Wansheng National Geopark

Wansheng National Geopark

Wansheng National Geopark is a national geopark.

Wansheng, Chongqing is located in the southeastern part of Chongqing and is the city's only tourism economic experimental zone as well as one of China's Outstanding Tourism Districts. The area includes two national AAAA-level scenic spots—Wansheng Stone Forest and Heishan Valley—as well as famous attractions such as the Ordovician geological wonders.

Wansheng Stone Forest is currently recognized as the oldest stone forest in China, integrating “mountains, water, forests, rocks, and caves,” with landscapes of diverse forms. It is characterized by its delicate, peculiar, ancient, and unique miniature bonsai-like combinations. The surface stone forest and underground karst caves offer an exceptionally comprehensive scenic experience. Heishan Valley Scenic Area features pristine ecological landscapes composed of rugged peaks, peak forests, serene gorges, cliffs, forests, bamboo seas, waterfalls, clear waters, caves, imitation ancient plank roads, floating bridges, sea of clouds, farmland, primeval vegetation, and rare flora and fauna. It is a unique “biological gene bank” of Chongqing and is known as the “Shennongjia of Southwest China.”

In June 2009, Wansheng District began actively applying for national geopark status, carrying out popular science promotion, protection of geological heritage, and preparation of application documents, laying a solid foundation for Wansheng, Chongqing to successfully pass the national geopark qualification review and be approved as a national geopark. Through concerted efforts, Wansheng, Chongqing’s national geopark application ranked 21st among the 44 national geoparks evaluated nationwide. After qualification review and public announcement by the National Geopark Evaluation Committee, the application for Wansheng, Chongqing National Geopark was approved.

Wansheng, Chongqing’s successful inclusion in the national geopark designation holds significant importance for protecting the geological resources and heritage within the park, conducting geological research and promoting geological knowledge, leveraging geological resources to support socioeconomic development, making good use of the new national geopark tourism brand, and fully integrating the construction of the national geopark with the region’s tourism revitalization efforts. It also emphasizes strengthening efforts in the protection, planning, construction, and promotion of the geopark, thereby better and more comprehensively preserving Wansheng District’s precious geological heritage. This contributes significantly to optimizing the regional socioeconomic structure, particularly in advancing the development of the tertiary industry with a focus on tourism.