Liujian National Geopark

Liujian National Geopark

Liujian National Geopark is a national geopark.

Hebei Qinhuangdao Liujian National Geopark is located in Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province. It borders the Bohai Sea to the south, the Yanshan Mountains to the north, Liaoning Province to the east, and Tangshan City to the west. Covering an area of 650 square kilometers, the Qinhuangdao National Geopark is characterized by the paleontological fossils, stratigraphic relics, karst landforms, and granite geological features of the Liujian Basin.

The core area of the geopark—Liujian Basin—is situated north of downtown Qinhuangdao, with its southern edge just 12 kilometers from the city. Spanning 240 square kilometers, it contains classic stratigraphic sections, biofossil assemblage zone profiles, lithologic-lithofacies formations, and typical geological structures and features that hold significant scientific research value for tracing geological history. Despite its relatively small size, the basin boasts abundant content, making it rare within China. The three major rock strata and all three primary rock types are widely distributed here, all naturally exposed. The strata are intact, with clear boundaries, a full range of rock types, rich fossils, well-developed sedimentary structures, and it is widely recognized as a “natural geological museum.” The area features a diverse array of structural types. Folds of various scales, fractures of different orders, as well as macroscopic and microscopic structures such as folds, drag folds, fissures, and dyke infillings are well developed and clearly visible. These various types of structural features are of great significance for studying the developmental history and mechanical mechanisms of regional crustal movements, offering a series of typical structural illustrations. There are also metal and non-metal mineralizations and mineral sites; karst formations such as elephant trunk hills, caves, skylights, stone cliffs, and karren; as well as other geological relics formed by water erosion, including isolated hills, waterfalls, and river terraces.