Taining World Geological Park in Sanming, Fujian
Taining Global Geopark (福建省三明市泰宁世界地质公园丹霞地貌), located in Taining County, Sanming City, northwest Fujian Province, covers an area of 492.5 square kilometers, with a Danxia landform area of 252.7 square kilometers. Comprising four zones: Shi Wang, Da Jin Lake, Ba Xian Cliff, and Jin Nao Mountain, and the Taining Ancient City Scenic Area, the park mainly features typical Danxia landforms in their youthful stage, as well as various geological relics such as volcanic rocks, granite, and tectonic landforms, making it a comprehensive geological park.
It has been successively recognized as a National Key Scenic Area, National 5A Tourist Attraction, National Forest Park, National Geopark, and National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit.
On February 11, 2005, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization approved Taining Geopark as the second batch of Global Geoparks.
Geographical Scope:
Taining Global Geopark is located in Taining County, northwest Fujian Province, covering an area of 492.5 square kilometers, with a Danxia landform area of 252.7 square kilometers. Its geographical coordinates range from east longitude 116°45’00” to 117°18’11” and north latitude 26°37’26” to 27°05’35”.
Terrain and Landforms:
The park’s main feature is the Danxia landform, supplemented by granite landforms, volcanic rock landforms, and tectonic landforms, constituting a large comprehensive geological park. The Longwangyan in the Shi Wang, Da Yading in Da Jin Lake, and Baiyashan in the Ba Xian Cliff are Danxia landforms, while the Jinrao Mountain in the Ba Xian Cliff is a granite landform. The Baiyashan Scenic Area in the Ba Xian Cliff is a volcanic rock landform.
The extremely developed canyon is the main characteristic of the youthful Danxia landform. The complex fault system formed by multiple tectonic activities, combined with the action of running water, has sculpted the park’s rugged landscape. The canyon group, consisting of over 80 line valleys (one-line sky), more than 150 alley valleys, and over 240 gorges, features deep gorges, towering Dan cliffs, numerous caves, and natural ecology.
Climatic Characteristics:
Taining Global Geopark is located on the windward slope of the southeast side of the middle segment of the Wuyi Mountains and belongs to a mid-subtropical monsoon mountainous climate. There is no extreme heat in summer or severe cold in winter. The climate is mild and humid throughout the four seasons, with abundant sunshine and rainfall. The average annual temperature is 17°C, with extreme highs of 38.9°C and lows of -10.6°C, and a frost-free period of about 300 days. The park receives abundant rainfall, with an average annual precipitation of 1788 millimeters and a relative humidity of 84%; the average daily sunshine hours are 1738.7. Rich in light and heat, with a long frost-free period, mild climate, and good ecological environment.
Geological Genesis:
Taining Global Geopark has undergone a long and complex geological evolution. Since the Late Triassic, the park has been under the influence of the interaction between the Pacific Plate and the Eurasian Plate. From the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous, the park experienced large-scale volcanic eruptions and magma intrusions. Since the Late Cretaceous, the park has formed a faulted basin controlled by the Chongan-Shicheng northeast fault zone and the Taining-Longyan north-south fault zone, depositing mainly red rock layers dominated by conglomerates. Since the late Cretaceous, the crust has been uplifted comprehensively, and reactivated faults have cut through the rock layers, creating fractures and differences in uplift and subsidence. Geotectonic movements, water erosion, collapse, and weathering have caused mountain peaks and flat land to rise in the park, forming unique and steep Dan cliffs.
Resource Situation
Water Resources
The water system within Taining Geopark is well developed and belongs to the upper reaches of the Min River, a tributary of the Yangtze River. The main watercourses include Jinxi River and its tributaries, such as Sui Creek, Shan Creek, and Pu Creek, which converge in Taining. The park’s water features are characterized by winding mid-stage rivers and steep young-stage rivers, with the development of deep-cutting canyon meanders being a prominent feature.
Forest Resources
Taining Global Geopark boasts various wild plants and rare tree species from 102 families and over 360 species. Among them, there are over ten species of trees under national protection, including Taxodium mucronatum, Cathaya argyrophylla, Platycarya longipes, Castanopsis fabri, and Camellia sinensis. Among them, the most precious is the nearly 25,000 acres of lush forests, with dozens of rare tea trees.
Scenic Spots
Maor Mountain
Maor Mountain National Forest Park is located in Taining County, Sanming, adjacent to the Ten Mile Pinghu Scenic Area of Jinhu Lake. Covering an area of 2,560 hectares, the main scenic spots include Jinmao Mountain, Hemei Mountain, Huangjia Lake, and Pinghu. Maor Mountain National Forest Park is rich in tourist resources, with lush forest vegetation, rich species, and various natural and cultural landscapes, making it highly visitable.
Zhuangyan Rock
Zhuangyan Rock Scenic Area is located in Changxing Village, the northern suburb of Taining County, on the side of Shangqing Creek Terminal, 11.7 kilometers away from the county seat. The scenic area covers an area of 16 square kilometers and is named after Zhuangyan Rock. The scenic area is about 5 kilometers long and divided into five tourist zones, with all tourist trails paved with stone steps. There are over 80 large and small scenic spots, including Qianlong Xia, Huan’gu Ling, Mo Tian Ling, Wu Hu Shang Shan, Kongshan Liu Xiang, Zhuangyan Rock, Shaijing Cliff, and Jinxiu Valley.
Jiulongtan
Jiulongtan Scenic Area is located fifteen kilometers upstream of Jinhu, in the Shangqing Township area, adjacent to Shangqing Creek and Zhuangyan Rock. The development of the scenic area is positioned as “mountain and rural home, ecological paradise,” with a planned total area of 167.2 hectares, divided into five functional zones: religious culture, canyon exploration, water leisure, mountain villages, and reception services. Jiulongtan Scenic Area, originally named Huanglonggang, is named after nine winding mountain streams pouring into the pool, forming Jiulongtan.
Taining Ancient City
Taining Ancient City is located in the county seat of Taining, at the southern foot of Wuyi Mountain, with an area of 226.5 square kilometers. It boasts well-preserved Ming Dynasty residential buildings, a nationally protected cultural relic unit—the Shangshu Residence Complex, and buildings from various periods spanning over 500 years from the early Ming Dynasty to the late Qing Dynasty. Taining Ancient City, with a history of 1,340 years, is known as “Han and Tang Ancient Town, and Song and Ming Famous City,” and was once the central Soviet area during the second Chinese revolutionary war. National key cultural relics protection units, such as Shangshu Residence and Shide Hall, are located in the city, along with a large number of precious cultural relics. The newly planned and constructed New Huizhou-style corner imitation Song Dynasty ancient city architecture is unique.
Zhaoxia Grand Canyon
Zhaoxia Grand Canyon Scenic Area is a key scenic area of the Jinhu District of Taining Global Geopark and a key scientific research area for the “world application” experts in Taining. It is located in Jixi Village, at the junction of Shancheng Town and Datian Township, 16 kilometers away from the county seat. The scenic area covers an area of about 2 square kilometers and is named after the landscape resembling a giant dragon lying prone. The scenic area is located on the geological fault zone from Shaowu, Fujian, to Heyuan, Guangdong, and is a young Danxia landform canyon landscape formed and developed about 65 million years ago in a sag basin. The canyon is deep and long, with dense vegetation inside. The main geological landscapes include Danxia caves, alley valleys, line valleys, red walls, stone walls, solitary peaks, stone pillars, collapsed accumulations, barrier lakes, through holes, stratification of intersecting layers, drifting gravel, stone stalactites, etc. The main attractions include Wentian Rock, Sanxian Rock, Qitianxia, Yitianshan, Ni Mianren, Yulongya, Tiedieyan, Cui Zhu Lake, Yunyaling, Jinlong Line Valley Group, Jingu Temple Cascade, Line Falls, the first Chinese vine, thousand-year willow king, thousand vine wall, etc.
Shangqing Creek
Shangqing Creek Scenic Area is located in the northeast of Taining, upstream of Jinhu, about 22 kilometers from the county seat. It is named after Taoism, with “Shangqing” being one of the “Three Clearances” of Taoism, namely Taiqing, Shangqing, and Yuqing, and later widely used to refer to “fairyland.” Shangqing Creek originates from Chuanli Village in Shangqing Township, Taining, with a total length of over 50 kilometers. It passes through the hinterland of Shangqing, flows through Changxing Village in Shancheng Town, and enters Zhukou Creek upstream from Yaoping. Among them, the developed bamboo rafting section is from Chongji to Changxing, with a length of 15 kilometers, and the entire journey takes about two hours. The journey is divided into ten rafts, ninety-nine curves, eighty-eight beaches, seventy-seven bends, sixty-six peaks, fifty-five rocks, forty-four scenes, and thirty-three miles. The main attractions include “Carp Jumping Over the Dragon Gate,” “Golden Bell Ringing,” “Five Elders Watching Immortals,” “Sunshine Stacking,” “Peacock Opening Screen,” “Eagle Perching Cliff,” “Setting Sun Cliff,” and “Mirage.”
In 2001, Taining was rated as a national AAAA-level tourist area and a national geopark.
On February 11, 2005, UNESCO approved Taining Geopark as the second batch of global geoparks.
On January 30, 2009, Fujian Taining was officially nominated as one of China’s “World Natural Heritage” sites due to its unique Danxia geological heritage.
Historical and Cultural Heritage
Ancient Buildings
Taining is known as the “ancient town of Han and Tang, and the famous city of the Song and Ming Dynasties.” The Shangshu Residence and the Shide Hall, both national key cultural relics protection units, are the best-preserved Ming Dynasty ancient architectural complexes in southern Jiangnan, China. The Ganlu Temple, with exquisite construction techniques, is a masterpiece in the history of Chinese temple architecture, renowned at home and abroad.
Ancient Sites
The ancient sites mainly include the Chilingcheng site from the Neolithic period, the alchemy furnace base from the late Western Han Dynasty, the ancient city wall from the Ming Dynasty, the Hutouzhai from the Song Dynasty, the Zhongshizhai from the Yuan Dynasty, the Nanshizhai from the late Ming to early Qing Dynasty, ancient wells from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, and ancient tombs from the Tang and Five Dynasties periods onwards, including the tombs of Zou Yongfu, Zou Yinglong, Li Chunye, the monks of Fengyan Temple, as well as the former residences of Zhu De and Zhou Enlai, and the former site of the Eastern Army’s Taining Headquarters from the second Chinese civil war.
Folk Culture
Primitive Nuo dance has a history of more than 3,000 years since the Yin and Shang periods and is considered a living fossil of ancient culture, listed as a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage. “The First Troupe in the World” Meilin Opera is a rare local opera in China with a history of over 300 years, listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. Folk lantern decorations, lantern dances, pounding tea, and rock tea on the lake vividly reflect the life attitude of the people of Taining. Taining County Museum has opened “Ancient Architecture and Art Exhibition Hall,” “Historical Relics Exhibition Hall,” “Li Chunye Home Wax Museum,” “Taining Lantern Festival Customs Museum,” and “Celebrity Calligraphy and Inscriptions Museum,” housing over 3,000 pieces of various museum collections.
Danxia Culture
For thousands of years, the historical evolution of Taining has been closely related to the magical and mysterious Danxia caves. Numerous Danxia caves have become sacred places for monks’ practice, quiet places for students’ study, paradises for farmers’ homes, and resting places for souls, nurturing Taining’s humanistic history and demonstrating its profound cultural heritage, forming unique Danxia cave cultural communities such as scholar culture, rock temple culture, hermit culture, cave dwelling culture, and cliff burial culture.
Legendary Stories
Legend of Xiongzhu Peak
Legend has it that there was a widow who saw a beggar who had been dead for a long time naked under Xiongzhu Peak. The widow felt very sympathetic and took off her scarf to cover him. Many years later, the widow’s son went to the capital to take the imperial examination. In the final test of shooting arrows at the red heart, he shot the arrow, but just before it missed, he suddenly saw a naked man with only a scarf covering him grabbing his arrow and hitting the red heart, three times in a row. He became the top scholar. When he returned to his hometown, he mentioned this strange event. People thought of his mother covering the beggar and believed that the beggar was transformed from Xiongzhu Peak to repay the favor. Since then, men have regarded Xiongzhu Peak as a divine place.
Legend of Maor Mountain
In the mythological story of Pangu creating the world, there were originally no mice in the world. Later, the Queen Mother of the West subdued two old mouse spirits, one male and one female. The two mice got drunk and caused trouble, sneaking into the alchemy furnace of the Supreme Old Lord to eat the golden elixir and drinking the heavenly oil in the heavenly lamp pavilion. After causing a great disaster, they fled to the mortal world and gave birth to thousands of mice and grandchildren. These mice ate crops, gnawed furniture, and caused chaos. But the Queen Mother of the West was afraid of being held responsible, so she stopped the immortals from subduing the mice. The golden cat, standing under the Jade Emperor’s feet, was filled with indignation and secretly came to the mortal world to eat the mice. When the Jade Emperor found out that the golden cat had come to the mortal world without authorization, he sent the Marshal Tianwang to subdue the golden cat. The golden cat was nailed to the mountaintop by the Marshal Tianwang and turned into Maor Mountain.
