RESEARCH & EDUCATION-Taihang Mountain Zhangshiyan Geopark

Formation Conditions of the Zhangshiyan Landform2026-04-13The Zhangshiyan landform is a non-renewable geological natural heritage formed, developed, and preserved over the long geological history of Earth’s evolution under the influence of various internal and external geological processes. Geological structure is the material basis for the formation of the Zhangshiyan landform, while endogenic and exogenic geological processes are the driving forces behind its formation and development.
Qipanshan Forest Vegetation Landscape2026-04-13Qipanshan ranges from an elevation of 420 m to its highest peak at 1,340 m, with a relative elevation difference of more than 900 m. The vertical distribution of vegetation can generally be divided into three zones:
Animal and Plant Resources of Taihang Mountain Zhangshiyan National Geopark2026-04-13Zanhuang County has maintained a sound natural ecological environment, with lush and magnificent mountains, clear and winding streams, pristine natural scenery, and numerous rare species. It is rich in animal and plant resources, with abundant rainfall, a pleasant climate, and a forest coverage rate of 49.1%. In its deep mountainous areas, the forest coverage rate exceeds 90%. Zanhuang County has successively been recognized as one of the sixth batch of national practice and innovation bases for
Unconformity Surface and the Lüliang Movement in Taihang Mountain Zhangshiyan Geopark2026-04-13The structural styles of the main Mesoproterozoic stratigraphic units in Zhangshiyan Geopark show obvious differences, with multiple angular unconformities. The most important one is the angular unconformity between the Mesoproterozoic Changcheng System and the Paleoproterozoic Gantaohe Group. This unconformity was formed by the Lüliang Movement, which led to the stabilization of the North China Plate. The Lüliang Movement coincided with the final formation of the Columbia supercontinent and has
Structural Relics and Ductile Shear Zones of Taihang Mountain Zhangshiyan Geopark2026-04-13Geological bodies formed during different periods in Taihang Mountain Zhangshiyan Geopark have undergone different phases of tectonic movement, and their structural styles and types show obvious differences.
Display of Internal Sedimentary Structures in Zanhuang Zhangshiyan Geopark2026-04-12Sedimentary structures are well developed in the Changcheng System sandstone within the park. More than 200 types of bedding-plane and bedding sedimentary structures have been discovered and identified. Such diversity of sedimentary structures is exceptional among similar sedimentary rocks discovered so far, and there have been no reported cases in the literature of more than 200 sedimentary structures occurring in similar sedimentary rocks.
Development and Evolution of the Zhangshiyan Landform2026-04-12Within Zanhuang Zhangshiyan National Geopark, the Zhangshiyan landform stands out as the most iconic among all landform types due to its uniqueness. Characterized by its continuous long red cliff walls, connected sets of “Ω”-shaped zhang valleys, and sharply angular block-like forms
Discover Zanhuang’s Geological Wonders2025-10-09Recently, the special science popularization project “A Geological Journey into Zanhuang” was officially launched.
Research & Education Activities2025-03-25The fold/thrust structures and ductile shear zones of the Neoarchean orogenic belt of the North China Craton (Zanhuang Terrane), together with many geological relics such as the typical clastic rock landform unique to the Taihang Mountains—the Zhangshiyan landform—are rare, representative, and complete. They provide many comparative research topics of global significance for geoscientists at home and abroad.