National Geopark

　　Geological relics are records and natural heritage left over from the Earth's evolutionary process, representing the geological history, events, and evolution of this region. Therefore, in general, the formation of geological relics is almost entirely the result of the combined action of geological stresses both inside and outside the Earth's crust.

　　About 1.8 billion years ago, this area was part of an ancient continent that underwent erosion. At 1.8 billion years, the crust began to subside and received sediments, forming sedimentary deposits of the Changcheng System of the Mesoproterozoic era, transitioning from terrestrial to marine environments—from clastic rock formations to potassium- and magnesium-rich carbonate rock formations—constituting a massive sedimentary cycle. During the Changzhougou Period, the climate was relatively warm with abundant rainfall, leading to the early formation of thick fluvial clastic deposits. The Chuanlinggou Period saw a hotter and more humid climate, with significant proliferation of algae and relatively deeper water bodies. The Tuanshanzi and Dahongyu Periods were both under subtropical, warm climatic conditions favorable for the proliferation of microbial and algal life, accompanied by substantial carbonate rock sedimentation, forming rich stromatolite reef structures of varying sizes. The Gaoyuzhuang Period had a hot and humid climate, with the emergence of abundant microalgae, particularly in the early Gaoyuzhuang period when algal reefs and stromatolites were well developed, leading to large amounts of carbonate rock and iron-manganese sedimentation. During the Changcheng Period, an eight-hundred-million-year time span was marked by sandstone bedding, macroscopic algal fossils, and manganese boracite, among other geological relics.

　　The Jixian Period began 1.4 billion years ago, with a hot and humid climate. The crust continued to subside slowly, facilitating extensive carbonate rock deposition and the growth of microbial and algal life. The rock assemblage was dominated by various types of carbonate rocks, with the paleogeography characterized by coastal lagoons, intertidal zones, and shallow marine shelves. This led to the formation of numerous algal fossils and stromatolite-related biological geological relics.

　　The Qingbaikou Period began 1.05 billion years ago, with a gradually slowing rate of crustal subsidence. Clastic rocks and claystones became more common, along with fluvial and coastal sandy-muddy sedimentary environments. During the Jingeryu Period, crustal subsidence led to the deposition of shallow marine shelf lime mudstones. Thereafter, the crust rose, and the land was subjected to erosion, leaving only the 800-million-year-old Jingeryu Formation.

　　In the early Cambrian Period, about 560 million years ago, the crust subsided, receiving carbonate rock deposits of the Fuzhunshan Formation. The ancient weathering crust formed the famous "200-million-year gap" Jixian Movement geological relics.

　　During the Indosinian Movement period, the Pan Shan granite in this region was formed approximately between 217.1 and 222.7 million years ago, laying the rocky foundation for the granite landform scenic area.

　　During the Dahongyu Period of the Changcheng Period, around 1.6 billion years ago, submarine volcanic eruptions occurred, forming geological relics related to volcanic lava.

　　Tectonic movements are the primary cause of the formation of geological landscape relics. Based on geological analysis, the landforms in this area were established during the Indosinian Movement and shaped during the Yanshan Orogeny. The Yanshan Orogeny, which occurred approximately 180–140 million years ago, caused the uplift of Huangyaguan, Jiuding Mountain, Baxian Mountain, and Pan Shan in northern Jizhou. Later, through weathering and erosion, sandstone peak forests, canyons, and granite landforms were formed. The klippen formed by thrust faults in the Fuzhunshan Geological Structure Relics Scenic Area are products of the Yanshan Movement.

　　External geological forces such as weathering, fluvial processes, and karst processes have created highly scenic geological landscapes. Examples include: “Group of Beasts Greeting Guests,” “Roaring Lion,” “One-Line Sky,” “Skyward Cave,” “Chinese Painting Ridge,” “Stone Egg Mountain,” and “Lion with Tree.”