Zhangye UNESCO Global Geopark is adjacent to the Alxa block to the north and the south to the Middle Qilian block, belonging to the transitional zone of the Qilian Caledonian fold belt and the Alxa block.
The unique geographical location and complex geological process have created rich and typical geoheritage in the Zhangye UNESCO Global Geopark, making Zhangye UNESCO Global Geopark a collection of Nine-Spring ophiolite suite, Colorful hills, typical Danxia landforms in arid areas, middle and small structures, water erosion geomorphology, etc.
Among the geoheritage, the Nine-Springs ophiolite suite has always been a hot spot for Chinese and foreign geologists to investigate and study. It is the Early Paleozoic collision zone between the North China plate and the Qaidam plate. Because the ophiolite suite is of international geological significance, it became one of the field trips of the 30th International Geological Conference in 1996 and an important station of the “Australian-China Tectonics and Earth Resources Joint Center” field investigation route in 2018.
Zhangye’s Colorful hills are characterized by monocline and monocline peaks due to tectonic movements, which are full of rhythm and layering and are of international geological significance. Binggou Danxia has developed windows-lattice and palace-style Danxia landforms in the arid area of northern China, often developing mud-emulsion, laminated, and other micro-landforms. Heihe River is the second-largest inland river in the northwest of China. The upper and middle reaches have formed the geological landscape such as the Heihe gorge with the decline of topography and the strong erosion of the river, which is the natural classroom of geoscience research and has the value of science popularization and education.
Twinning
Zhangye UNESCO Global Geopark and Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark signed a twinning agreement on September 2026, which contributes to closer cooperation and communication between the two regions with the aim of promoting, managing and developing geoconservation and enhancing the development of Geoparks.
