Linxia UGGp

In July 2023, Sanqingshan UGGp and Linxia UGGp established a sister geopark relationship. Relying on their respective geological characteristics and resource advantages, the two geoparks carried out all-round cooperation in geological scientific research, geological heritage protection, tourism promotion, science education and other fields.

Linxia UGGp is situated in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, covering 6 counties and cities including Linxia City, Hezheng County and Yongjing County, with a total area of 2,120 square kilometers. It spans two major natural regions: the arid zone of the Loess Plateau and the alpine-cold humid zone of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, making it a comprehensive geopark integrating geology, ecology and culture. The geopark is prominently represented by Cretaceous dinosaur footprints and Late Cenozoic fossil faunas. The Liujiaxia dinosaur track fossil assemblage is one of the most important Mesozoic vertebrate track fossil sites in China and the first discovered in Gansu, and it also contains the world’s largest single sauropod dinosaur footprint. The Late Cenozoic mammalian fossil assemblage in the Hezheng area comprises more than 30,000 specimens, recording the succession of four faunas: Paraceratherium (giant rhinoceros), Platybelodon (shovel-tusked elephant), Hipparion (three-toed horse) and Equus (true horse). It represents one of the most complete Late Cenozoic continental biostratigraphic records in Eurasia. In addition, the park is complemented by well-developed Late Cenozoic strata, northern Danxia landforms and the Three Gorges of the Yellow River. The Bingling Danxia landform evolved from purple-red thick-bedded glutenite of the Early Cretaceous (Late Mesozoic), dating back 120–144 million years ago, with diverse landform shapes.

It also integrates religious cultural heritages such as the Bingling Temple Grottoes, distinctive local ethnic minority cultures, and prehistoric civilizations including the Majiayao painted pottery culture, where geological heritage and cultural landscapes complement each other beautifully.

Learn More www.lxgeopark.cn/