Sanqing Mountain is in the hinterland of Huaiyu Mountain in East China. It belongs to a part of the Huaiyu Mountain that covers an area of 760 square kilometers.

 

Sanqing Mountain is 12.2 kilometers from south to north and 6.3 kilometers from east to west. The total area of the mountain is 76.86 square kilometers. The mountain is in the shape of a lotus leaf, tilting from southeast to northwest.

 

Sanqing Mountain National Geopark has a planned area of 229.50 square kilometers. It is located in the northeastern part of Jiangxi Province. Running between 284822and 290042north latitude and 1175820and 1180828east longitude, the park includes five townships, 15 administrative villages and 124 natural villages. By the end of 2002, its total population was 16,167, representing a density of 70 people per square kilometer.

 

Geological heritage

 

Sanqing Mountain has an average sea level of between 1,000 and 1,800 meters. The mountain belongs to granite-eroded topography. Its main peak Yujing Peak is as high as 1,816.9 meters, making it the highest peak of Huaiyu Mountain.

 

The establishment of the geopark has integrated its unique granite peak views and its natural views with the Taoist relics. It has greatly promoted the research value of the scenic views at Sanqing Mountain and provides a foundation for scientific research and environmental protection.

 

It will effectively help protect geological relics and reasonably develop geological resources. In this way, the geological resources can achieve sustainable development.

 

The establishment of the park will also help adjust the industrial structure and expand employment chances to improve its investment environment and promote the sustainable development of the local economy of the Sanqing Mountain area.

 

Sanqing Mountain is made up of granite from the late stage of the Yanshan Period. During its formation, it was raised and eroded and collapsed to form its unique granite peak topography.

 

In the mountain area, there are rising peaks, strange stones, running waterfalls and deep valleys. The natural scenery of the area can be described as dangerous in the east and fantastic in the west, magnificent in the north and unique in the south.

 

Scientific research shows that the central scenic area covers 28 square kilometers. Within the area, there are 48 fantastic peaks, 89 huge stones in different shapes and more than 300 scenic views and places. This is the unique part of the mountain and a rare scene in the world.

 

Diverse climate

 

The mountain is situated in the middle and sub-tropic belt. It is about 340 kilometers from the sea in the east. Therefore, it is affected by the oceanic climate and belongs to the middle and sub-tropical monsoon climate. It also has the feature of a mountainous climate.

 

It has four seasons with a cool summer and long spring and autumn. In winter, the mountains are covered with snow.

 

Annual average temperature is 10.9 degrees. Its highest temperature is 33 degrees between July and August. The average temperature in July is 21.1 degrees and in January it is minus 0.6 degrees, with January's lowest temperature standing at minus 16 degrees.

 

The annual average precipitation is 1,857.7 millimeters and the average annual evaporation stands at 1,331.6 millimeters. The relative humidity is 82 percent.

 

Precious resources

 

The surface water of Sanqing Mountain belongs to the ravine system. The water flows in two directions. Water from the southeast side runs into Xinjiang River, while water from the northwest part flows into Boyang Lake. Water resources on the mountain mainly come from rain. The rain comes down and flows into nearby ravines. The underground water is mainly contained in the layers of broken rocks.

 

According to the investigation conducted by the administrative committee of the mountain, the mountain has a forest area of 14,685 hectares, or a forest coverage rate of 88.1 percent. Its wood reserve is 661,496 cubic meters. The vegetation belongs to the eastern evergreen broad-leaf forest of the middle and sub-tropical belt. The vegetation shows a distinction of vertical distribution. Between the sea level of 300 and 1,000 meters, the broad-leaf forest and coniferous forest grow together. Between 1,000 and 1,500 meters, there are mixed forests of broad-leaf and coniferous forests. At areas above 1,500 meters, there are coniferous forests and mountaintop woods.

 

The naturally grown plants fall into 157 subjects and 1,088 kinds. The area is thus considered a natural botanic garden. There are many tree species under State first-class protection. Many local specialties have both edible and medical functions.

 

The mountain has high peaks and deep ravines together with high forest coverage. The unique mountainous climate provides an outstanding natural environment for wild life and plants. According to a resource survey in 1982, there are more than 300 kinds of birds, animals, worms and amphibians in the area. Many of them belong to animals under State second-class protection.

 

Although Sanqing Mountain started late in tapping its tourism resources, it has gained rapid development. In 1988, it was approved as a State key scenic spot. Between 1997 and 1999, it received an average of 53,000 visitors every year. In 2002, 420,000 visits were made to the mountain and 470,000 in 2003.

 

The tourism revenue was 150 million yuan (US$18.75 million) in 2002 and 190 million yuan (US$23.75 million) in 2003.

 

The growing visitors also help drive the local economy. Its local GDP was 173.7 million yuan (US$21.71 million) in 2002 and soared to 213.2 million yuan (US$26.65 million) in 2003.

 

(China Daily December 8, 2006)