Vermilion sunglow what a sight. This describes the Danxia landform of China. We stand before a testament to time’s artistry. The Danxia landform. Have you ever seen anything quite like it?
These breathtaking formations resulted from millions of years of geological activity. This area is a type of petrographic geomorphology unique to China. The Danxia landform is composed of red sandstone and conglomerates. These rocks are largely Cretaceous in age.
Around 80 million years ago red sandstone was laid down by sedimentation. This came from lakes and streams. Tectonic plate movements created faults after another 15 million years. The movement of the Himalayan range disturbed the land around 23 million years ago. It uplifted the area. This completely changed the topography. Weathering and erosion formed the steep cliffs over millions of years. You can see them today.
But what does Danxia mean? The name Danxia comes from an ancient Chinese poem. It refers to vermilion sunglow. Imagine the vibrant colors at sunset.
The first studies of these landforms happened at Mount Danxia near Shaoguan. Chinese geologists started learning more in the 1920s and 1930s. They discovered that the Danxia landform is made of uplifted continental crust. Faulting and erosion exposed large scarps of layered red rock.
The Danxia landform covers many provinces in southeast China. Taining County in Fujian Province has very good examples of “young” danxia landforms. Here you see deep narrow valleys. Valleys widen as the landform ages. This creates isolated towers and ridges.
A peculiar feature here is the development of numerous caves. These caves are of various sizes and shapes. The caves tend to be shallow and isolated. They are unlike true karst terrain. There, caves form deep interconnecting networks.
In 2010, several Danxia landscapes became a World Heritage Site. It is under the general name “China Danxia”. This includes Mount Langshan and Mount Wanfo in Hunan Province. Also Mount Danxia in Guangdong Province, Taining and Mount Guanzhi in Fujian Province. Further Mount Longhu and Guifeng in Jiangxi Province, Fangyan, Mount Jianglang in Zhejiang Province. And finally, Mount Chishui in Guizhou Province. The total core area of these regions is 73945 hectares. The total buffer area is 65446 hectares.
Recognizing the beauty and unusual geology, UNESCO declared six park areas in southern China World Heritages. They recognized the peculiar geology and aesthetics.
These landscapes offer stark desert-like rock formations and watery green terrain. They are beautiful places for recreation, hiking, and sightseeing. Some sandstone areas have verdant foliage. They also have waterfalls, rivers, and old Buddhist caves.
The hills at Octagon Village near Guilin look much like the limestone karst hills around Guilin.
So, as you gaze upon the Danxia landform. Remember the millions of years. Remember the forces that shaped this landscape. And remember the vermilion sunglow. It paints these rocks in a breathtaking light.