Guanling Fossil Group National Geopark of Guizhou is situated in Xinpu Township, Guanling Buyi and Miao Autonomous County, in the southwestern part of Guizhou Province.

The protected area for fossils covers 200 square kilometres, the planned area of the geopark is 86 square kilometres, and the core scenic area spans 0.94 square kilometres. The core zone is 150 kilometres from Guiyang, the provincial capital, 90 kilometres from Anshun, 30 kilometres from Huangguoshu National Scenic Area, 90 kilometres from Dragon Palace, and 168 kilometres from Maling River Canyon in Xingyi. The Shanghai-Kunming Expressway and National Highway 320 run through the geopark.

The fossils buried here were formed in a gulf environment 220 million years ago during the Late Triassic Epoch. The main fossil groups include 11 species in 6 categories: marine reptiles (8 species under 4 categories including ichthyosaurs, thalattosaurs, placodonts and ancient turtles), crinoids, ammonites, bivalves, nautiluses, brachiopods and fish molluscs, together with ancient plant fossils from the adjacent land. These fossils are abundant, diverse and exceptionally well-preserved. Geologists from across the world regard this site as extremely rare on Earth. It stands as the world’s unique treasure trove of Late Triassic marine reptile and crinoid fossils, boasting extraordinarily high scientific value for appreciation and collection. It is an ideal venue for scientific research, field investigation, popular science education, teaching experiments, sightseeing and leisure.

The geopark consists of the core scenic zone, service area and other scenic spots. The core zone has three in-situ exhibition halls that display Guizhouichthyosaurus, Huangguoshuichthyosaurus anshunensis and Xinpuichthyosaurus hui right where they were unearthed. The museum houses dozens of fossil specimens of ichthyosaurs, thalattosaurs and crinoids. Outside the halls lie a popular science corridor, an exhibition excavation site, a small fossil collecting area for tourists, research workstations and a 4D cinema.

Many experts describe Guanling Geopark as a vanished valley from 200 million years ago and a kingdom of prehistoric fossils. If you want to witness the animal world of the Triassic and sea lilies that bloomed like flowers, come to Guanling National Geopark. At present, the fossils preserved here are the most intact and exquisite worldwide. The 4D cinema, the most advanced one in Guizhou, reconstructs the ancient marine ecosystem 220 million years ago and recreates the living scenes of ichthyosaurs, thalattosaurs, placodonts, ammonites, bivalves, nautiluses, brachiopods and crinoids.

Inside the exhibition halls, there is a stunning array of beautifully shaped prehistoric animal fossil specimens. Outside the buildings stretches a garden-like leisure zone where flowers bloom for as long as six months every year. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of highways, bridges and tunnels stretching for hundreds of kilometres, rocky desert landscapes extending a thousand miles, and magnificent mountain rivers. It is a perfect tourist destination.

We warmly welcome tourists from all over the country and overseas to visit Guanling National Geopark, and we will provide you with thoughtful service.