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Dreaming of a geopark trip? Check it out!

Raoping Qinglan Geopark in Guangdong was approved to enter the national geoparks network by the Ministry of Natural Resources on March 16.

Newly approved Raoping Qinglan Geopark becomes the ninth national geopark in Guangdong Province and the only one in the eastern part of the province.

Qinglan geopark has a unique granite landscape including rock caves, stone forests, peaks, canyons, and stone mortar groups, among which, the granite cave is known as a fascinating discovery, and is hard to find anywhere else.

A total of 31 geoparks were approved to enter the network on March 16, with the others scattered in other provinces. The new approval raises the total number in the list to 271.

National geoparks in China are unique natural areas that are made up of geological relics with national-level geological scientific significance and high aesthetic value.

What's your plan on holidays? Visiting one of the province's nine geoparks for a leisure trip might make a good option. Let's have a look at the other eight geoparks in Guangdong.


1. Mount Danxia National Geopark, Shaoguan (丹霞山世界地质公园)

Located in Shaoguan, the northern part of Guangdong province, Mount Danxia was formed from reddish sandstone that eroded over time, forming a range of mountains surrounded by curvaceous cliffs and unusual rock formations (Danxia Landform).

Danxia Mountain has a few unique stones such as the Yang Yuan Stone, Yin Yuan Stone, Breasts stone, Sleeping Beauty and other attractions which make Danxia Mountain a "natural sex culture museum." Particularly noted are two formations: a stone pillar called the Yangyuan ("male/father stone") that bears a remarkable resemblance to a phallus and the Yinyuan hole, which somewhat resembles the female labia.

Opening hours: 8:00a.m.-6:00p.m.

Tickets: 140 Yuan

Address: Danxia Scenic Area, Renhua County, Shaoguan City (韶关市仁化县丹霞山景区)

Public transportation: take the high-speed train to Shaoguan Station, and then transfer to the No. 22 Bus to Shaoguan East Railway Station. Take bus to Renhua from Shaoguan East Railway Station Square and gets off at the entrance of Danxia Mountain. (到广州南站坐高铁至韶关站,然后坐22路到韶关东站,在东站广场坐韶关至仁化的公交车在丹霞山门口下车即到)

Self-driving: navigate to Mount Danxia National Geopark (导航至广东丹霞山世界地质公园)


2. Huguangyan National Geopark, Zhanjiang (湛江湖光岩国家地质公园)

Huguangyan geopark, covering an area of 38 square kilometers, is located on maar volcanic landforms (a maar is a volcanic crater).

One of the greatest attractions in the park is Huguangyan Lake, the only maar lake formed in a crater in China.

With lush vegetation, the park has a high concentration of negative oxygen ions, and thus called "a natural oxygen bar." While walking along the lake, you will feel very refreshed from the air.

It's worth mentioning that you can walk under the crater when you visit the geopark, a very rare experience that you may not miss.

Opening hours: 7:00a.m.-6:00p.m.

Tickets: 60 yuan

Address: No. 668 Xiandao, Huguang Town, Mazhang District, Zhanjiang City (湛江市麻章区湖光镇668县道)

Public transportation: take bus No. 9 next to Zhanjiang South Railway Station to Huguangyan East Gate Station (湛江火车南站(近汽车南站)旁可乘坐公交9路至湖光岩东门站下)

Self-driving: navigate to Zhanjiang Huguangyan National Geopark (导航至广东湛江湖光岩国家地质公园)


3. Xiqiao Mountain National Geological Park, Foshan (佛山西樵山国家地质公园)

Mount Xiqiao is a 40- to 50-million-year-old extinct volcano situated in the southwest section of the Nanhai District, Foshan, 68 kilometers (42 miles) from Guangzhou.

The mountain is designated as a national forest park and national geological park. Covering an area of 14 square kilometers, the area features 72 peaks with the highest, Dacheng Peak (大秤峰), rising to 346 meters (1,135 feet).

The peaks are not high, and the road trails are complete here. Visitors can walk to the main scenic spot, NanhaiGuanyin, in one hour and a half.

Opening hours: 7:00a.m.-6:00p.m.

Tickets: 70 yuan; sightseeing bus ticket is 20 yuan

Address: ShannanLu, Huanshan Avenue, Xiqiao Town, Nanhai District, Foshan City (佛山市南海区西樵镇环山大道山南路)

Public transportation: Visitors can take buses from Guangzhou (Guangzhou East Station, Guangzhou South Railway Station, Liuhua Station, Fangcun Bus Station, etc.) to Xiqiao Station, and then change to bus No. 6 or No. 12 to the hiking trail (广州(广州东站、广州南站、流花车站、芳村客运站等车站,乘坐大巴抵达西樵车站,然后换乘公交车樵06、樵12到登山大道口,经西樵山北门登山。)

Self-driving: navigate to Xiqiao Mountain National Geological Park, Foshan, Guangdong (导航至广东佛山西樵山国家地质公园)


4. Lingxiaoyan National Geopark, Yangchun (阳春凌霄岩国家地质公园)

Lingxiaoyan National Geological Park, covering an area of 36.7 square kilometers, is a world-class geopark. It is characterized by karst landforms and mainly consists of natural water-eroded caves, of which "A Seam of Sky," "Moon Reflected in Water," "Blessed by A Lucky Star," and "Dripping Pearl" are regarded as "Four Wonders of Lingxiao."

Opening hours: 9:00a.m.-6:00p.m. 8:00a.m.-7:00p.m. (Holidays)

Tickets: 55yuan (Including Yuxi Three Caves)

Address: Lingxiao Rock National Geological Park, Helang Town, Yangchun City, Guangdong (阳春市河朗镇凌霄岩国家地质公园)

Self-driving: navigate to YangchunLingxiaoyan National Geopark (导航至广东阳春凌霄岩国家地质公园)


5. Dapeng Peninsula National Geopark, Shenzhen (深圳大鹏半岛国家地质公园)

The geopark's landscape has rich geological heritage and important historical and cultural value.

Thinking of going to places like Bali in Indonesia or Phuket in Thailand to play in the water? Dapeng Peninsula is better and cheaper! You will find that nature is the best filter here.

Opening hours: all day

Tickets: free

Address: No. 1, Geological Park Road, Nan'ao, Dapeng New District, Shenzhen (深圳市大鹏新区南澳地质公园路1号)

Public transportation: take the high-speed rail to Shenzhen North station, where there is a direct bus to Dapeng in Futian. (广州南坐高铁到深圳北,在福田有直接去大鹏的公交)

Self-driving: navigate to Dapeng Peninsula National Geopark (导航至深圳大鹏半岛国家地质公园)


6. Fengkai National Geopark (封开国家地质公园)

Fengkai, once known as Guangxin, is the birthplace of Lingnan culture (the traditional culture of South China), as well as Guangdong dialect (Cantonese).

The geopark is well known in the Pearl River Delta with its abundant geological resources such as karst, granite and sand shale landforms, and human fossils from the Old Stone Age.

It is also a picturesque place with fascinating scenic beauty, including huge rocks, strangely shaped peaks, deep caves, vast forests, green mountains and raging rivers.

Opening hours: 8:30a.m. - 6:00p.m.

Tickets: 80 yuan

Address: Heerkou Town, Fengkai County, Zhaoqing City (肇庆市封开县河儿口镇)

Public Transportation: From Guangzhou to Fengshang, take a green car to Dabanshi at Chengjiangkou Station (or Fengchuan Station), Fengtai County. (广州至封开后,到封开县城江口车站(或封川车站)搭乘至大斑石的专线车。)

Self-driving: navigate to Guangdong Fengkai National Geopark (导航至广东封开国家地质公园)


7. Enping Hot Spring National Geological Park (恩平温泉国家地质公园)

This is China's first national geopark named after the theme of geothermal springs. Many representative hot springs are here, such as Jinshan hot springs with an open-air spring tub, Didu hot springs with landscape design, and spring tubs with amusement park elements. Just choose one and enjoy it with your friends.

Tickets: 100 yuan

Address: Naji Town, Datian Town and Liangxi Town, Enping City, Guangdong Province (广东省恩平市那吉镇、大田镇和良西镇)

Self-driving: navigate to Guangdong Enping Hot Spring National Geological Park (导航至广东恩平温泉国家地质公园)


8. Yangshan National Geopark (阳山国家地质公园)

The geological heritage of the this Geopark is diverse and mainly includes granite landscapes (such as granite weathering and deep gorges), soluble carbonate landscapes (such as karst peaks, peak forests, caves, and dark rivers), and water landscapes (such as hot springs, waterfalls, and drifting rivers).

The park covers 79.72 square kilometers and consists of two areas: First Peak area and Xiaobeijiang area. First Peak is the highest peak in Guangdong Province, reaching 1,902 meters above sea level. The geopark also boasts the best preserved subtropical virgin forest in Guangdong. When the weather is fine, visitors can see the sea of clouds from here.

Opening hours: 8:00a.m.-5:00p.m.

Tickets: The first peak ticket is 80 yuan. The first peak hot spring is 138 yuan.

Address: Yangshan County, Northwest of Guangdong Province (广东省西北部阳山县)

Public transportation: Take high-speed train to Raoping station, and then take a taxi to Qinglan geopark (高铁饶平站下车转出租车)

Self- driving: navigate to Guangdong Yangshan National Geopark (导航至广东阳山国家地质公园)

After seeing so many interesting geoparks in Guangdong, would you like to go with friends and family to visit one? The above ticket prices represent the market price, but you can book tickets online in advance to save money. Public transportation and self-driving routes are for reference only. May you have a happy holiday!

Source: WECHAT(SilkRoadPost)

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