Dapeng Peninsula National Geopark, Shenzhen

Dapeng Peninsula National Geopark, Shenzhen

Dapeng Peninsula National Geopark is a national geopark.

Dapeng Peninsula National Geopark is located in the eastern part of Shenzhen. The extraordinary work of nature has created here a unique landscape where “mountains embrace the sea and fire meets water.” With its 67.8-kilometer-long coastline, it has been ranked by Chinese National Geography as one of “China’s Top Eight Most Beautiful Coasts.” It is an ecological oasis within a metropolis and a geoscience education hub close to urban dwellers.

The proposed area of the geopark covers 150 square kilometers, with the management scope of the geological heritage protection zone spanning 50.87 square kilometers. The park’s southern boundary reaches Guaiyan, its eastern edge extends to Haicha’jiao, while its western and northern boundaries are defined by the fossil group site along Shuitousha-Yingguanling.

The park features ancient volcanic relics from two eruptions dating back approximately 135 million years ago during the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous periods, as well as coastal landform landscapes formed over the past 20,000 to 10,000 years. It also includes paleontological fossil burial sites, faults and structural landforms, stream valleys, waterfall cascades, collapse geological relics, and coastal scenery. It combines serene, elegant, majestic, and spectacular natural landscapes with a pristine ecological environment and the beautiful scenery of mountains meeting the sea.

Centered around Qiniang Mountain and featuring the coastal landform landscape belt as its main interface, the geopark integrates tourist reception points, geological resource sites, and scenic spots, forming a “113” layout comprising “one core,” “one belt,” and “three zones.” The park currently has six geological heritage scenic areas: Qiongqiu Xinglv (Dome Travel), Haishi Qiguan (Sea Stone Wonders), Luzu Guanchao (Deer Cape Tidal Viewing), Buxi Yangmei (Streamside Bayberry), Guwu Shiji (Ancient Fossil Chronicles), and Fengmu Duanlie (Maplewood Fault). It also includes a geology museum, a geological landscape corridor, two hiking and scientific exploration routes on Qiniang Mountain’s main peak and Dayanding sub-peak, a main and auxiliary monument plaza, a coastal landscape boulevard, and a mangrove wetland scenic area. The geology museum is situated at the foot of Qiniang Mountain, the second highest peak in Shenzhen. Surrounded by mountains, the building boasts an exceptionally artistic design that blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings, earning it several national-level architectural design awards.