On October 25, 2015, Sanqingshan UGGp and Zhijindong UGGp became sister geoparks. The two geoparks would carry out cooperation in the conservation of geosites, scientific research, geopark management, science education, personnel exchanges and others in the future.
Zhijindong UGGpis located in the western Guizhou Plateau, in the territory of Zhijin County of Guizhou Province, with 26°38′31″～26°52′35″N, 105°44′42″～106°11′38″, and it covers an area of 170km2. It consists of three parks, which are Zhijin Cave, Qijie River and Dongfeng Lake. It is rich in geological heritage, including karst heritage, paleontological fossil heritage, stratigraphic and rock heritage, and structural heritage. Karst heritage includes caves, canyons, natural bridges, sinkholes (tiankeng), peak clusters, hills, cuestas, picturesque rock formations and hydrological features. Among them: Canyons present various types such as V-shaped, box-shaped, ground-fissure, blind-valley and dry-valley forms.Dacaokou Tiankeng is one of the Tiankengs with the largest volume in the world. Xiniu Wangyue Natural Bridge is a rare giant double-arch curved natural bridge at home and abroad.
Its abundant geological heritage is based on Lower Triassic marine carbonate rocks, concentrated in three relatively independent yet closely connected karst geomorphic units: Zhijin Cave, Qijie River and Dongfeng Lake, linked by the Qijie River. Together they form a comprehensive geopark centered on caves, canyons, natural bridges and tiankengs, integrating magnificent, typical, exquisite and rare plateau karst landscapes with rich cultural and biological landscapes.
