Guizhou Xingyi National Geopark

　　Guizhou Xingyi National Geopark, one of the national geoparks approved by the Ministry of Land and Resources on January 19, 2004, is a geopark characterized by karst cone peak landscapes and the paleontological fossil sites of the Guizhou Dragon fauna. It features eight major scenic areas: the Maling River Canyon Scenic Area, West Peak Forest Scenic Area, East Peak Forest Scenic Area, Dingxiao Guizhou Dragon Scenic Area, Wusha Guizhou Dragon Scenic Area, Nidang Stone Forest Area, Pogang Karst Ecological Area, and Wanfeng Lake Scenic Area. The park covers an area of 350 square kilometers, with a peripheral protected area spanning 1,000 square kilometers.

　　Guizhou Xingyi National Geopark is located in the central-southern part of Xingyi City on the northern bank of the Nanpan River, the upper reaches of the Pearl River. Its geographic coordinates are between 104°32′–105°08′ east longitude and 24°38′–25°03′ north latitude. The terrain of the park is lower in the southeast and higher in the northwest, with elevations ranging from 625 meters to 2,207 meters. It has a mid-subtropical humid monsoon climate, with an average annual temperature of 16.1°C. The area is crisscrossed with rivers and abundant in surface and underground runoff. There are various types of soil and rich vegetation. The park lies at the southwestern edge of the Yangtze Block, with its main folds and faults formed during the Yanshanian period; the regional geological structure belongs to the Qianxinan region of...

　　Guizhou Xingyi National Geopark, situated within the Anshuan torsional deformation zone, features complex faults and folds. Throughout the park, the fossil sites and occurrences of the Guizhou Dragon fauna, as well as the Dingxiao and Wusha scenic areas, are unique and rare both nationally and across Asia. The Maling River Canyon, Wanfeng Forest, Pogang Karst Ecological Area, and Nidang Stone Forest represent some of China’s most typical cone karst developments, with the widest contiguous distribution and the greatest variety of karst landform types. The area enjoys a pleasant climate, abundant resources, and rich, authentic ethnic culture. It is home to well-preserved ancient villages such as Nanlong Buyi Ancient Village (Bagua Village), ancient “Buyi Eight-Tone” music; the former residence of He Yingqin, the “Rock Carving of General Wang Dianlun’s Hometown,” Liu Family Manor (Guizhou Ethnic Marriage Customs Museum), Lutun Stone Archway Cluster, Wan Tun Han Dynasty Tomb Cluster, and ancient human cultural sites including “Maomao Cave” and “Zhangkou Cave,” which have been named after the “Xingyi Man.” These elements together form a high-quality, deeply meaningful geopark that integrates natural scenery, biological fossils, cultural heritage, and ethnic customs, offering significant value for tourism, leisure, vacationing, and earth science education. In January 2004, it was officially approved by the Ministry of Land and Resources as the Guizhou Xingyi National Geopark.