The Red Stone Park of China-Danxiashan

Author: Peng Hua
Language: Chinese and English bilingual
Published on: 2004-01
Paperback

Danxiashan World Geopark is located in the northeast outskirt of Shaoguan City of Guangdong Province P.R.China, with an area of 290km2.

Danxiashan area was a huge inland basin between 140million years B.P. and 70million years B.P. When the crustal movement around the area lifted upwards, the red beds developed in the inland basin after the accumulation of detrital matters. Then, the red bed also uplifted and was gradually eroded. About six million years B.P. from now the basin intermittently uplifted by one meter per ten thousand years and was down-cut by flowing water. Eventually, the red bedding developed into a group of red mountains and hills, which are now named Danxiashan.

The landform characteristic of non-marine red clastic rock, red walls and red cliffs was named the Danxia Landform in 1930’s. The Danxia Landform in Danxiashan area can be classified as typical, representative, diverse in shape and natural arrangement. Systematic research on the landform in Danxiashan areas in Guangdong Province, including stratum, tectonic, representation of landform, developing process, and natural evolvement has been undertaken more profoundly than those in other Danxia landform areas of the country. Now, Mt. Danxiashan has become the base of academic research, scientifical education of the public, practice teaching of the geomorphology in China and even in the world.

Contents

1.General Situation
2.The Landscape of Danxiashan
(1)The Danxia Landscape
(2)Botanical Sights
(3)Vegetation Type
(4)Cultural Sights
3.Danxia Landform
(1)Concept and Features
(2)Geotectonic Background
(3)The Regional Geological Background
(4)The Red Beds
(5)Geological Structure
(6)External Agency
(7)The Process of Development of Danxia Basin
(8)The Types of the Danxia Landform
(9)Distribution of Danxia Landform
(10)Survey of Research on the Danxia Landform in China
4.Planning and Design for the Future
(1)Appraisal of Natural Resources
(2)Overall Plan
(3)The Exhibition Garden of the Danxia Landform
5.Surveying Routes
(1)Surveying Routes of Yangyuanshan
(2)Tourist Route up to the Top of Danxiashan Mountain
(3)Jinshiyan Caves Inspection Route Surveying Routes of Xianglonghu Lake