Giant Swallow Rock Gorge Ice Potholes in Southern Jiangxi

Giant Swallow Rock Gorge Ice Potholes in Southern Jiangxi

The Swallow Rock Gorge in southern Jiangxi is located within Pingfu Township, Shangyou County. The steep cliffs and caves of the gorge are home to many bats (locally called "stone swallows"), hence the name Swallow Rock. This gorge was formed during an ancient orogenic movement when the mountains uplifted, giving rise to the Luoxiao Mountain Range and transforming the once ocean-covered Wuzhi Mountain area into land. The total length of the Swallow Rock Gorge is about 12.5 kilometers. The area features sheer cliffs and waterways that vary in depth, making it rarely visited by humans. Due to glacial movements, variously sized cavities have formed on the steep rock walls of the gorge, with the largest diameters exceeding 4 meters and the smallest just a few centimeters. These cavities have been smoothed by river water erosion, each with uniquely shaped interiors.

Experts from the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences and the Jiangxi Geological Survey Institute have confirmed that the landform of Swallow Rock belongs to what geologists call a "valley pothole field," marking the first such discovery in Jiangxi Province. Potholes are direct products of glacial movements from 2 to 3 million years ago. This site has attracted countless photography enthusiasts and tourists eager to explore this geological wonder and trace “the Earth’s memory of cold.”

Pingfu Township: Located in the southwestern border of Shangyou County, Pingfu Township borders Yingqian to the east and connects with Jieba and Jinkeng townships of Chongyi County to the south, situated 49 kilometers from the county seat. The township administers 8 administrative villages, including 2 ethnic minority villages (She ethnic group), 141 villager groups, and a population of 11,234 (including 340 non-agricultural residents). It covers a total area of 88 square kilometers, with mountainous land spanning 102,800 mu and arable land of 7,195 mu.

The township is rich in resources, including high-quality kaolin, limestone, bamboo and timber, as well as hydropower. Agricultural products include ginger, tea, sugarcane, hybrid pigs, Kaihua chickens, goats, and more... More detailed information about Pingfu Township++