Brief Account of Prof. Huang Jin

Huang Jin was born in August 1927. His native place is Fengshun County of Guangdong Province. He graduated from Geographical Depart-ment of Zhongshan University in 1952, and was the Dean of Geographical Department in 1984-1987, and the Vice Chairman of Commission on Geomorphology and the Quaternary in Geographical Society of China. He, together with Prof. Chen Chuankang of Beijing University, initiated and set up The Danxia Landform and Tourism Development Research Society of China, in which he was president of the 1st and 2nd councils. He organized and convened five symposia, supervise the publication of three volumes of proceedings. He gave up the post in 1998 and was appointed as the honorary president of the council.
Although Prof. Huang Jin began his study of Danxia geomorphology as early as in the 1960s, his systematic study did not start until 1978, i.e. posterior to the “Cultural Revolution”. In 1982 he published his classic paper on the development of slope in Danxia geomorphology. Financially supported by 1989-1990 Natural Science Foundation of Zhongshan University and by 1990-1994 and 1997-1999 State Natural Science Foundation, Prof. Huang Jin carried out successively Danxia geomorphologic investigations in Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Sichuan, Guizhou, Heilongjiang, Hebei, He’nan, Hubei, Hu’nan, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Qinghai, Neimenggu, Xinjiang and Yunnan. Up till now he has conducted on-the-spot examination in more than 450 out of the 540 Danxia geomorphologic sites found so far in China.

Prof. Huang Jin has earlier or later published over 40 papers concerning Danxia geomorphology. In the beginning of 1960s, he gave for the first time a scientific definition for Danxia geomorphology. Since the 1980s, through systematic investigation, he carried out research work on slope characteristics and development regularities in Danxia geomorphology, special weathering in Danxia geomorphology, relation between crustal uplift and the process of geomorphologic development, relation between decompressional joint and the development of Danxia geomorphology, Danxia cave geomorphology, Danxia karstic geomor-phology, earth forest type Danxia geomorphology, influence of lower organisms on slope weathering in Danxia geomorphology, distribution and regional difference of Danxia geomorphology, and classification of Danxia geomorphology, all of these are part of his initiative work. He is the academic foregoer in the Danxia geomorphologic research field in current China.
Up till now, when going out, Prof. Huang Jin is still in Chinese tunic suit and canvas shoes, carrying a black umbrella and a geologist's old canvas bag, displaying a simple and unadorned bearing. However, his meticulous scholarship, persistent devotion, practical and realistic style of work, and plain and honest ways of life, are really precious spiritual wealth encouraging the younger generation to keep forging ahead.