Xinjiang Kuqa Grand Canyon National Geopark

Xinjiang Kuqa Grand Canyon National Geopark

Xinjiang Kuqa Grand Canyon National Geopark is a national geopark.

Flipping through a world map, you’ll find the largest landmass on Earth — Eurasia. In the northeastern corner of this vast land, lies the world-renowned ancient Western Regions, and right at its heart was the ancient Kingdom of Kucha. Today, the Xinjiang Kuqa Grand Canyon National Geopark is located in this very region.

Xinjiang Kuqa Grand Canyon National Geopark is bordered by the Tianshan Mountains to the north and the Tarim Basin to the south, covering a total area of 502 square kilometers. It consists of the northern Xiaolongchi and Dalongchi scenic areas, the central Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon scenic area, and the southern Quletage Mountain scenic area. These three scenic zones are distributed along the Kuqa River valley, forming a distinctive feature of the park.

Humans have long identified and utilized advantageous terrains, and the Kuqa River Valley is one such valley that carries the history and civilization of humankind, rich in the culture of the ancient Kingdom of Kucha. The region through which the river flows is also abundant in geological resources for research.

Xinjiang Kuqa Grand Canyon National Geopark features the unique landforms of Kuqa, Quaternary glacial relics, major geological sections, volcanic rock peak clusters, ancient smelting sites, as well as the ancient Kucha culture and Uyghur traditions. It serves as a large-scale comprehensive tourist destination with main functions including sightseeing of the arid region’s Kuqa landforms, experiencing Kucha culture and Uyghur customs, religious pilgrimage, scientific research, leisure vacations, and wellness activities.

The park’s landscape characteristics are typical, rare, and highly scenic in the arid mountainous regions of the hinterland of Eurasia. It is an important area for studying the Tianshan tectonic belt in Xinjiang, as well as the uplift of the Tianshan Mountains, environmental changes, and natural resources. It is also a vibrant hub of Western Region civilization and a shining pearl along the ancient Silk Road.