World Natural Heritage: China Danxia (11)

Mount Longhu is a typical representation of a Danxia landform in the early stages of its late geological evolution among China’s Danxia landform nominations that applied for World Natural Heritage. The Xinjiang Basin, where Mount Longhu is located, was witness to the important geological evolution of the Cretaceous Period, as well as the volcanic activities in the Early Cretaceous Epoch, the deposit of gypsum-salt and the accumulation of sand blown by the wind, and the extinction of the dinosaurs. Its prominent etched features combine the remnant peak clusters, hoodoos, isolated peaks and hills, making it a representative of a scattered hoodoo and broad valley Danxia landform in the early stages of its late development. There are subtropical evergreen forests which grow in the lower altitudes and, it is also the vital habitat of important endangered species. The numerous ancient hanging coffins in the caves off the cliff subtly combined with the cultural landscapes of the ancestor court of China’s Taoism forms a beautiful scene. Mount Longhu is in line with the standards (VII) (VIII) (X) for selecting world natural heritage.