Geodiversity characterization of the Danxiashan UNESCO Global Geopark of China

The magnitude rule in geoheritage site inventories

“…Because of their attractiveness, a significant proportion of the geoheritage inventories have been carried out in karst or pseudokarst regions, where we find repeated references to the magnitude of the geosites (e.g. Vdovets et al, 2010; Pellitero et al, 2011; Martin-Duque et al, 2012; Nachev and Sinnyovsky, 2014; Ferreira et al, 2019; Chen et al, 2022; Duszyński and Migoń, 2022). These works supposedly selected the geosites by conventional criteria, but describe spectacular examples (italic letters are literal words) of tuffaceous morphologies, gorges, cavities and tectonic structures (Ebro and Rudrón Gorges Natural Park, Spain); large caves, including the cave with the tallest entrance in the world (∼215 m) (Alto Ribeira Tourist State Park, Brazil); landscapes of well-developed Cretaceous red beds, dissected by prominent erosional landforms (Danxiashan Global Geopark, China); clusters of 17 folds, tens of meters high and the largest cave in the Republic of Tatarstan (Russia); outstanding examples of karst landscapes in Covalagua and Las Tuerces (Spain), including one of the highest concentration of sinkholes in Spain (387 in ∼10 km 2 ) and an extensive karst labyrinth or bogaz of more than 50 ha; an emblematic and unique geological phenomenon in Bulgaria, consisting of a group of majestic limestone columns of algal biohermal reefs, some up to 10 m in height and 8 m in diameter; or spectacular landforms on sandstones in Sudetes (Poland), with extensive erosional landscapes, impressive landslides (the largest landslide complex in the region), long erosional corridors (>20 km) and abundant and prominent sandstone tors (in such a number and unusual size ), notches, cavities, cliffs or block fields .…”

An Investigation of Willingness to Pay for Geopark Management and Conservation: A Case Study of Geotourists in the Greater China Region

“…The Danxiashan UNESCO Global Geopark (DXGP) in the southern part of China, the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark (HKGP) in the New Territories of Hong Kong, and the Yehliu Geopark (YLGP) on the northern coast of Taiwan were selected as the study sites (Figure 1). The extraordinary aesthetic and remarkable scientific qualities in the geology and geomorphology of these sites made them officially established as geotourism destinations in the early 2000s (DXGP in 2004; HKGP in 2009; and YLGP in 2003) [46][47][48]. DXGP is specifically located northeast of Shaoguan, a city in Guangdong Province.…”

“…Finally, escarpments formed together due to water erosion and weather- DXGP is specifically located northeast of Shaoguan, a city in Guangdong Province. It is positioned in the Danxia Basin, extending to an area of 292 km 2 , whose dominant bedrock is red conglomerates and sandstones [46]. Well-developed Cretaceous-Period reddish beds were first raised and then dissected by faulting and jointing during the Himalayan orogenic cycle.…”

“…Well-developed Cretaceous-Period reddish beds were first raised and then dissected by faulting and jointing during the Himalayan orogenic cycle. Finally, escarpments formed together due to water erosion and weathering, which characterize the unique regional geomorphology (i.e., canyons, prominent cliffs) that is directly named after the park: Danxia landforms [46,49]. Being a great example of the geodynamics of South China during the late Mesozoic era, the DXGP is an ideal location to study geodiversity and geoheritage, and also serves as a center for learning about the Danxia landscape in the humid subtropical climate of China [46].…”