RSSFangshan Geopark – Beijing's first International Geological Park
Oct 13
In the region Fangshan, so removed around 65 kilometers from Beijing, was the Fangshan Geopark, Beijing's first International Geological Park, reported the participation of UNESCO, as the varied and unique geological situation great attention among professionals and interested lay people attracted .
The area is 954 km ² and is situated on the territory of the administrative district of Beijing and Hebei province. 490 km ² of which are located in Beijing, in Hebei 463.95 km ². The Fangshan Geopark consists of eight zones.
The National Park of the Shang Fang Mountains in Fangshan Geopark is a destination in the southwestern area of Beijing, which not only has a lovely nature but also has also attractions such as temples and pagodas. The Fangshan Geopark is located in Fangshan District in Beijing, 65 km away from the city center. In the Shang Fang Mountains you can enjoy a thrilling landscape of green forests, peculiar mountains and peaks and a large number of caves, the tranquility of nature and fresh air.
Who was once in the Shang Fang Mountains, the wonderfully charming environment will never forget. The highest peak in the Shang Fang Mountains reach a height of 860 meters and is part of the Yan Mountains. A mountain in the Shang Fang Mountains has the name “mountain of the Pillar of Heaven”. From this mountain you get a complete view of the Shang Fang Mountains. In the Shang Fang mountains are covered over 95% of the surface of plants. It is said that thousands of years ago there lived a monk here, and has begun to take care of the trees. Today the forests are the only and best preserved secondary forests in northern China. In the woods, a large number of old and large trees. Some of the trees belong to specially protected species.
Also a feature of the mountains are the caves. Of these, the nine natural caves are well worth seeing. In the numerous caves one can admire various forms of stalactites and stalagmites. The best-known cave in the mountains of Shang Fang is the first cave, namely the “Cave of clouds and water.” The “Cave of the clouds and the water” is broad and big and has a depth of 630 meters in which there are over 120 places that were named because of their peculiar forms. The names of the rocks were named after the monks who once lived here. Also worth mentioning is the “pit of heaven” on the mountain itself, the “pit of Heaven” has a diameter of 30 meters and a depth of 70 meters. In the pit a few fossils of animals and plants were found.
Shang Fang Mountains have long been associated with Buddhism. Already from 1400 years ago monks lived. The first temple in the mountains of Shang Fang was built in the Han Dynasty. To this day, monks still live in the mountains in the Fangshan Geopark.
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