Zhangjiajie

Author: Fang Xianzhi Hu Nengyong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The Zhangjiajie Geopark is located in Zhangjiajie City, within the Wuling Mountains in the northwest of Hunan Province. It primarily consists of four core scenic areas: the Wulingyuan quartz sandstone peak forest area, the Tianmen Mountain karst platform area, the Maoyan River-Jiutian Cave karst gully cave area, and the Furong Bridge dinosaur fossil protection area, covering a total area of 3,600 square kilometers. Zhangjiajie National Geopark encompasses a rich variety of geological relics, including quartz sandstone peaks, square mountain plateaus, sky bridges, stone gates, gully canyons, karst platforms, karst gullies, karst caves, spring water waterfalls, streams and lakes, sedimentary structures, stratigraphic sections, and paleontological fossils. These geological features combine to form magnificent, awe-inspiring, diverse, mysterious, and ever-changing landscapes. The systematic and complete formation process and expression of these landscapes hold international significance, embodying immense aesthetic and scientific value. It is a geologically natural museum and a breathtaking ecotourism destination, attracting millions of visitors annually.
Zhangjiajie was approved as a provincial-level nature reserve in 1982 and also as a national forest park in the same year. In 1988, it became a national key scenic area. In 1992, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 2001, it was designated as a national geopark, and in 2003, the Wulingyuan quartz sandstone peak forest core scenic area within it was recognized as a UNESCO World Geopark.
As a precious world natural heritage, Zhangjiajie is renowned for its unique geological background and natural ecological environment, with geological relics as its core and geological landforms as the primary objects of sightseeing. Its tourism resources are primarily composed of various geomorphic landscapes formed by geological processes, which vividly reflect the methods, processes, and outcomes of these geological actions. Numerous books have been published to introduce and promote Zhangjiajie, but China National Geopark—Zhangjiajie systematically depicts the entire scope of Zhangjiajie, including its scenic areas and attractions, while explaining its formation, development, evolutionary history, and long-term utilization process. Thus, the book not only serves as a typical travel guide but also as a popular science book on geology. Through it, visitors will gain a deeper appreciation of the profound scientific significance embedded in Zhangjiajie’s landscapes.
With passionate enthusiasm and elegant prose, the book tells the scientific stories of Zhangjiajie, permeating every word with reverence for the nation’s magnificent landscapes. It inspires people to admire, explore, love, and protect nature. This is also a unique feature of the book’s writing style. If it resonates with readers and encourages harmonious coexistence with nature, then it has fulfilled its purpose.