Yanqing UNESCO Global Geopark is located in the northwest part of Beijing, in a transition zone between the North China Plain and the Inner Mongolia Plateau. It is one of the characteristic areas of the Yanshanian movement.
Yanqing UNESCO Global Geopark joined the Global Geoparks Network in 2013. It covers an area of 620.38 square kilometers and consists of four visitable areas of interest, West Guyaju and Longqingxia Scenic Area, East Qianjiadian Scenic Area and South Badinal Scenic Area. The Geopark area consists of Precambrian marine carbonate sedimentary bedrock and is dominated by the characteristic structures of the Mesozoic Yanshanian movement. It is therefore a complete geopark, in which elements of tectonics, sedimentary, palaeontology, magmatic geological heritage and the typical karst relief of North China coexist in a set.
Geological Heritage
The Yanqing UNESCO Global Geopark has a long geological history that can be seen through a variety of geological heritage sites. In the thousands of meters of flat layers of carbonate rocks formed between 1.9 and 0.8 billion years ago, there are various and complex wave formations. There is also a distinct gradient discontinuity at the contact surfaces between them and strata that interpose the stratigraphic column and have been moved during the various stages of the Yanshanian movement. In addition, at the base of the mountains there are large-scale faults, almost vertical layers, a massive dome, as well as anticline and monocline structures.
The plants that thrived and the numerous dinosaurs that lived during the Yanshanian left behind a variety of fossilized trees and dinosaur footprints. According to these footprints, there were not only the common carnivorous Theriopods, but also herbivorous Sauropods, Ankylosaurs and Ornithopods living in the Geopark territory at that time, which were not found in neighboring areas. These dinosaur footprints are a unique and valuable geological heritage for the Geopark. During the Cenozoic, the dense network of faults and discontinuities caused by the Yanshanian movement cut the exposed Meso-Neoproterozoic carbonate formations into many pieces, the karstification of which has shaped these rocks into a magnificent mountainous karst relief, so that the Geopark is one of the typical North China karst relief sites in the whole country.
Sustainable development
The long geological history has created a variety of geological landscapes and picturesque natural beauties, combined with a healthy ecosystem as well as cultural history. Yanqing UNESCO Global Geopark had evidence of human activity about 40-50 thousand years ago, as numerous stone tools, important cultural relics, have been discovered. Yanqing belonged to Northern Yan territory during the Warring States period, with Han Dynasty ruins still visible. The Great Wall, which was built during the Ming and Qing dynasties, has become a world heritage site. The famous Great Wall is also closely related to geological history as it was built following the direction of the undulating surface of the Badaling Rock Complex, which was formed during the Yanshanian movement. Therefore, it is a living example of a perfect combination between geological and historical-cultural heritage.
Sustainable development is a national policy. The natural environment plays a significant role for sustainable development and the economy is the tool to achieve it. To develop geotourism in the UNESCO Global Geopark, the Yanqing Geopark Museum and visitor centers have made many efforts to provide rich, understandable geological information for students and the general public. It publishes such information for public use and provides training to teachers so that they can conduct geological educational activities themselves. The geotourism policy emphasizes both individual and group tours. Individual tours are facilitated through the provision of facilities and educational materials. For group tours, guidelines were formulated covering the following key concerns: safety, reasonable and transparent prices, clear tour information for visitors, interpretation provided by a trained and qualified geotourism guide.
Twinning
Yanqing UNESCO Global Geopark and Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark signed a twinning agreement on 30 April 2015, 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, based on the common geological heritage (preservation of fossil plants) and the environmental and cultural elements.
Yanqing and Lesvos Island Geoparks cooperate closely in the field of preservation of Yanqing and Lesvos fossil trees, exchanging scientific and technological information, expertise and know-how and applying new techniques for the preservation of plant fossils.
