Qianjiadian Fossilized Trees

Qianjiadian Fossilized Trees

The Qianjiadian fossilized trees are located in Xiadelongwan Village, Qianjiadian Township, Yanqing County. The entire fossilized tree cluster extends from a small hill east of the village to Shaliangzi Township, 8 kilometers to the northeast. Also known as petrified wood, these fossils date back to the Late Jurassic period. Around 130 million years ago, various gymnosperms thrived in Yanqing. Later, intense tectonic activity caused large primeval forests to be rapidly buried under volcanic lava. Mineral-rich water seeped into the wood over an extended period, forming the petrified trees. The Xiadelongwan fossilized tree cluster is distributed in a belt about 400 meters wide, and most of the fossilized trees in Qianjiadian stand upright. Within just a 400×1500-meter area, 38 fossilized tree stumps have been discovered, resembling tree trunks that appear to have been sawn off. The surface of the fossilized trees is yellowish-brown or grayish-white, with diameters typically around 1 meter and the largest reaching up to 2.5 meters. The tree grains and annual rings on the surface are clearly visible. One of the most impressive sights is the “Shituo” west of Beiliang Village — a massive fossilized tree trunk over 2 meters in circumference and more than 4 meters long, lying horizontally across a mountain stream with both ends embedded in the surrounding rock, sparking boundless imagination.

Qianjiadian Town: Qianjiadian Town is located in the eastern mountainous region of Yanqing County, 60 kilometers from the county seat and 130 kilometers from downtown Beijing. The town covers an area of 371 square kilometers, accounting for one-sixth of Yanqing County’s total area. Its ecological forest spans 476,000 mu, making up one-fourth of the county’s ecological forest area. It is the most remote and expansive mountain town in Yanqing and even in Beijing. To the east, it borders Huairou County; to the north, it neighbors Hebei Province (specifically, Chicheng County); to the southwest and southeast, it connects respectively with Xiangying, Liubinqiao, and Zhenzhuquan townships. The Luan-Chi, Huaqian, and Huasha highways pass through the town, forming a loop and offering convenient transportation. It ranks first among the city’s best self-driving routes... Qianjiadian Town detailed information++