Sanqingshan UNESCO Global Geopark is located in Shangrao City of Jiangxi
Province and divided into Sanqingshan main area, Huaiyushan area and Zihu area,
covering a total area of 433km2. Its main peak, Yujing Peak, is 1819. 9 meters
a.s.l. It acquired its name thanks to its three peaks (Yujing Peak, Yuxu Peak
and Yuhua Peak) and their resemblance to three seats for the three founders of
Taoism, Yuqing, Shangqing and Taiqing. Sanqingshan joined the Global Geoparks
Network in September 2012. It is a natural geographic area with abundant
geological outcrops and distinctive landforms in the Southeast of China,
principally consisting of Mesozoic granite, Paleozoic and Proterozoic
strata.
The Geopark is situated in the zone of conjunction between the Yangtze and
Cathaysia paleoplates. It is recognized to be a great work of Earth science,
recording an Earth history spanning over 800 million years, remaining precious
geoheritages of stratigraphical, petrological, tectonic, and geomorphological
significance, harboring rare biotic communities that evolved through more than
200 million years. There are varied, typical and centralized granite
micro-landforms. Furthermore, the unique blend of granite landforms, ecology and
spectacular meteorological effects, provide the area with an exceptional natural
beauty, making it an outstanding natural museum and representative of granite
peak forest landscape. In addition, the harmonious coexistence of humans and
nature for over one thousand years has left the Geopark with an important
cultural heritage. Predominant are ancient Taoist architectural structures
designed and located to reflect the Taoist philosophy of “harmony of human and
nature”, and regarded as an open-air museum of Chinese Taoism ancient
architecture.