Huangshan Geopark

Huangshan Geopark covering an area of 160.6km² is situated in East China's Anhui Province. It is a geopark characterized by Mesozoic granite landscape.

Huangshan Mountain is famous for its imposing, precipitous and fantastic view. There are 72 high and steep peaks over 1,000m high with widespread grotesque rocks. The peak tops are sharp and steep, while the peak feet directly stick in valleys, forming median-high mountainous landform with a group of high and steep peaks. At the mountain tops, sides and feet, granite stone forests and rock pillars are widely distributed, especially the rocks in grotesque shapes spread all over the peak group and valleys. Numerous U-and V-shaped valleys are distributed radiantly from the center of Huangshan Mountain to all sides. Granite stone forests are widespread within the geopark, forming the framework of its landscapes. The main types of peaks include domed, cone, crestal, column-like and box-shaped peaks, etc. Within the area, the towering peculiar peaks are majestic and fantastic; various green and verdant pines are tall and straight; the jagged rocks in grotesque shapes seem to be work of caving; the boundless ocean of clouds shows a great momentum; and the warm springs gush endlessly.

About 140Ma ago (Late Jurassic), the hot magma intruded upward along the weak zone of the crust in Huangshan Mountain. Around 65Ma ago, the intrusive bodies in Huangshan area were uplifted intensively. With the intermittent uplifting of the crust, the underground intrusive bodies and their overlying rock suffered weathing and erosion, and were effected by various crust stresses from different directions, resulting in the formation of joins of different directions. Since the beginning of Quaternary (1.75Ma ago), the intermittent uplift have formed 3 levels of erosion surfaces and finally formed Huangshan Mountain of today. These intrusive bodies are different in mineral composition, degree of crystallization, particle size of minerals, capability of resistance to weathing, nature of joints and density, thus forming the beautiful and superb landscape of Huangshan Mountain.

Huangshan Mountain is characterized by its "3 Wonders of Nature"—odd-shaped pines, spectacular cocks and ocean of clouds—and plentiful water bodies and their mutual combination. Limaqiao, Tiandu peak and Beihai ant other areas are famous for the possible occurrence of Quaternary glaciers. Controversy on the occurrence of glaciers in Huangshan Mountain has lasted for about half century, but no final conclusion has yet been reached so far. However, this also is where the fascination of the geopark lies.

Ancient pridgs, ancient mountain climbing roads and stone carvings on the cliffs together with the and profound culture of the geopark that is characterized by landscape painting infiltrate the precipitous, fantastic and beautiful natural landscape. The Huangshan school of painting in an important position in China's painting circles has exerted a significant influence on the development of China's landscape painting and is an important material source for the research on the history of China's culture and painting. The geological heritages and geological landscape resources such as granite landscape, Quaternary glacial heritages, hydrogeological heritages, etc., resources of scenes and sights of cultural interest such as the Huangshan culture and plentiful animal and plant resources constitute a large-scale integrated natural museum with mountains, water bodies, cultural interest, animals and plants in this granite area.

Contact:

Email：chinahsgeopark@163.com

http://hsgwh.huangshan.gov.cn/Special/template/10759.html