

Section of Granite Boundary Line of the Peng’s Dam

Intrusive Rock Section

Pengjiaba Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

This interface is the Chengjiang tectonic movement interface (about 500-600 million years ago).Below the interface is the Chengjiang period granite which can be seen in two stages and the early granite has a baking edge of 40-50cm; above the interface is the Sinian Dengying Formation dolomite forming a ridge-shaped peak cluster landscape. The two are in unconformity contact which is of great significance to the study of tectonic movement in the Neoproterozoic.

Class II

D017

Karst Cave of Celestial Gate

Karst Landscape

Middle Reach of Jiaojia River Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

Tianmen is actually a karst natural bridge with a length of 4.7m a height of 6.5m and a thickness of 3.8m. Karst caves are caves formed by caving and dissolution along fissures in the Sinian (635-541 million years ago) dolomites and the opening is 2.5m wide 3.5m high and 22m long.The two together form the Tianmen Karst Cave.

Class II

D018

Snake of Ba out of Mountain

Karst Landscape

Middle Reach of Jiaojia River Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

On the steep walls of the valley the calcium carbonate deposits (travertine) formed in the early stage of karstification formed a yellow strip about 15m long and 0.3-0.5m wide under the later weathering water dissolution and erosion. It looks like a python circling out of the palisades and trying to fly away.

Class II

D019

Dragon on Cloud

Karst Landscape

Pengjiaba Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

On the top of the towering dolostone cliff the effect of dissolution and water erosion carves the mountain like a dragon skeleton. If there are clouds hovering around it appears to be a dragon riding the clouds and mists. That is why the mountain is called Dragon on Cloud.As a poet wrote "Amongst the clouds a black dragon moves around to protect the crown.It is a fairyland where a glittering pearl comes from.

Class II

D020

Jiaojiahe Valley

Tectonic Geomorphologic Landscape

Middle and Lower Reaches of Jiaojia River Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

The majestic cliffs on both sides the Dengying Formation dolomites deposited 635-541 million years ago (Sinian) were eroded and cut by Jiaojia River water forming a 16km long valley.It shows how intense the crustal uplift has been since the neotectonic movement (23 million years).

Class II

D021

Hummocky Bedding

Small and Medium-sized Structures

Lianghekou Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

The bedding layer is about 10-30cm thick and the bedding is clear. It is one of the important signs for identifying storm deposits and it can best reflect the depositional structure of storm process.It indicates to a certain extent the climate and environment here during the Sinian System (635-541 million years ago).

Class II

D022

Tai Chi Sky Hole

Fluvial Erosion Geomorphologic Landscape

Ganling Temple Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

The river channel is curved surrounded by cliffs. From the sky the overall shape looks like a Taiji symbol. Hence it is named Tai Chi Sky Hole.This sky hole does not refer to a sky hole in the karst sense but is formed by river lateral erosion accompanied by avalanche.

Class II

D023

Pothole

Fluvial Erosion Geomorphologic Landscape

Tai Chi Sky Hole Riverbed Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

In the channel of Jiaojiahe River there are many grotesque holes with small mouth and big belly in the shape of a water tank or kettle. In geology they are called pothole commonly known as "Shimiantong".This is the vortex formed by the rapids in the river driving gravel to drill the riverbed and polished on the rock.The Pothole is about 5m in diameter and 8m deep.

Class II

D024

Kwan-yin and Dafo Mountain

Karst Landscape

Ganling Temple Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

On the cliff of the dolomite gorge due to the erosion and dissolution of flowing water the image of a Buddha was carved out.A shallow hole develops on the left side of the Buddha. The travertine deposits inside are like Kwan-yin sitting on a lotus with a halo on the top of the head. The vivid image attracts tourists from all over the country to visit and worship.Therefore the Ganling Temple is full of incense.

Class II

D025

Section of Taoyuan Houhe Group-Complex

Regional Standard Section

Taoyuan Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

The Houhe Rock Group is the oldest stratum in the Geopark and is part of the ancient land core of the Yangtze block.According to relevant tests the age of this metamorphic rock series is 2.35-3.37 billion years.At present the age of the universe recognized by the international academic circle is 13.7 billion years and the age of the earth is 4.6 billion years. The earliest biological relics records on the earth are confirmed in 3.8 billion years and the earliest marine evolution activities have been confirmed on the earth.Since then the earth has entered a clearly recorded stage of sedimentary evolution.This area preserves the earliest evolution record of the earth so it is a rare geological heritage for studying the early evolution history of the earth.

Class III

D026

Cambrian-Sinian Boundary of Jiaguo mountain

Regional Standard Section

Jiaguo Mountain Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

This is an early Caledonian tectonic movement surface the interface between Proterozoic and Paleozoic.Below the interface is the Dengying Formation dolomite with grape-like structure of the Sinian (635-541 million years ago) and above the interface is the black carbonaceous shale with siltstone of the Zhuzhusi Formation of the Cambrian (541-485 million years ago).After the Chengjiang movement the most spectacular "Cambrian Life Explosion" in the history of the evolution of life on earth was "suddenly" staged.

Class III

D027

Jiaguoshan Peak Cluster

Karst Landscape

Jiaguo Mountain Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

The oblique Cambrian (541-485 million years ago) dolomite formed a ridged peak cluster at the watershed due to karst processes.It stretches for 10km in a pyramidal shape with 11 dolomite peaks.The north side of the peak cluster is a grand single-sided downhill ramp while the south side is a karst Peak Cluster seeming to have been flattened by a knife and axe. Some academics named it "ridge-type peak cluster" which is one of the most characteristic landscapes of the Geopark and has an international comparative research significance.

Special grade

D028

Censer-like Mountain

Clastic Rock Geomorphologic Landscape

Censer-like Mountain Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

Developed in the Cambrian (541-485 million years ago) its lithology is mainly thin-medium sandstone and shale interbedded belonging to clastic rock landforms.The rock formations are horizontal and developed with vertical fissures. Several peaks resembling incense burners are formed due to differential weathering hence the name Censer-like Mountain.In the late spring the rhododendrons here compete to open showcasing a beautiful flower mountain.Together with the cypress the sea of clouds the sunrise and the Buddha's light it constitutes a wonderful view and an excellent place to enjoy the natural scenery of the Geopark.

Class III

D029

Nonglinhe Valley

Tectonic Geomorphologic Landscape

Nonglin River Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

It is the upper reaches of the Jiaojia River which narrows from east to west from the gorge on the west side of the dam and runs through the Nature Reserve of Xiaolan Valley and Dalan Valley from east to west.The entire gorge is about 10km long developed in granite with clear mountains and rivers and it is an excellent area for viewing red leaves in the golden autumn season.

Class 1

D030

Xiaolangou Valley

Tectonic Geomorphologic Landscape

Xiaolan Valley Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

It is a branch in the NonglinheValley formed in granite.It is adjacent to Dalan Valley on the east side spreading in a nearly north-south direction about 8.5km long.Both are nature reserves of rare plants such asTaxus chinensis(Pilger) Rehd. andFagus hayataePalib. ex Hayata.

Class 1

D031

Dalangou Valley

Tectonic Geomorphologic Landscape

Dalan Valley Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

It is a branch in the NonglinheValley formed in granite.It is adjacent to Xiaolan Valley on the east side spreading in a nearly north-south direction with a length of about 7.8km.There areSus scrofaCatopuma temminckiiPrionailurus bengalensisUrsus thibetanus and many other wild animals in the Valley.

Class 1

D032

Geological History

Regional Standard Section

Tongchang Platform Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

The strata exposed from far and near here are from Sinian to Cambrian.It is as if pages of a geological history book are scrolled telling the vicissitudes of the earth.It reflects the long and stable history of the ancient ocean at that time.Many movements of the earth's crust turned this deep underground "geological ancient scroll" out so that the rock formations that should have been buried in the ground can be shown to the world.

Class III

D033

Wedding Dress Waterfall

Waterfall Landscape

Downstream of Pearl Valley Yangba Town Nanjiang County

Wedding Dress Waterfall is the best of the Eighteen Moon-like Ponds where the stream water falls in waves and by three cascades along the granite steep to form a slope waterfall of which the surface is a narrow triangle narrow at the top and wide at the bottom looking like a bride wearing a wedding dress.

Class III

D034

Eighteen Moon-like Ponds

Lake Landscape

Pearl Valley Yangba Town Nanjiang County

The riverbed is made of granite and is in a gorge about 3.5km in length extending from east to west. Two groups of joint fissures develop in the rock one of which strikes close to a valley forming steep ridges tens of meters high.The stream forms a waterfall falls into the ponds and the water splashes everywhere looking like pearls. The valley is called “Pearl Valley” and 18 waterfalls and ponds in the valley are connected called the “Eighteen Moon-like Ponds”. It fully demonstrates the unique beach-waterfall-pond combination landform in the granite and it is a scenic area for viewing the landscape of Red Leaves Waterfall and Lake in the Geopark.

Class III

D035

Pearl Valley

Tectonic Geomorphologic Landscape

Pearl Valley Yangba Town Nanjiang County

The valley is distributed in a nearly east-west direction about 3.5km long 25-40m wide at the bottom and the slopes on both sides are generally 45°-55°. The river bed is made of granite and most sections of the bedrock are exposed.The joints and fissures of the two groups are extremely developed. One group runs close to a vertical valley often forming steep ridges with a height of 1-3m. The stream falls at the steep ridges to form waterfalls and deep pools are formed below the waterfalls. The trend of the other group of fissures is almost parallel to the valley and the stream erodes the rock mass along this fissure all the year round to form narrow grooves.

Class III

D036

Guangwu Mountain

Granite Geomorphologic Landscape

Guangwushan Yangba Town Nanjiang County

Guangwushan Mountain is the main peak of Micang Mountain 2507m above sea level named after the clouds drifting all year round.The mountain comprises gentle shield-shaped peaks on the whole but spectacular rocky peaks and pillars are also exposed on the ridge.The granite landform represented by the mountain is typical in the transition region between the tropical and the temperate belts and has a typical meaning for studying the development of granite landforms worldwide.

Class III

D037

Xinmin Moraine

Regional Standard Section

Xinmin Yangba Town Nanjiang County

Moraine is a layer of moraine mud and gravel which is composed of mixed accumulation of gravel sand and clay.Among them the content of gravel is about 20-30% and the composition is mainly granite. The gravel diameter is mostly between 20cm and 2m and the larger one can reach more than 8m; The composition of sand and clay is the same as that of gravel the content is 80-70% and the cementation is loose.Another view is that the local granites are granite stone eggs formed by spherical weathering due to freezing and thawing.

Class III

D038

Boundary Line between Shangliang Mawozi Formation and Augite Diorite of the Neoproterozoic

Local Standard Section

Shangliang Qiaoting Town Nanjiang County

It is the dividing line between the Mawozi Formation of the Huodiya Group in the Mesoproterozoic and the Neoproterozoic pyroxene diorite.The west side is dull gray-dark gray medium-fine pyroxene diorite and the east side is the variegated medium-thick layer of the second member of the Mawozi Formation-thick massive dolomitic marble interposed with marble partially intercalated with a small amount of carbonaceous slate.The two are in an intrusive contact relationship.

Class III

D039

Shangliang Fault

Small and Medium-sized Structures

Shangliang Qiaoting Town Nanjiang County

Shangliang Fault appears as a ductile shear zone with a width of 7-10m.The rocks in the zone are broken and schistosomiasis are obvious. Potassium feldspar is ellipsoid with eyeball structure and quartz is elongated and deformed.

Class III

D040

Sinian-Granite Boundary of Xiqing

Regional Standard Section

Xiqing Shenmen Township Nanjiang County

It is the boundary between the strata and the granite body. The Sinian (about 541-635 million years ago) dolomites lies on the west side with algae-lamellar structures and grape-like structures; moyite of the Chengjiang Period lies on the east side with development in vertical joints.

Class III

D041

Longshendian Peak Cluster

Karst Landscape

Longshendian Guimin Town Nanjiang County

It is a peak cluster landscape developed in the Sinian (630-540 million years ago) in the dolomites and the shape of a single peak body is peculiar.There used to be the Dragon Temple a temple dedicated to the mountain god where the peak cluster is located. Carriers who traveled from north to South stopped here to pray for a safe journey. There was a "Yaodianzi" at the pass for passers-by to stop and rest.

Class III

D042

Xiajiagou Peak Cluster

Karst Landscape

Xiajiagou Guimin Town Nanjiang County

It is a peak cluster landscape developed in the Sinian (630-540 million years ago) dolomite. Because the dolomite sits on top of early granite and amphibolite substratum the rock strata are exposed forming a landform of peak cluster and bold cliffs. The peak cluster is distributed in a plane. A single peak is so tall and prominent that it is called the "tower of strength".

Class III

D043

Shenmen Natural Bridge

Karst Landscape

Shaba Shenmen Township Nanjiang County

It is a natural bridge developed in the gray dolomite of the Dengying Formation in the Sinian (635-541 million years ago). It is named "Shenmen Natural Bridge" because of its shape resembling an arched door.The locals regard Shenmen Natural Bridge as a place of auspiciousness and once built a temple on the top of the mountain to pray for blessings and the incense was once flourishing.

Class III

D044

Shenmendong Peak Cluster

Karst Landscape

Shaba Shenmen Township Nanjiang County

It was developed in the gray dolomite of the Dengying Formation in the Sinian (635-541 million years ago).Because the dolomite sits on top of early granite and amphibolite substratum the rock strata are exposed.The entire peak cluster extends east-west with a length of about 2km and a distribution area of about 3km2. It is distributed in a plane when viewed from the sky.The elevation of the ridge is 1400-1900m and the elevation of the foot of the mountain is 900-1100m.The relative height difference between the ridge and the valley is 500-800m.

Class III

D045

Wujiawan Peak Cluster

Karst Landscape

Sanyuan Village Guimin Town Nanjiang County

It was developed in the gray dolomite of the Dengying Formation in the Sinian (635-541 million years ago).Because the dolomite sits on top of early granite and amphibolite substratum the rock strata are exposed.The peak cluster is distributed along the ridge with an area of about 5km2.The ridge is 1440-1776m above sea level and the foot of the mountain is 1200m above sea level.The relative height difference between the ridge and the valley is 240-576m.

Class III

D046

Flame Clint Forest

Karst Landscape

Huangxia Village Guimin Town Nanjiang County

It develops in the limestone of the Ordovician Baota Formation with unclear joint planes well-developed dissolution phenomena and a large number of dissolution channels.A flaky clint in the shape of a triangular prism with a thin top and a thick bottom is formed under the action of running water. In some places the dissolution is not obvious forming a rock wall with a height of about 6m.

Class III

D047

Boundary Line between Puziba Sodium Porphyry Veinsand Mawozi formation

Regional Standard Section

Puziba Yangba Town Nanjiang County

The lithology of Mawozi Formation (Pt3m) is gray dark gray gray-black thin layer-medium-bedded sericite phyllite intercalated with gray-light purple-red medium-thick layer-massive marble and dolomitic marble.There are two sodium porphyry veins extending along the direction of 50° about 100m in length and 2-8m in width.

Class III

D048

Puziba Ductile Shear Zone

Small and Medium-sized Structures

Puziba Yangba Town Nanjiang County

It extends in a near east-west direction and its visible width is about 15m.The rock stratum are largely deformed and the felsic veinlet is elongated compressed and broken into a rock sausage structure an eyeball structure and book-slant structure.It is excellent for popularization of tectonic science.

Class III

D049

Yangba Boundary Line between the Mesoproterozoic Shangliang Formation and Guanyinya Formation of the Sinian

Regional Standard Section

Yangba Town Nanjiang County

This interface is the Jingningian tectonic movement interface (about 1-0.8 billion years ago).Below the interface is the metamorphic rock of the Huodiya Group (1.6-1 billion years ago). Above the interface is Sinian (630-540 million years ago) gravel-bearing sandstone which is the contact interface between Micang Mountain fold basement and caprock. It is a typical place for studying the formation of Jingningian orogenic Yangtze ancient land and Sichuan Basin and has international comparative research significance.

Class III

D050

Xiaowuxia Fossil

Palaeoinvertebrates

Xiaowuxia Valley Ganchang Town Nanjiang County

The fossils are found in the Permian (299-252 million years ago) limestone and black flint bands and clumps are developed in the rock formations.Fossils are distributed along the rock layer mainly brachiopods and corals etc.The brachiopods are relatively small with clear patterns.

Class III

D051

Chuanhua Cave

Karst Landscape

Xiaowuxia Valley Ganchang Town Nanjiang County

It is located on the left bank of Xiaowuxia Valley the entrance of the cave is 625m above sea level.The karst caves are developed in the limestone of the Permian (299-252 million years ago).The cave is about 350m long containing magnificent cave flags and stalacto-stalagmites. The most distinctive feature is that the cave flags with a thickness of 0.5-1cm are distributed in patches which has extremely high aesthetic value and scientific research value.

Class III

D052

Chuanhua Cave flag

Karst Landscape

Chuanhua Cave Xiaowuxia Valley Ganchang Town Nanjiang County

They are travertine deposits resembling pennants with a length of more than 1m and a width of 1-2m distributed in patches.They are formed by precipitation of calcium carbonate precipitated when water flows along the protruding rock from the top of the cave.

Class III

D053

Colorful Cave

Karst Landscape

Xiaowuxia Valley Ganchang Town Nanjiang County

It is located on the left bank of Xiaowuxia Valley the entrance of the cave is 610m above sea level.The karst caves are developed in the limestone of the Permian (299-252 million years ago).The cave is about 3500m long meandering and developing subterranean rivers. The cave travertine deposit types are relatively complete and there are curtains stalactites stalagmites stalacto-stalagmites etc. The multi-layered stone waterfall is very spectacular and the "Flowstone" is a classic view of the cave and should not be missed.

Class III

D054

World Granary (Flowstone)

Karst Landscape

Colorful Cave Xiaowuxia Valley Ganchang Town Nanjiang County

The flowstone is calcium carbonate deposit formed by flowing water at the bottom of the cave. Its whole body is bright and white with huge scale and nodular deposits.The shape and color of the pile resemble a pile of rice so it is known as the “World Barn”.

Class III

D055

Gold Basin and Magical Water (Rimstone Dam)

Karst Landscape

Colorful Cave Xiaowuxia Valley Ganchang Town Nanjiang County

Rimstonesare formed by concentrated deposition of calcium carbonate along the pool water when the flowing water at the bottom of the cave passes through the small pool.The presence of rimstones can indicate the location of stagnant water in the pool.

Class III

D056

Source of Life (Stalagmite)

Karst Landscape

Colorful Cave Xiaowuxia Valley Ganchang Town Nanjiang County

Stalagmite is the dripstone deposit growing from bottom to top on the bottom plate of the cave which grows opposite to the stalactites.Its shape is controlled by many factors such as the chemical properties of the water droplets dissolved substances and the distance the water drops fall. There are various shapes such as cones and towers.

Class III

D057

Xiaowuxia valley

Tectonic Geomorphologic Landscape

Xiaowuxia Valley Ganchang Town Nanjiang County

The valley extends from north to south with a length of 18km and the narrowest spot is only 5-8m. The valley is nearly 1000m deep and the two sides are steep like razor. With magical peaks jagged rocks karst caves and vast clouds the valley looks extreme magnificent.In the Qing Dynasty Wang Jingfang the magistrate of Nanjiang County wrote a poem saying that "twelve peaks in a row and a chess array of stars"; mountains and gorges are seen in this area and the Ming River originating from Iron Boat Mountain runs across it resembling both the shape and the spirit of the Wu Gorge beside the Yangtze River. So it is called Xiaowuxia (small Wu Gorge).

Class III

D058

Xiaowuxia Fold

Small and Medium-sized Structures

Xiaowuxia Valley Ganchang Town Nanjiang County

The original horizontal rock formations were bent and deformed due to the influence of tectonic compression in the later stage forming the anticlines and synclines seen today which has a great ornamental value.

Class III

D059

The Discovering Place of the Shuotherium dongi

Vertebrate

Shilong Village Ganchang Town Nanjiang County

1In 1978 local residents discovered half of a mammalian mandible fossil in the sandstone formation of the Jurassic Shaximiao Formation here.After the identification by academician Zhou Mingzhen of Chinese Academy of Sciences it was named "Shuotherium dongi" and based on which the "Shuotherium dongi order" was established which was the oldest fossil mammal (about 130 million years ago) found on Earth at that time.The fossil is now the collection of the Paleozoological Museum of China.

Class III

D060

Guanjiaying Natural Bridge

Karst Landscape

Longjiawan Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It was developed in the dolomite and dolomitic limestone of the Jialingjiang Formation in the Triassic (252-201 million years ago).It is a landscape through caves formed by dissolution.The entrance of the cave is nearly circular with a diameter of about 5m like a window with a canyon on both sides.The top of the cave has sharp edges like stalactites.A clear rock layer can be seen below the hole and the layer is undulating.

Class III

D061

Zhongfeng Cave

Karst Landscape

Zhongfeng Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

Developed in the Cambrian and Ordovician (541-444 million years ago) limestone and dolomitic limestone Zhongfeng Cave is divided into upper middle and lower layers and has three exits namely Foguang Cave Zhongfeng Ancient Cave and Subterranean River of Big Cave.The cave is the largest in the Nuoshuihe cave group and has 36 branches a 15km-long passage and an area of 600000m2.The largest hall Foguang (Buddha light) Cave occupies an area of 30000m2 (ranking 18th in the world).The cave is featured by huge halls typical ceiling pots and gullies and a long subterranean river.

Class III

D062

Ceiling pot

Fluvial Erosion Geomorphologic Landscape

Zhongfeng Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

Various circular or elliptical pot-like landscapes are distributed on the walls and roof of the cavewith a diameter of 15-85cm and a depth of 7-75cm either distributed in patches or appearing individually.and mainly formed by the erosion of flowing water.

Class III

D063

Gully

Fluvial Erosion Geomorphologic Landscape

Zhongfeng Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

The ditch-like landscapes distributed on the walls and roof of the cave vary in scale with a depth of 5-25cm and a length much greater than the width. The landscape is ditch-shaped and formed by the erosion of flowing water.

Class III

D064

Wave Flow Mark

Fluvial Erosion Geomorphologic Landscape

Zhongfeng Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

A wavy and concave landscape on the cave wall caused by the dissolution and erosion of flowing water.It often appears in groups.

Class III

D065

Subterranean River of Big Cave

Karst Landscape

Zhongfeng Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It flows into the north from Foguang Cave in the form of a low current starting from the entrance of the highest level of Zhongfeng Cave.The total length is about 2500m the width is 10-20m the depth is more than 10m the drop is 204.5m and the average longitudinal slope is 81.8%.A lot of water fell in the river bed. During the rainy season the river water layers fall and the water roars forming a seasonal underground river.

Class III

D066

Zhongfeng Cave Flag

Karst Landscape

Zhongfeng Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It is a pennant-shaped travertine deposit.It is mainly formed by the precipitation of calcium carbonate when water flows down from a high place with good light transmittance.Its colors are white yellow brown etc.The main reason for the white color is that the roof of the cave is thick the groundwater is fully filtered and the calcium carbonate is relatively pure. It will become yellow brown or other colors if the roof of the cave is thin the groundwater is not sufficiently filtered and the calcium carbonate contains mud iron etc.

Class III

D067

Twilight Cave

Karst Landscape

Zhongfeng Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

The largest hall in Zhongfeng Cave with an area of 30000 square meters (ranked 18th in the world)The subsurface river flows through Shuguang Cave which is one of the three exits of Zhongfeng Cave.The stalacto-stalagmite at the entrance of the cave resembles a Buddha practicing meditation and the entrance of the cave is so wonderful resembling a high-heeled shoe. After the rain it is sunny and the “Buddha light” shines all over forming a peculiar natural landscape.

Class III

D068

Cambrian-Ordovician Boundary of Nuoshuihe

Regional Standard Section

Liujiaba Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It is the boundary between the Ordovician (485-444 million years ago) and the Cambrian (541-485 million years ago). The fine sandstone of Ordovician lies on the southeast and the limestone of Cambrian lies on the northwest.The two are in parallel unconformity contact.These two eras were in marine environments for a long time during which sedimentary materials changed due to transgression and regression.

Class III

D069

Ordovician-Silurian Boundary of Nuoshuihe

Regional Standard Section

Liujiaba Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

Here is the boundary between the Ordovician (485-444 million years ago) and the Silurian (444-419 million years ago).The shale of Silurian lies on the south which contains a large number of graptolites; the limestone of Ordovician lies on the north.The two are in integrated contact.These two eras were in marine environments for a long time during which sedimentary materials changed due to transgression and regression.

Class III

D070

"polygonal marking" limestone

Regional Standard Section

Lijiaba Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It developed in the Ordovician (485-444 million years ago) in the tortoise crack limestone of the Baota Formation.Its scales resemble fish so it is also known as dragon scale stone and is geologically called "turtle crack limestone".The reasons for its formation are diverse and drought during the deposition period is one of the most important.

Class III

D071

Silurian-Permian Boundary of Nuoshuihe

Regional Standard Section

Lijiaba Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It is the boundary between the Silurian (444-419 million years ago) and the Permian (299-252 million years ago).The dark gray silty shale of upper Silurian lies on the north and the brown-black carbon-bearing siltstone of lower Permian lies on the south.The two are in parallel unconformity contact.The Devonian and Carboniferous were missed between the Silurian and Permian and there is no sedimentation for 120 million years indicating that the area had risen to land then.

Class III

D072

Loufang Cave

Karst Landscape

Loufang Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

Loufang Cave is developed in the Permian Wujiaping Formation (299-252 million years ago) limestone and the cave entrance is divided into two layers so it is called Loufang Cave (like a two-story house).The entrance of the cave is 560m above sea level and the height difference between the entrance of the dry cave and the exit of the underground river is 9.6m. The cave has rich types of calcareous landscapes and the rock waterfall in the cave is one of the best with " Xiongchuan waterfall " and "Huanglong waterfall " being particularly famous.

Class III

D073

Jellyfish stone

Karst Landscape

Loufang Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It is a travertine landscape formed by the deposition of surface water.It looks like a jellyfish snow-white all over hanging on the ceiling of the cave with a diameter between 1-3m.

Class III

D074

Loufang Cave Subterranean River

Karst Landscape

Loufang Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

The height difference between the Loufang Cave Subterranean River and the entrance of Han Cave is 9.6m.With the ups and downs of the topography of the underground river the dangerous places are like turbulent waves hitting the shore and there are round pebbles in the river. The flow of the river is closely related to Shaanxi. Heavy rains in Shaanxi and the apparent increase in the flow of underground rivers indicate that the river reaches the upper reaches of Shaanxi.

Class III

D075

Rimestone dam

Karst Landscape

Loufang Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It is a high-altituderimstonelandscape caused by the flowing water at the bottom of the cave. It is named the "rimstone dam" because it looks like a dam that blocks water.

Class III

D076

Stalagmite

Karst Landscape

Loufang Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

The stalagmite is travertine formed by dripping water deposition and its shape is affected by many factors such as the dissolved substance of the water droplets the distance of the dripping. Its appearance is crystal clear and it is named because of its resemblance to two corn.

Class III

D077

Huanglong waterfall

Karst Landscape

Loufang Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

Huanglong Waterfall is the travertine deposit formed by surface flow water which is like a waterfall 21m wide and 2.5m high and is still growing and developing.

Class III

D078

Xiongchuan waterfall

Karst Landscape

Loufang Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

Xiongchuan Waterfall is a travertine deposition formed by surface flowing water bearing a resemblance to a waterfall 23.7m wide and 3.5m high and is still growing and developing.The scale and volume of this waterfall are rare in the world among similar landscapes and it is one of the core geological heritage landscapes of the Geopark.

Special grade

D079

Nuoshuihe valley

Tectonic Geomorphologic Landscape

Nuoshui River Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

The valley is about 17km long and the exit is Nuoshuihe Town. The Xiaotong River winds through the valley.The high and steep walls on both sides of the mountains are about 300-500m high and the Cambrian Ordovician Silurian Permian Triassic and Jurassic strata are exposed in sequence from north to south just like a large natural geological section.There are hundreds of caves in the valley. The representative caves are Zhongfeng Cave Longhu Cave Loufang Cave Lion Cave Songjia Cave etc.The Micang Ancient Path goes north along both banks of the valley.

Class III

D080

Songjiadong Cave shield

Karst Landscape

Songjia Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It is a travertine formed by surface flowing water which is hollow like a circular plate attached to the ceiling or wall of the cave with a diameter of more than 10cm to 2m and a thickness of 2-10cm.The cave shield group is the most characteristic travertine landscape in Songjia Cave.

Class III

D081

Songjia Cave

Karst Landscape

Songjia Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

The cave was developed in the limestone of the Wujiaping Formation in the Permian (299-252 million years ago). There are two cave openings with an altitude of 687m and 680m and the horizontal distance between them is 35m.It has been proved that the length of the cave is 254m the tunnel is curved and the direction and the scale change greatly.The cave is rich in travertine landscapes among which the large-scale cave shield group is the most distinctive.

Class III

D082

Lion Cave

Karst Landscape

Lion Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

The cave is developed in the Permian Wujiaping Formation (299-252 million years ago) limestone 680m above sea level at the entrance. The main cave passage faces northwest which is about 1000m long and divided into three palaces and seven halls and the scenic area is about 70000m2.The cave’s sedimentary landscape is characterized by high-density stone pillars and stalacto-stalagmites which are small and exquisite complete in types and of high density. The highlight of the cave is given a name “the lampstand stone”.

Class III

D083

Brush-shaped stalacto-stalagmite

Karst Landscape

Lion Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

The stalacto-stalagmite is shaped like an upside-down writing brush with a height of 6.78m.The water droplets from the top of the cave fell to the bottom of the cave carbon dioxide escaped and calcium carbonate precipitated. Over time stalagmites at the bottom of the cave connect with stalactites at the top of the cave to form stalacto-stalagmites.

Class III

D084

Lion Cave Curistone

Karst Landscape

Lion Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It is a travertine formed by the deposition of capillary water which is spiral or twisted upward and some is bun-shaped showing the characteristics of non-gravity impact.

Class III

D085

Palm-shape stalagmite

Karst Landscape

Lion Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

Because there is a large drop of water the flowing water is in a splashing state. While the dripping water forms stalagmites the splashed small water particles form sloping upward palm-shape stalagmites on the surface of the stalagmites.Palms are also irregular due to the uneven distribution of splash water.

Class III

D086

Tilted stalacto-Stalagmite

Karst Landscape

Lion Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

Stalacto-stalagmites are columnar bodies formed by the opposite growth and butting of stalagmites and stalactites.Suchstalacto-stalagmite is inclined due to the collapse of the foundation stone and is called the “Leaning Tower of Pisa” in the cave.

Class III

D087

Lampstand stone

Karst Landscape

Lion Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

After the formation of stalactites and stalagmites water accumulates at the bottom of the cave again and the water level of the pool rises and stabilizes for a long time forming a lampstand-like or lotus-like sediment around the water surface.The perimeter of the lampstand stone is about 40m.

Class III

D088

Lion cave curtain

Karst Landscape

Lion Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

Flowing water flows down the cavities in the rock wall and the calcium carbonate in the water is precipitated and accumulated in layers for a long time to form travertine shaped like a curtain also known as stone curtain.

Class III

D089

Spherical Stalactites

Karst Landscape

Lion Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It is botryoid travertine landscape formed by the deposition of splashing water.Generally developed in pieces. And the diameter of a "grape" is between 0.5-2cm. Due to oxidation the surface is light gray-black.

Class III

D090

Nuoshui Fairyland (Stalacto-stalagmites)

Karst Landscape

Lion Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

There is a crevice at the top of this place and the water flows down the crevice to form stalagmites stalactites and stalacto-stalagmites revealing the process of joining stalagmites and stalactites to become stalacto-stalagmites in a textbook format.The phenomenon of caliche deposits repeating the process of flaking off and growing again is also visible.

Class III

D091

Buddhism(curtain)

Karst Landscape

Lion Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

In the seepage water calcium carbonate precipitates down the wall of the cave or the sloping top of the cave forming a layered curtain which is shaped like a Buddha statue and is called a "Buddha statue."

Class III

D092

Mushroom-shaped Stone

Karst Landscape

Lion Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It is formed by the co-deposition of dropping water and splashing water. And it is called a stone mushroom because it resembles a mushroom.

Class III

D093

Fairy Cave

Karst Landscape

Immortal Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

The cave is developed in the Wujiaping limestone of the Permian (299-252 million years ago).The entrance of the cave is 605m above sea level the depth of the cave is about 600m and the swimming area is about 30000m2.

Class III

D094

Permian-Triassic Boundary of Nuoshuihe

Regional Standard Section

Niujiaoqian Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

The boundary of the Permian (299-252 million years ago) and the Triassic (252-201 million years ago).The purplish red shale of Triassic lies on the south and the grid-like dark gray limestone of the upper Permian lies on the north.They are in an integrated contact.The sedimentary environment changed from a marine environment to a lakeside-river swamp environment.

Class III

D095

Magical Spring

Cold Spring Landscape

Niujiaoqian Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

Also known as the black and white spring. The spring water gushes out in black and precipitates in white.Its color changes with climate change. It will be milky white on a sunny day and it will rain when it turns black.The color also changes several times in a day so it is also called “color-changing spring”.Spring water has certain medical effects. The “Tongjiang County Chronicles” during the Daoguang Period of the Qing Dynasty stated: “Sulfuric water gushes out of the Niujiaoqian Cave the smell of sulfur is pungent and it can cure scabies.”

Class III

D096

Longhu Cave

Karst Landscape

Niujiaoqian Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

The cave is developed in the Wujiaping limestone of the Permian (299-252 million years ago).The entrance of the cave is 550m above sea level 17m high and 60m wide.The cave has numerous branches and the 3000m-long cave passage is divided into four layers from bottom to top.The Sod Straw Cluster that is rare in number and density heliotropic stalactite and the underground lake are the treasures of the cave.The heliotropic stalactites appearing to be cow horns are embedded top of the entrance to the Longhu Cave so the cave is also called "Cow Horn Cave".

Class III

D097

Ancient castle

Karst Landscape

Longhu Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It is a Quaternary lake sediment mainly muddy with horizontal bedding and a thickness of about 3m.It reflects the many water level changes of Longhu Cave in the later period it is an important object for studying the hydrodynamic conditions in the cave.

Class III

D098

Soda Straw Cluster

Karst Landscape

Longhu Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

The soda straw is a long hollow tube of adarce precipitated slowly from the top to the bottom of the cave as the water drips downward.This patch has a diameter of 1-3cm a wall thickness of 0.5-7mm and a single piece area of about 800m2  which is the largest single piece of soda straw clusters found in the world.The goose pipe is crystal clear white and flawless and there are many water droplets hanging from the lower end indicating that it is growing and developing.

Special grade

D099

Sinkhole

Fluvial Erosion Geomorphologic Landscape

Longhu Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

The sinkhole runs through the mountain and used to be a place where surface water was transferred to groundwater.There is a pond on the sinkhole which is supplied with spring water all year round. The sound forms a shock wave through the small pipes around the sinkhole which swells the spring water forming a magical landscape.

Class III

D100

Niujiaoqian Subterranean River

Karst Landscape

Longhu Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It is about 8km long 538m high and dendritic with a water area of 21km2. The underground water depth is greater than 100m. And finally it merges into the Xiaotong River the ancient bridge left at the exit of Micang Ancient Path.

Class III

D101

Longhu Cave Coral

Karst Landscape

Longhu Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

Stony corals are sediments of different origin and homogeneity mostly located on the surface of stalactites or stalagmites.They can be formed in splashing water capillary water or underwater.Coral-like formations in caves are very common and it is often difficult to make strict distinctions in shape.

Class III

D102

Heliotropic Stalactite

Karst Landscape

Longhu Cave Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

There was a slight difference in the CO2 content inside and outside the cave in the process of downward growth of stalactites at the entrance of the Longhu Cave due to the effects of organisms and wind which causes the faster precipitation of the calcium carbonate on the side near the entrance and outward-inclined growth of the stalactites showing the phototropism.

Class III

D103

Ganqiutian Cave

Karst Landscape

Taiji symbol Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It developed in the Lower Triassic (252-247 million years ago) Jialingjiang Formation limestone and dolomitic limestone passing through two openings. The east entrance is next to the river and the south entrance is adjacent to the road with a height of 3m a width of 3-5m and an area of about 200m2.The travertine in the cave is light yellow scattered in the form of terraces with different shapes and is the core landscape of the cave.

Class II

D104

Stone Terraced Fields

Karst Landscape

Taiji symbol Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It is a landscape formed by the cause of flowing water at the bottom of the cave which is supersaturated calcium carbonate water passing through the uneven bottom of the cave changing at the convex place due to the state of water flow forming a series of arc-shaped stepped reservoirs for a long time resembling terraced fields from a distance.

Class II

D105

Taiji Diagram

Fluvial Erosion Geomorphologic Landscape

Taiji symbol Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It is the serpentine section of the river and the Luba River wraps around the foothills.From a high position you can only see the canyon surrounded by mountains and the haunting curved flow forming a landscape taiji symbol.The river is running and the arch is shaped like a yellow dragon so the locals call it "Yellow Dragon Locked by Taiji".

Class II

D106

Jintong Mountain

Karst Landscape

Golden Child Mountain Louzi Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It is located on the west side of Louzi facing Yuhuangba in front and Fenghuangling in the back. The peaks and ridges are raised and the two peaks are dependent on each other. The mountain likes Jintong and Yunv with outstanding temperament which is also called “Jintong and Yunv Mountain”.The scenery on the mountain is beautiful. You can overlook the river meander there and the view is also exceptionally magnificent.The “Zhenwu Temple” on the top of the mountain is well-preserved and pilgrims are in an endless stream.

Class III

D107

Mushroom-Shaped Stone

Karst Landscape

Golden Child Mountain Louzi Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It is a pictographic mountain rock shaped like a mushroom about 5m high. It was formed by dissolution and caving in the later period of the limestone and dolomitic limestone of the Jialingjiang Formation in the Lower Triassic (252-247 million years ago).

Class III

D108

Chinese Painting Screen (Cliff)

Karst Landscape

Louzi Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It is a bare karst cliff about 500m high and 1000m long.There are mottled moss bushes and thorns at the top and bottom of the cliff which is colorful.Nuoshui leans against the mountains and flows slowly reflecting each other like a mountains-and-waters painting screen with “splashing ink charm”.

Class III

D109

Triassic-Jurassic Boundary of Nuoshuihe

Regional Standard Section

Lower Reaches of Nuoshui River Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

It is the boundary between the Triassic (252-201 million years ago) and the Jurassic (201-145 million years ago).The dark gray sandstone of the upper Triassic lies on the north and the gravel sandstone of the lower Jurassic lies on the south.At the end of the Triassic after the final transition from sea to land in the Jurassic the organisms were mainly freshwater bivalves ostracods and leaf limbs.Fossils of Shuotherium dongi were also found in the Jurassic strata.

Class III

D110

Baishan cliff

Karst Landscape

Baishan Village Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

Bai Mountain 5km northwest of Lin River is opposite to Tongcao Gorge.It gradually rises from low to high from the bottom of the valley to the north.The face is cut like a wall towering into the clouds.Its color is white hence its name.

Class II

D111

Linjiang valley

Tectonic Geomorphologic Landscape

Linjiang Valley Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

The valley is a deep and narrow gorge with a branch-like distribution as a whole which has several branches e.g. Black Wood Gorge Tank Shell Gorge and Dinosaur Gorge.There are unique rocks and the clear pond on the valley floor is like a crescent moon or a treasure gourd.Currently sightseeing is available for professional scientific expeditions only.

Class III

D112

Lingyun waterfall

Waterfall Landscape

Linjiang Valley Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

The water flows down from the mouth of the karst cave in the middle of the mountain forming a majestic waterfall with a width of 50m and a height of about 100m.

Class III

D113

Tianyu peak

Karst Landscape

Kongshan Town Tongjiang County

Tianyu Peak is located in the hinterland of the Kongshan Sky Basin and developed in the Permian (299-252 million years ago) limestone.The lonely mountain stands tall with a height of about 140m and a length of more than 500m. It covers an area of 6000m2 more. It is fan-shaped and resembles an ingot. There are many karst caves in the mountain linking one to another.An inscription reading "The Second Cave of Heaven" is seen inside the cave.The Red Army was stationed here so it is also called "Red Army Cave".

Class III

D114

Red Army of Kongshan Settling on an Isolated Peak

Tectonic Geomorphologic Landscape

Kongshan Town Tongjiang County

Due to the action of gravity a line of sky landscape is formed along the vertical joint plane which extends along the direction of 120° and is 50cm-2m wide.

Class III

D115

Subterranean River of Kongshan Dam

Karst Landscape

Kongshan Town Tongjiang County

The aquifer is Permian (299-252 million years ago) limestone with an elevation of 530m. The entrance is 30m high 15m wide and 15km long. The syncline axis along the 260° direction develops in a dendritic shape with a water area of 70km2.The buried depth of groundwater is greater than 150m and it will eventually flow into the Datong River.

Class III

D116

Kongshan Sky Basin

Karst Landscape

Kongshan Town Tongjiang County

Located in the hinterland of the Kongshan Forest Park it is a typical mid-alpine karst basin developed in Permian (299-252 million years ago) limestone flat at the bottom and covering an area of 27km2 .The lowest part of the basin is 1150m above sea level and more than 600m above the valley east of the Kongshan Mountain and it is therefore called "Sky Basin".The basin is surrounded by 137 mountain peaks the highest 2088m above sea level.Many sinkholes are exposed along which surface water flows underground so that the rocks in the basin are often hollowed out by the flow of water to form caves and subterranean rivers. Local residents call this place "Kongshanba".

Class III

D117

Tianchan peak

Karst Landscape

Kongshan Town Tongjiang County

It is an isolated peak left after the surface was dissolved and developed in the Permian (299-252 million years ago) limestone only a hundred meters away from Tianyu Peak. The abrupt cliff is on the south side 120m high the gentle slope is on the north side and the peak top is covered by lush vegetation and thorns.

Class III

D118

Tianyuan peak

Karst Landscape

Kongshan Town Tongjiang County

Developed in the limestone of the Permian (299-252 million years ago). It is a Peak Cluster formed by the remnant after water erosion in the karst basin.Tianyuan Peak consists of three raised peaks: the main peak is about 120m high and the two side peaks are around 80-120m high. The mountain is steep and straight like three stonemason chisels erecting in a heavenly basin and thus called by the locals as "chisel rock".Looking down from the observation deck of the Kongshan Sky Basin it is more like an ancient official's cap which is also known as "official cap mountain".

Class III

D119

Kongshan Sky Basin Sinkhole

Karst Landscape

Kongshan Town Tongjiang County

It consists of two sinkholes. The larger one is 18m long and 10m wide; the smaller one is 18m long and 7m wide. The wall of the sinkhole is vertical and a gap of about 1m wide is seen on the north-east side. Only a ray of sky can be seen from the inside out.There are a large amount of flowing water alluvial sand and gravel layer at the bottom of the sinkholes.This sinkhole is one of the important drainage points for atmospheric precipitation in the rainy season in the Kongshan Sky Basin.

Class III

D120

Large and Small Dragon Pools

Lake Landscape

Longchi Village Kongshan Town Tongjiang County

Large and Small Dragon Pools are naturally formed with a distance of about 200m which will not overflow in case of long-time rain and will not dry up in case of long-time drought.The Large Dragon Pool is 114m long 60m wide and 4-5m deep.The Small Dragon Pool is 107m long 48m wide and about 3m deep.After renovation the two pools not only provide irrigation water for the surrounding farmers but also add beauty and paragon of waters to the Kongshan Mountain.

Class III

D121

Stone forest of Kongshan

Karst Landscape

Longchi Village Kongshan Town Tongjiang County

The stone forest is developed in the Permian (299-252 million years ago) limestone and distributed along the slope in bands for about 5km long and 300m wide. The forest is no higher than 5-6m and no shorter than 1-2m.Looking far away the stone forest is like ten thousand Buddhas lining up worshiping the heaven and the earth. Looking from near one stone is like a Buddha each with special expression.

Class III

D122

Seven-Star Lamp Peak Cluster

Karst Landscape

Qixing Village Kongshan Town Tongjiang County

It developed in the Permian (299-252 million years ago) limestone with an area of about 50000m2. The highest peak is about 120m and the rest are 50-80m.The peak cluster varies in height and has different shapes. There are dense sweetgum trees growing on the mountain peaks. In the golden autumn season the maple leaves are like fire like seven red lights hence the name "Seven-Star Lamp Peak Cluster".

Class II

D123

Xianglushan Mushroom-Shaped Stone

Clastic Rock Geomorphologic Landscape

Censer-like Mountain Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

It developed in the sandstones of the Cambrian (541-485 million years ago).As a result of weathering collapse a mushroom-shaped stalacto-stalagmite that is thick at the top and thin at the bottom was formed.Its top slightly connected to the north side of the mountain and its lower part is a hole shaped like a natural bridge.

Class III

D124

Xiangbi Peak

Clastic Rock Geomorphologic Landscape

Censer-like Mountain Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

It was developed in the Cambrian (541-485 million years ago) sandstone with a hole in the middle quite similar to that of an elephant so it is called "Elephant Trunk Peak".At the season of azalea flowers the 500-year-old azalea tree at the top of the peak is in full bloom resembling an elephant carrying a tree of flowers on its back.

Class III

D125

Zijinta Tower

Karst Landscape

Yanziling Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

Looking up to the sky magnificent peaks insert straight into the sky.The side of peak is golden and dazzling like a purple-gold pagoda with the height of 100m and consist of Sinian dolomite.

Class II

D126

Heixiong Valley

Tectonic Geomorphologic Landscape

Heixiong Valley Daba Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

It is a canyon developed in the Sinian limestone and quartz diorite running in a north east - south west direction and then turning to a nearly east west direction with a total length of about 2km.It is said that the canyon got its name because of black bears bathing in the canyon pool but there is no evidence showing whether the hearsay is true or not. In the canyon there are green trees exotic flowers rare herbs clear streams grotesque stones and tinkling springs. Every autumn there are abundant red leaves and at that time the canyon is riotous with color.

Class III

D127

Wuliangfo Peak Cluster

Karst Landscape

Yanfangping Village Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

It is developed in Sinian dolomite dolomitic limestone and limestone dolomite.It is named Wuliangfo because there is a giant Buddha statue on the southwest end of the mountain.The peak cluster is composed of continuous karst ridges and peaks arranged side by side undulating.It spreads along the nearly north-south direction with two large peaks and five small peaks visible on the top. The peaks are round hump triangular etc.The entire peak cluster is about 800m long and 200-300m wide. The height of the peaks is about 50-80m and the width is about 15-25m.The peak cluster is covered with primitive vegetation mostly deciduous broad-leaved forests.

Class II

D128

Jindun Column

Karst Landscape

Lianghekou Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

Jindun is a dissolution column formed by the thick layer of dolomite in the Dengying Formation also known as "ship pile stone". It is 88m high and has a bottom diameter of more than 30m.From a distance it looks like a pagoda standing tall; from a closer look it looks like a green front piercing the blue sky.It grows a precious Chinese medicinal material gold earrings on its top which specializes in the treatment of intractable gynecological diseases and otitis media hence the name Jindun.

Class II

D129

Xujiagou Peak Cluster

Karst Landscape

Xujiagou Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

It develops in the limestone of the Ordovician Baota Formation and is located on the cliffs on both sides of Xujiagou. It is a ridge-shaped or ridge-shaped peak cluster i.e. the upright ridges developed between multiple gullies form a series of ridges due to the erosion and weathering of the rocks in the later period. Some of the ridge cliffs are thick columnar some are castle-like and some are narrow.Due to the level of stratigraphic occurrence the peak cluster cliff is thick and stable and develops into steps.There are also deep valleys of varying widths between the ridges but the length is not large. The cliffs of the ridges formed large caves and isolated stalacto-stalagmites due to collapse.The peak cluster is about 3km in length and 50-300m in width. The mountain beams are in the north-south direction and the height difference of the cliff is more than 450m.

Class III

D130

Luoqishan Column

Karst Landscape

Luoqi Mountain Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

It develops in the limestone of the Ordovician Baota Formation and stands on the cliff on the south bank of Jiaojia River. It is a cluster of mountain beams i.e. the mountain beam is uneven due to evolution dissolution and weathering and the cliff of the mountain beam is corroded and eroded to form a beam and a ditch cliff.There are six peaks in this peak cluster most of which are upright triangles sharp cones and verticals.The peak cluster is about 2km long and about 580m high and can be clearly divided into two stages. The cliff slope angle is about 85° and a lot of vegetation grows here. Especially at the cliff steps the vegetation is in a strip shape like a landscape painting.

Class III

D131

Luoqishan Peak Cluste

Karst Landscape

Luoqi Mountain Guangwushan Town Nanjiang County

It is located on the cliff on the south side of the lower reaches of the Jiaojia River.The column is stalagmite-like i.e. the top is sharp like a bamboo shoot; the lower part is a thick column about 20m in height and about 4m in diameter at the bottom. It is isolated on the edge of the cliff and the whole is relatively complete. It is developed in the Sinian carbonate rock. It is estimated that it was isolated on the edge of the cliff due to the impact of the fault and gradually collapsed due to the later period of dissolution and weathering.A small amount of vegetation grows on the top and bottom.This column is about 80-100m above the river bed. It stands tall and stands upright which is quite magnificent like a mountain guardian guarding the landscape.

Class III

D132

Dongzigou Karst Cave

Karst Landscape

Shaba Shenmen Township Nanjiang County

The cave opening is about 1.5m wide and 1.5m high.The entrance of the cave is located on the mountainside surrounded by vegetation.The exposed bedrock at and near the entrance of the cave is carbonate rock. There are many knife-cutting weathering marks on the rock surface due to differential weathering.The length of the cave is 105m and the development of the cave is a corridor + hall type. There are chemical deposits such as spherical stalactites andclustersin the cave.

Class III

D133

Stalagmite Peak

Karst Landscape

Shaba Shenmen Township Nanjiang County

Developed in the Dolomites of the Dengying Formation of the Ediacaran the column is in the shape of a cylinder with a small top and a large bottom with a diameter of about 2m in the upper part a diameter of 3m in the lower part and a height of about 10m.The column is located on the edge of Shenmendong Peak Cluster with a small amount of vegetation on the top like a bamboo shoot growing in the peak cluster. This place is called Shisunya and this peak is called Stalagmite Peak.

Class III

D134

Longtan Waterfall

Waterfall Landscape

Eighteen Moon-like Ponds Yangba Town Nanjiang County

They are located at the exit of the Yinjia River Valley. The stream cascades down from the top of the cliff with a height of 50m and a width of 20m and rushes into the deep pool below it. The water splashes and the roar is deafening.The cliffs are granites developed along structural joints and fissures under its own gravity.The waterfall surface is generally 0.5-1m wide and it falls into the pool in a beam shape which is magnificent shocking and very masculine with the characteristics of high difference large flow great sound and deep pool.The water depth of the lower pool is about 15m the water surface is irregularly elliptical the long axis is about 50m the short axis is about 15m and the area is 500m2. TheMyxocyprinus asiaticus in the lake is in groups and plays freely. The trees and plants on both sides of the waterfall and the lake the water curtain reflects the sun the rainbow is flying and the lake is frozen in winter crystal clear and white.

Class III

D135

Payandian Waterfall

Waterfall Landscape

Payandian Caijia River Shangliang Qiaoting Town Nanjiang County

This waterfall is located in the cliff between Pangyandian Mountains in a beam shape with a drop of about 60m an upper width of about 1m and a lower width of 4-6m; there are two stacks the upper stack is about 25m high and the bottom stack is about 35m high; the bottom of the waterfall is eroded to form a pool which is nearly circular with a diameter of about 10m.This waterfall is a branch of Dishuiyan Valley. The water flows out from the mountains and then merges into Dishuiyan Valley.The waterfall is majestic and quite spectacular.As for the cause the main ditch formed a canyon cliff under the effects of neotectonic movement uplifting and down erosion. Later it naturally evolved to form a branch ditch and the water flows on the cliff to form a hanging waterfall.

Class III

D136

Caijiahe Valley

Tectonic Geomorphologic Landscape

Caijia River Shangliang Qiaoting Town Nanjiang County

It is a V-shaped gorge in the upper reaches of Nanjiang River. The gorge is 4km long 7-40m wide at the bottom 80-200m deep and 45°-75°. At the bottom of the gorge a modern river bed is developed namely the Caijia River. The river flow is about 3m3/s and the flow velocity is about 3m/s. The river water is colorless and has good water quality.The gorge slope has dense vegetation common birds butterflies bees and other animals. The ecological environment is superior and the scenery is beautiful so it is a good place for leisure and sightseeing.

Class III

D137

Sharp Sword-shaped Peak

Karst Landscape

Xiqing Shenmen Township Nanjiang County

Developed in the Dolomites of the Dengying Formation of the Ediacaran the column is about 10m high and 3m wide. Its lower part is prismatic with sharp edges and corners; while its top is sharp like a sharp sword standing in the mountain so it is named Sharp Sword-shaped Peak.

Class III

D138

Huajian Village Peak Cluster

Karst Landscape

Huajian Village Shenmen Township Nanjiang County

The peak cluster is developed in the dolomites of the Dengying Formation of the Ediacaran. The peak cluster base is about 150m high and consists of granite and gabbro.The peak cluster consists of six peaks the highest peak is about 50m the diameter is about 25m and the top is round.The other five mountain peaks are all slender about 2m in diameter with sharp tops and a small amount of vegetation growing on the tops.

Class III

D139

Shirenshan Peak Cluster

Karst Landscape

Xianfeng Village Shenmen Township Nanjiang County

It is located in Shiren Mountain and developed in Sinian dolomite dolomitic limestone or calcite dolomite. The entire Peak Cluster extends along the ridge in a north-east direction for about 2km with a distribution area of about 2.5km2 of which the ridge is 1600-1720.1m above sea level and the foot is 900-1100m above sea level.The relative height difference between the ridge and the valley is 700-820.1m.The dolomite and dolomitic limestone repose on top of the early granite and amphibolite substrates and the rock strata are exposed forming a majestic landscape of peaks and bold cliffs.There are three stone columns on the mountain called Shiren Mountain.A poem says "Tall like an iron boat loaded with immortals; the stone pillars are rearing high into the sky."

Class III

D140

Xiqing-Xiaowuxia Valley

Tectonic Geomorphologic Landscape

Xiqing Shenmen Township Nanjiang County

The northern section of Xiaowuxia Valley goes east-west.The valley is about 30m wide and 8km long passing through the Ediacaran limestone and granite.There are steep cliffs on both sides of the valley and the water on both sides of the cliff pours into Pujia River like a light yarn hanging on one bank of the valley.

Class III

D141

Longwang Cave

Karst Landscape

Sanhe Village Shenmen Township Nanjiang County

The karst cave develops in the carbonates of the Dengying Formation of the Ediacaran. Horizontal bedding is developed in the rock formations and the entrance of the cave is covered by vegetation.The opening is about 6m wide and 5m high in a semicircular shape facing the east.The total length of the cave is 315m with perennial running water. The water is clear colorless and tasteless and the water flow is about 3L/S. Some parts of the cave are extremely narrow and difficult to pass. The development of the tunnel is a corridor + hall type.There are stalagmites stalacto-stalagmitessoda strawsand other types of travertine deposits in the cave.

Class III

D142

Huilong Cave

Karst Landscape

Shuangtian Village Guimin Town Nanjiang County

It develops in the Dengying Formation of the Ediacaran and the cave entrance is like a patio. The total length of the cave is 820m with a total of seven halls. The development of the tunnel is a corridor + hall type.There are many types of travertine in the cave includingsoda straw stalactite stalagmite cave flag group and so on. However the coverage rate of travertine is not high and collapse has occurred.There is an underground river in the cave.There are scenic areas formed by sand dunes and natural stages in the cave. The mud is delicate and large in scale which is relatively rare.

Class III

D143

Sanhe Village Valley

Tectonic Geomorphologic Landscape

Longxi Guimin Town Nanjiang County

Sanhe Village Gorge is developed in the Ediacaran carbonate rock and runs north-north-west with a depth of about 100m.The gorge is shaped like a "V" with symmetrical sides. The width of the upper part of the gorge is about 200m and the width of the lower part is about 10-30m. The vegetation in the gorge is dense with perennial water flowing at the bottom and the water flow is relatively large.

Class III

D144

Longxi Cliff Waterfall

Waterfall Landscape

Longxi Guimin Town Nanjiang County

It is developed in Sinian dolomites. There is a falling waterfall in the center of the semicircular cliff which is about 45m high and 0.6-2m wide. The waterfall rushes out from the top of the cliff and forms a curtain of water to the bottom.Part of the water flows down the cliff to form a curtain of water.The water flow of the entire waterfall is about 25L/S.A circular pool is formed at the bottom of the waterfall. The diameter of the pool is about 12m and the pool water is clear and blue-green. The water pool is surrounded by trees and the water from the waterfall falls on the rocks and the pool splashing water and mist flying around.

Class III

D145

Palm-shaped Peak

Karst Landscape

Liuwan Qiaoting Town Nanjiang County

Two columns are developed in the dolomite strata of Dengying Formation of Ediacaran 7m and 6m high respectively in gray-brown.Due to the effect of differential weathering the top of the columns is uneven and resembles the shape of fingers.The overall shape of the two columns resembles the hands folding together.

Class III

D146

Xiagu Huge Stone

Rock-avalanche Relic Landscape

Liuwan Qiaoting Town Nanjiang County

The height of the valley is about 60m and the width of the water flow is 10m. There are huge boulders piled up in the valley the largest diameter is about 10m and the main body diameter is between 2m-6m. The water flow converges here and becomes turbulent with a width of about 2m.The bedrock of the valley also reveals the Ediacaran Dengying Formation dolomites. The rock is gray-red with clear joints and bedding like Roman column.

Class III

D147

Corridor-like Cliff

Karst Landscape

Hongzhu Village Guimin Town Nanjiang County

Developed in the Cambrian carbonate strata the cliff strikes nearly east-west stretches 1.5km and the outcrop width is about 10m. The vegetation on the top and bottom of the cliff is luxuriant and the exposed part of the rock mass is slightly weathered part is gray and part is yellow-white like a magnificent giant dragon lying on the top of the mountain.

Class III

D148

Jiulongshan Peak Cluster

Karst Landscape

Jiulong Mountain Qiaoting Town Nanjiang County

The peak cluster is developed in the limestone of the Cambrian Xiannvdong Formation extending for about 3km and trending northeast-southwest.There are a total of 10 peaks and according to local people they are named Jiulong Mountain (nine dragons' mountain) because a gablet covered by clouds is missed.The peaks range from 100 to 300m in height and are tower-shaped with the surface mostly covered by vegetation and the bedrock partially covered by creamy white and golden travertine. A variety of colors reflect each other extremely magnificent.

Class III

D149

Wolong Mountain

Karst Landscape

Qiaoting Qiaoting Town Nanjiang County

It is formed by the limestone of the Triassic Jialingjiang Formation through weathering and water dissolution. The extension direction is about 210° the head is thicker and the tail is thinner. It is about 500m long and 300m high. The back is covered by vegetation and the ridge looks like a lying dragon.The sky is clear blue a few white clouds swept across and the mountain peaks are even more magnificent

Class III

D150

Xiaowuxia Stria

Small and Medium-sized Structures

Xiaowuxia Valley Ganchang Town Nanjiang County

It is developed in the Permian strata and the lithology is limestone.The rock strata are nearly upright with stria structures developed on the strata and the occurrence of the surface is 358°∠88°. There are steps developed on the stria surface with a height difference of 0.5-1.5cm which indicates the upward movement of the opposing disc.The striation surface is soaked with yellowish brown and a lot of calcite is developed.

Class III

D151

Tiger Claw-shaped Rock

Karst Landscape

Xiaowuxia Valley Ganchang Town Nanjiang County

A pictographic stalactite resembling a tiger's claw is developed on the limestone cliff of the Triassic Jialingjiang Formation. The stalactite grows downward and branches resembling claws. Its central part is recessed inward the overall height is about 1m and the width is about 80cm. It is formed by the precipitation of calcium carbonate in the running water.

Class III

D152

Anping Village Stone Forest

Karst Landscape

Anping Village Ganchang Town Nanjiang County

The stone forest is developed in the gray-white-gray dolomites of the Triassic Jialingjiang Formation and the rock formations are 215°∠20°.The exposed area of the stone forest is about 1000*500m2. Controlled by the development of multiple sets of joints in the rock formations columns with rich shapes about 1-6m high and 1-5m wide have been formed. Some of them are like palaces some are like mushrooms some are like spaceships some are like jade some are like auspicious clouds and some are like jade pigs.

Class III

D153

Longjiawan Valley

Tectonic Geomorphologic Landscape

Longjiawan Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

The gorge is developed in Triassic limestone and formed under the action of neotectonic movement and river erosion.It develops into a V-shaped gorge with a length of about 1km a depth of 20-50m a width of about 8m and a slope angle of 45°-90°.Modern riverbeds are developed at the bottom of the gorge and there are many overlapping waters. The water quality of the river is good colorless and clear. The flow rate of the river is about 1.5m/s and the flow rate is about 2.4m3/s.The gorge slope has lush vegetation. Many cliffs and gurgling water reflect the beauty. The air is fresh and the environment is quiet which is refreshing. It is suitable as a holiday sanctuary to cool off the heat in the summer.

Class III

D154

Yunding Village River Bend

Fluvial Erosion Geomorphologic Landscape

Yunding Village Guanlu Town Nanjiang County

The river bend is located in the valley meandering resembling dinosaur paw prints or S-shaped turning heads etc. and is about 2.2km long.This river bend is formed by the combination of river erosion by neotectonic movement and different lithology (sandstone) erosion by flowing water.

Class III

D155

Jingba Village Dinosaur Fossil Discovery Site

Vertebrate

Jingba Village Ganchang Town Nanjiang County

It is located in Jingba Village Ganchang Town Nanjiang County the fossils are buried in the third member of the Jurassic Shaximiao Formation. The fossils are produced along the bedding and the fossils are gray-black-brown-yellow. The fossils are scattered here the larger one is 9-20cm wide and 40cm long and the rest are mostly scattered bone fragments measuring 0.5-1cm×1-3cm.The skeletal fossil was identified on the spot as a sauropoddinosaur fossil.

Class III

D156

Baishan Peak Cluster

Karst Landscape

Baishan Village Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

The peak cluster is located on the northwest cliff of Hujiagou in Baishan Village and developed in the limestone of the Triassic Jialingjiang Formation. The peak cluster spreads along the ridge in an arc shape and is about 4.34km long. There are many obvious cone-shaped camel-shaped beam-shaped peaks which are connected in a saddle shape. The peak wall is a stepped cliff with a height difference ranging from 270-600m. The entire peak cluster has dense vegetation with large white and yellow cliffs partially exposed. In the golden autumn season the mountains are full of red leaves which are very dazzling and beautiful.

Class II

D157

Houba shiya Forest

Karst Landscape

Houba Kongshan Town Tongjiang County

Developed in the limestone of the Triassic Jialingjiang Formation the clint forest is scattered in patches with an area of 5km2. The clints are mostly in the early stage of stone forest development so they are relatively short up to 40cm in height most of which are covered by vegetation.The shape of the clints is mostly human-like and now there are a large number of dissolution grooves which are mainly formed by the combined effects of soil erosion and running water erosion.

Class III

D158

Houziyan Valley

Tectonic Geomorphologic Landscape

Datong River Kongshan Town Tongjiang County

It develops in Paleozoic and Mesozoic carbonate rocks and is a typical V-shaped gorge formed by the combined action of neotectonic movement and deep cutting of river erosion. The gorge is about 10km long 20m wide and about 50-100m high. The river at the gorge bottom is the Datong River with lake blue water. The gorge slope angle is between 40°-90° and the vegetation on the slope is luxuriant.

Class II

D159

Nuoshuihe Karst Cave Group

Karst Landscape

Nuoshui River Nuoshuihe Town Tongjiang County

The Nuoshui River karst caves are developed along the Nuoshui River and are divided into fossil caves and underground river caves.There are 128 caves distributed in an area of 96m2 with an altitude of 700-1500m distributed in the five eras of the Cambrian Ordovician Silurian Permian and Triassic. A multi-layer cave structure is formed affected by various internal and external dynamics such as stratum lithology and fracture erosion erosion etc.There are rich types of cave forms mainly corridors and halls and other types like pockets slits trumpets lotus roots and wells.

Class III

D160

Taoyuan-Nuoshuihe Section

Regional Standard Section

Tongjiang County Nanjiang County

The Proterozoic to Mesozoic strata are exposed from Guangwushan Town to Nuoshuihe Town. Due to differences in geological structures these different rocks strata and landforms reflect the vicissitudes of geological evolution and palaeogeographical changes over at least 3.3 billion years.It is a window for interpreting the Yangtze plate and a large natural section for studying the geological evolution history of Micang Mountain and the Sichuan Basin.

Class III


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