Zhejiang Linhai National Geopark

Zhejiang Linhai National Geopark

Zhejiang Linhai National Geopark is a national geopark.

Zhejiang Linhai National Geopark is located in the coastal area about 50 kilometers east of Linhai City in the central-eastern part of Zhejiang Province. In 2002, the Ministry of Land and Resources approved the establishment of Linhai Taozhu National Geopark. The geopark is characterized by the landforms of the late Cretaceous volcanic intrusive–extrusive rock series formed between approximately 95 to 65 million years ago.

The main strata of the geopark belong to the Upper Cretaceous Tiantai Group and are part of the Mesozoic late-stage volcanic belt along the eastern Zhejiang coast. Volcanic activity here was dominated by the eruption and overflow of acidic magma, accompanied by magmatic intrusions. The park features unique landscapes such as lava plateaus, peak clusters, and stone forests, which are formed by layered volcanic rocks, fault structures, and vertical columnar joints—these are the main elements that make up the park’s natural scenery. The highest peak in the area is Baiyan Mountain, which rises 508 meters above sea level, while most other peaks range between 200 and 300 meters in elevation.

The Dakantou volcanic intrusive dome (rhyolitic porphyritic lava) is located near Dakantou Village in the eastern part of Lianpan. The volcanic crater covers an area of about 2 square kilometers, with its central part forming a volcanic dome structure due to late-stage acidic magma intrusion. The cooling magma created approximately 15 million stone pillars. These pillars have highly regular pentagonal and hexagonal geometries, resembling artificially carved structures. They extend vertically 300 to 500 meters deep, with varying exposed heights. The pillars are arranged in an orderly fashion—either standing upright or lying diagonally—in grand, overlapping layers, presenting a spectacular and imposing sight that can be described as a forest of ten thousand pillars. In addition, scenic spots such as Ten Thousand Pillar Peak, Thousand Pillar Cliff, Fence Wall, Giant’s Path, and Coral Rock form captivating stone forest landscapes, complemented by majestic and uniquely shaped waterfalls and springs, creating a breathtaking natural painting that is both soothing and inspiring. There are also numerous flow structures formed by the eruption, extrusion, and movement of acidic lava, distributed horizontally and vertically, with varying thicknesses of flow lines. Tower-like rock peaks formed from volcanic conduits (making up the three natural towers of Taozhu), with sheer cliffs and flat tops, rise 150 to 200 meters above the surrounding hills. Located along the coast, they present an especially majestic sight. Viewed from different directions, they resemble “towers,” “castles,” “screens,” or even “lotus flowers,” making them excellent spots to watch the sunrise or sea fog. The acidic lava plateau has undergone structural uplift, weathering, erosion, and seawater corrosion, resulting in peak-column landforms and sea-eroded cave landscapes.

About 1 kilometer north of Aoli in Shangpan Township, fossils of pterosaurs and long-tailed birds are buried in the tuff formed during periods of volcanic dormancy. Six well-preserved pterosaur fossils were discovered and identified as belonging to the family Pteranodontidae, characterized by extremely long beaks, no teeth, short tails, and fused vertebrae. The Shangpan pterosaur layer dates back to approximately 76 to 83 million years ago. This site holds significant value for research on late Cretaceous paleontology, paleoecology, and the impact of volcanic catastrophes on living organisms.

This geopark is one of the typical regions of China’s Mesozoic Cretaceous volcanic intrusive–extrusive rock series and also an important part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. The volcanic activity mainly involved the overflow and extrusion of acidic lava and the accumulation of pyroclastic rock eruptions. Over an extensive geological timescale, internal and external forces created a wealth of natural geological heritage.