Danxiashan · Guangdong

P.R China

Boundaries of Candidate site and Buffer Zone

Name of Property

Danxiashan,
Guangdong

County, Province

Shaoguan,
Guangdong

Central
Geographical Coordinates

24°58′16″N,
113°41′34″E

Area of Nominated Site (ha.)

16800

Area of Buffer
Zone (ha.)

12400

Textual description of the boundary(ies) of the nominated property

Danxiashan, an integral continuous region with 16,800 ha. , is the name of Candidate site located in Guangdong Areas. It consists of typical areas of Danxia landform and its natural geographic elements.
Almost all borderline of candidate site of Danxiashan was according ridge and valley and rivers as natural boundary. Such lines superpose themselves to the boundary of core area of the national park; the

boundaries of the buffer zone is superpose with the park, basically taking natural lines above as boundaries, partly roads and land type lines as boundaries. Boundary surveying and strict protection have been completed in the place whose boundaries clearly defined are consistent with territory lines of Candidate site and buffer zone.

Candidate site are continuous natural area with typical Danxia landform as main part, maintaining the integrality of Danxia landform, forest ecosystem and ecological environment for the rare and endangered species.

Justification Statement of Outstanding Universal Value

1. Outstanding Universal Values of Aesthetics
Danxiashan, taking clustered, middle and late mature Danxia Landform as main part, features diversity of single landform type and rareness of geomorphic landscape. It represents one particular type of scenery landform in the world. Red mountains and green water reflect each other along Jinjiang River and Zhenjiang River and form a sort of beautiful landscape. It is one of the most outstanding Candidate site where broad-leaved evergreen forests of subtropical regions are perfectly preserved. Red clustered mountains seem as if thousands of red diamonds scattered in the green sea, which forms Danxia landscape system with highly appreciated aesthetic value.

From aesthetics of form, Danxiashan could be described as the beauty of shape of Danxia rocks, of structure of orderly-combined hills and rocks, of rhythm of picturesque disordered blocks, of color of red mountain, green tree, blue water, clear sky and white cloud. From aesthetics of artistic conception, red cliff features majesty, ruggedness, marvel spectacle and elegance, all of which compose the extraordinary beauty of Danxiashan. It is creditably the most distinguished mountain of Danxia Landform in the world.

2. Outstanding Universal Values of Geo-science
Danxiashan is the place where China Danxia was named, the most important basic theory, type and feature constructed. Also, it is the representative of peak cluster of Subtropical humid zone and the most outstanding example of China Danxia and red bed landform in the world. Both international promotion and comparison research are of great significance.

Danxia Landform is a symbol for a special phase in the development of continental crust. Danxia Basin cultivated at the central part of Nanling Folds Series of South China Plate is considered as the epitome of regional crust evolution, reflecting the particular process during which the crust of South China transforms from active zone to stable zone, and again to be activated. It has outstanding universal values of geo-science and plays an irreplaceable role in constructing integral evolution series of China Daxia.

The duo-peak volcanic activities of Danxia Basin before the large-scale descent in the middle Cretaceous period reflect the effect posed by Declining Zone of Plate Margin on inner continental lava activities, showing the huge difference between basins in special Rifting-subsidence back-arc Mode and marginal back-arc stretched basins and rifting-continental basins.

Danxiashan is in the mature stage of geomorphic development as a whole, possessing multi-phrased feature of geomorphic development. Since late Tertiary, multi-phrased uplifts make basins reserve landforms of different evolution stages. Danxia Landform is still in the process of uplifting. The geological and geomorphic process is so clear-cut that would be regarded as museum of Danxia geomorphic evolution.

Danxiashan is the essence and representative of Danxia in humid zone, containing all the principal types and important features of Danxia in low-altitude humid zone. Danxia ecosystem and bio-diversity form unique natural geographic features and distinguished characters.

3. Outstanding Universal value of biology and ecology
The area of Danxiashan has preserved the integrality and uniqueness of natural ecological environment and nurtured particular bio-diversity and unique species. Besides, it is the biotope for masses of rare and endangered species and the typical region of ecological succession in the late geological ages. Among the listed sites,. Danxiashan is the only candidate region in the southern side of Nanling. In many tropical species elements, the features of ravine rainforest are the most outstanding. Due to its complexity and spatial differentiation, Biotope in mountains is considered as the research model place of Danxia Landform eco-differentiation, biological lineages, effect of isolated islands and hot island. It provides researches concerning interrelation between the diversity of ecosystem and species with valuable references which are of great research significance for ecosystem administration.

Criteria the nominated site meets

(vii) Fantastic natural phenomenon or unique area with natural beauty
(viii) Outstanding example of primary stages in earth evolution, including geological process in life-documents and geomorphic evolution or remarkable geological or geomorphic features
(ix) Particularly represent the biological system of land, freshwater, coast and ocean, and evolutive developing process of ecology and physiology of biological colony
(x) The most crucial natural habitat of biodiversity preservation, including, from the perspective of science and preservation, habitats of endangered species with outstanding universal value

Name and contact information of official local institution / agency

Name: Ministry of Construction of P.R. China
Address：Rd. Sanlihe No.9, Beijing, China
Post Code：100835
Tel：+86-10-58933014
Fax：+86-10-58933014
E-mail：zuoxp@mail.cin.gov.cn ;  npo@mail.cin.gov.cn
Website:http://www.cin.gov.cn/

Name: Bureau of Construction of Guangdong Province
Address：Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Post Code：510045
Tel：+86-20-83133500
Fax：+86-20-87251025
E-mail：zhjaaaa@yahoo.com.cn
Website:http://www.gdcic.net

Name: The Office of application of Danxiashan for World Natural Heritage of Shaoguan
Address: Synthetical building of Danxiashan, Shaoguan, Guangdong Province, China
Post Code:512300
Tel:+86-751-6291683
Fax:+86-751-6291689
E-mail: danxiashanaaaa@126.com
Website: www.danxiashan.org.cn

Name: Management committee of Danxiashan scenic spot
Address: Danxiashan, Shaoguan, Guangdong Province , China
Post Code:512300
Tel:+86-751-6291683
Fax:+86-751-6291689
E-mail: danxiashanaaaa@126.com
Website: www.danxiashan.org.cn