Danxia Mountain
China Red Stone Park---- Mt. Danxiashan is located in northeast suburb of Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province. It covers a total area of 292 km2 of which the main Danxia Landform is 180 km2. The north gate of Danxia Mountain Tourist Area is 50 kilometers away from urban district and 4 kilometers away from Renhua County. The south gate which is going to be built is only 10 kilometers away from Shaoguan City.
In narrow sense, Danxia Mountain includes Elder Peak in the north, Couch Peak and Peal Peak.In a broader sense, Danxia Mountain includes the entire geological park of 290 square kilometers, namely the Danxia Mountain Area. Regarded as China Red Stone Park, Danxia Mountain is composed of red sandstone and famous for its Chibi Danya. It has been honoured as the first of four famous mountains in Guangdong in history and the most fantastic mountain in Lingnan Region since ancient time. In 1988, it was approved by the State Council as a national key scenic spot. In 1995, it was approved by the State Council as a national geological and geomorphic nature reserve. In 2000, it was rated as a national AAAA-level tourist area. In 2001, it was approved by the Ministry of Land and Resources as a national geological park; It was approved as the World Geopark by the UNESCO World Geopark Network Committee on February 14, 2004.
Danxia Mountain has a red-layered peak-like structure and Chibi Danya is its basic morphological feature. More than 600 stone peaks, stone forts, stone walls and stone columns are composed of various types and forms of Chibi Danya. The main peak is 618 meters above sea level and most peaks are between 300-400 meters high. The mountains and rocks are uneven, patchwork, and in various forms, which look like a ruby sculpture garden.
Values:
Geomorphological Values From a global perspective,academics have carried out researches on the mountains for more than half a century and concluded that, as the nomenclature of Danxia landform, Danxia Mountain is unique.Its Danxia landform development is typical, representative, diverse and irreplaceable. It is of great significance to the study Danxia landform.
Stratigraphic Value The red rock series in the Danxia Mountain Area is one of the areas of highest research degree in the Mesozoic red rock series in the country. It is the standard stratum for the comparison of the Danxia Formation in South China, and is of profound significance in geology.
Ecological Value Danxia Mountain is a typical area for ecological succession in the late geological history. About 25 million years ago, the area was once razed.Since 6 million years ago, the crust has been lifted and eroded by water, so that plan surrounded by cliffs and close valley remain original ecological community. What’s more, primary forests that have survived to date or secondary forests in their original images, have not been artificially affected and become important natural heritage. And the surface of the collapsed cliffs and collapsed rocks begin to form ecological succession process from low to high again.
At present, a piece of South Asian subtropical rainforests and natural secondary forests are still well-preserved in the geological park. The vines in the forest are intertwined, rich in layers, and have a large degree of canopy, which is extremely difficult to pass. The landform and the diversity of vegetation communities form complex and diverse environmental condition, which preserve a sound ecological environment for wild animals. It provides a superior habitat for all kinds of wild animals and is an important base for the protection of wildlife and ecological restoration.
Science Education Value Extensive researches have been conducted on the layer, structure, geomorphology, geomorphological development, natural environment and ecological evolution of Danxia Mountain. Danxia Mountain has become the base of comparative research of the landform. At the same time, it is an ideal place for students of secondary schools and colleges to conduct science education and teaching internships.
Tourism and Landscape Value Danxia Mountain is a typical representative of Danxia landforms, and the value of tourism landscape is extremely superior. As the scenic resources, Danxia landform mainly includes the landscapes of Chibi Danya, imaginative geomorphologic figuration, Danxia Peaks, Danxia Grotto, the landscape of lanes and valleys, and red mountains and crystal clear water. Chibi Danya is its essential landscape, and each scenic has the distinctive features of Chibi Danya. Among the Danxia landforms in the world, Danxia Mountain is recognized as the most typically developed, the most complete type, the most abundant style, and the most beautiful scenery.
Historical and Cultural Value As an auxiliary resource of the geological park, Danxia Mountain has a prominent historical and cultural value. A long time ago, southen Chinese ancestors have lived here and the Neolithic sites in the southeast indicate that the cultural development of the region was at a considerable level compared with the Central Plains 5,000 years ago. There have been many anecdotes and folklore from ancient times to the present including Nvwa created human beings, Emperor Shun played the fine music and so on, which are not just historical stories but also affect culture and history of the district.
Danxia Mountain is also a famous religious resort in Lingnan Region. It is said that in the Qin and Han Dynasties, Sage Daoyuancultivated himself at Hunyuan Cave and the Lion Rock. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it was run by monks and reached its peak in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. At present, more than 40 remains of the Grotto Temple have been discovered, among which the Biechuan Temple of Danxia Mountain is known as one of the 10 famous temples in Lingnan Region.The development history of Danxia Mountain has been inextricably linked with the dynasty replacement and political conflicts in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.
Danxia Mountain's elegance and singularity attracts many poetry and poetry inscriptions, leaving behind a great number of dazzling stone carvings and inscriptions.
Yue ancestors near Danxia Mountain lived in the mountains’natural caves. Thus, the region have preserved the ancient mountain villages built in various historical periods. It is said that “every mountain has a village, there is a door in the village, and every door is difficult to break.”
There are many dangerous cliffs in the geological park, and many hidden rocks and caves, which provide good natural conditions for rock burial or hanging-coffin burial. At present, many remains of ruins have been found in the Shaoshi, Dashi and Danxia Mountains.
