Rare Wonder: Red Rock Geopark

#nationalparks The Red Stone Forest National Geopark is located in the village of Jitong and Duanlong of the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Region, in Hunan Province in south-central China. The park covers an area of 20 square kilometers, it stretches on the banks of the Yuoshui River, opposite the famous ancient town of Fuzhong. In 2012, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China awarded the park the status of AAAA scenic area. The main feature of the national geopark is the natural red stone forest, formed during the Ordovician period (from 500 to 425 million years ago). Fossils of ancient animals are found here and there in the park, looking extremely realistic. One of the attractions of the park is the Corner Stone, also known as the "Stone Pagoda" or "Chinese Corner Stone", which is an extremely important fossil for scientific research and stratigraphy - determining the relative geological age of various geological formations. Another distinctive feature of the park is its deep caves and endless rows of red carbonate stones, the color of which varies depending on the weather and temperature. In summer, with the appearance of the hot sun, their color turns into a fiery red. On a cloudy day, it changes to burgundy and purple, and during a rainy day, the stones turn black. In addition to its important role in geological research, the park is also valuable in the tourism sector - karst formations, canyons, caves, lakes and waterfalls collected on its territory are unique scenic attractions. Folk customs and art of local residents living in the surrounding areas, such as the original dances "Maogusa" and "Waving", are included in the intangible cultural heritage of the state level. Thus, after visiting the park, you can not only get aesthetic pleasure by observing the natural landscapes and the unique way of life of national minorities, but also get acquainted with their history and culture. Red Stone Forest Park is 82 km from Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport and 27 km from the Guzhang exit of Zhangjiajie-Huayuan Highway, between Zhangjiajie and the ancient city of Fenghuang. To get to the park, the most convenient departure point will be Zhangjiajie City. The trip to the park takes about 2-3 hours. When departing Zhangjiajie at 8 or 9 a.m., you will have enough time to visit the park and Fuzhong City and then return to Zhangjiajie or continue your trip to the ancient city of Fenghuang.